PhD in Neuroscience

Focus on the study of the brain and addresses the challenge of developing an integrative understanding of cognition and higher brain function.

In response to this challenge, the rapidly developing field of neuroscience has produced an exponential increase in the amount of data available to investigators as they develop new theories of brain function and new hypotheses to test.

The main objective of the program is to prepare students to participate at the cutting edge of this exciting field in academia, industry, and government. The program provides students with a rich interdisciplinary intellectual environment that fosters the development of the skills they will need to successfully pursue research careers.

Current faculty research focuses on the broad areas of behavior, anatomy, physiology, neuropharmacology, molecular biology, computational modeling, and informatics. External research collaborations exist with federal agencies, private and not-for-profit corporations, and other universities. The scope of research ranges from the subcellular and molecular level (in the context of such phenomena as drug addiction and the biological basis of schizophrenia) to the systems and behavioral level.

Program Highlights

Current research projects include plasticity mechanisms supporting development, network formation, and information processing, cellular and subcellular models of associative learning, biochemical dynamics in disorders of the basal ganglia, computational methods for simulation of complex biological systems, the role of metals in memory, and Alzheimer's disease, and dynamical behavior of neurons and networks of neurons, and identifying and characterizing protein interactions for the dopamine and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain.

The ideal student has completed a BS or MS in a related field with a minimum 3.25 GPA and completed undergraduate coursework in organic chemistry, cell biology, and calculus. Coursework in biochemistry and molecular genetics is also highly recommended.

Doctoral Coursework 47-49 credits:

NEUR 702 Research Methods (3)
Advanced Statistics Course Requirement (3-4)
NEUR 601 Developmental Neuroscience (3)
NEUR 602 Cellular Neuroscience (3)
NEUR 603 Mammalian Neuroanatomy (3)
NEUR 701 Neuroscience Laboratory (3)
NEUR 703 Lab rotation and readings (3) (NEUR 703 will be taken 3 times)
20-21 Credits of Electives

Advancement to Candidacy: The doctoral candidacy examination includes written and oral components. After Passing the candidacy exam and receiving committee approval for the dissertation proposal, the student is advanced to doctoral candidacy.

Dissertation Research: up to 12 credits each of NEUR 998 Dissertation Proposal and NEUR 999 Doctoral Dissertation

=Total 72 credits