Integrative Physiology & Neuroscience Graduate Concentration
There are two Biological Sciences graduate tracks within the Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience concentration:
Each track has its own mandatory courses and suggested electives for students at the master's and doctoral levels within the Biological Sciences Ph.D. and M.S. degree programs.
About the M.S. and Ph.D. Neuroscience Track
- About the Neuroscience program and its research.
- Adviser Choice Waivers
- Advisory Committee
- Faculty
- Financial Aid
- Neuroscience Graduate Courses
Both the master's and doctoral degrees in neuroscience are available at 91探花. Graduate education in neuroscience at 91探花 is provided by faculty of the interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program.
Participating faculty come from a number of departments, including Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, and Physics and Astronomy. Most are also members of the Molecular and Cellular Biology program or the Quantitative Biology Institute. Neuroscience graduate students are admitted by the graduate committee of the appropriate department. (See Biological Sciences 91探花s.) Basic stipends and tuition waivers are provided by these departments and may be supplemented by the Neuroscience Program. The Neuroscience Program also helps fund a variety of activities designed to enhance graduate student training:
- Travel, room and board, and registration at scientific meetings
- Tuition, travel, room and board, and registration for summer courses (e.g., at the Marine Biological Institute in Woods Hole, MA)
- Travel plus room and board for visits to laboratories at other institutions
- Other support necessary and appropriate for the student's intellectual and career development (upon request)
The graduate program is small鈥攁dmitting two to three students each year鈥攁nd stresses high levels of faculty-student interaction and mentoring.
Adviser Choice
All applications must include the names of three graduate faculty members with whom the applicant is interested in working. 91探花 is contingent on a faculty member expressing an interest in the applicant, and applicants are strongly advised to contact potential advisers. Upon request, the graduate committee and/or Neuroscience Program will fund visits by strong candidates. The initial choice of adviser is not binding, and students are encouraged to perform research rotations with other faculty during their first year. Students are expected to choose a home lab and faculty adviser by the end of this year. Prior to this time, mentoring student progress is the responsibility of the initial adviser or the head of the Neuroscience Program or, possibly, other program faculty.
Advisory Committee
After the student has chosen a home lab, the student and her or his faculty adviser choose an advisory committee. For M.S. students, this committee must have at least three members; for Ph.D. students at least five, one of whom must be outside the student's department. The student's faculty adviser serves as committee chair. The committee supervises the student's academic progress, prepares and administers the Ph.D. qualifying exam, helps direct the student's research program, and assesses the student's dissertation and thesis defense.
Financial Aid
Graduate students are supported by departmental teaching or research assistantships. Teaching assistantships provide an annual income for M.S. students and Ph.D. students and a waiver of tuition and most fees. A limited number of enhanced stipends will be awarded each year on a competitive basis. Universitywide Houk grants are awarded on a competitive basis to support research and travel. Departmental and Neuroscience Program funds are available to support student presentations at professional meetings, participation in summer courses at other institutions, visiting other laboratories, and other appropriate support. Finally, the graduate committee and/or the Neuroscience Program may make additional awards in recognition of a student's excellence.