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Program of Study

The graduate curriculum is tailored to meet each student's research interests and career goals. Every student is assigned an Advisory Committee which assists the student in designing their individual program of study. The training program stresses hands-on experience in a wide variety of state-of-the art approaches and techniques. This experience is gained through a series of three rotations in different laboratories to gain familiarity with various techniques and scientific environments. The rotations are arranged individually by the student in consultation with the faculty member and the student's Advisory Committee.

NOTE: For more information, view the PIN Handbook 2023-2024

Lab Rotations

  • Laboratory rotations in three different laboratories stress hands-on experience in a wide variety of state-of-the-art approaches and techniques.
  • To better inform rotation-level students about the research opportunities available in the PIN labs, there are a series of informal Professor’s Rounds in the Fall.
  • Laboratory rotations and coursework are completed by the end of the third semester in the program, at which point the student will have selected a faculty mentor and thesis laboratory.

Curriculum

  • The graduate curriculum gives Program in Neuroscience students a broad base of knowledge and is also tailored to meet students' research interests and career goals.
  • Every student is assigned an Advisory Committee which assists the student in choosing electives in addition to the required courses to help design their individual curriculum.
  • The first semester core course “Mechanisms in Biomedical Sciences: From Genes to Disease” provides a comprehensive overview of current knowledge in cellular, molecular, and structural biology.
  • The content of  the first semester core course is supplemented with additional material in Current Topics and Techniques in Neuroscience.
  • Advanced Neuroscience Investigation in the Spring 1 semester.
  • Biostatistics and the Proseminar Course in the Fall 2 semester plus electives
  • Journal Club (regular attendance at a broad-based journal club is required, and students must present at Journal Club at least once during their second year and one more time afterwards.)

Academic Milestones

  • Written and Oral Qualifying exam at the end of the third semester
  • Doctoral Dissertation Thesis Proposal (approximately a year after beginning thesis research)
  • Doctoral Thesis Defense

Disclaimer: This website is not a contract and all information is subject to change at any time at the sole discretion of the Program.