The curriculum includes didactic coursework coupled with several research laboratory experiences in the first two years of the program. The student then progresses into a specialized research project culminating in the writing and defense of a doctoral thesis. In general, dissertation research projects are keyed to the research interests of the faculty. These interests are quite broad as there are over 50 members of the faculty who have their primary appointments in a wide range of different Departments, including Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biology, Cell Biology, Health Physics, Microbiology and Immunology, Neurology, Neuroscience, Neurosurgery, Pediatrics, Pharmacology, Physiology and Biophysics, Psychiatry, Psychology, and Radiology. Molecular and cellular approaches are applied toward the understanding of neuroplasticity, neurological and psychiatric disorders, cognition, and regulation of immune, endocrine and autonomic functions.
Special emphasis is placed on integrative systems neuroscience.
For more information, please see the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience's web page.