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The Ph.D. program in Behavioral Neuroscience is committed to training
exceptional students for independent neuroscience research careers in
academic, governmental, or industrial settings. Our program provides
training in the biological foundations of behavior, with a particular
focus on sensation, learning and memory, affect, development, and neural
plasticity. Our philosophy is that students are best trained for
research careers by emersion in intense research training from the very
beginning of their studies. We use a mentor-based model, in which
students work closely with a faculty member on empirical research.
However, students are also encouraged to conduct collaborative research
with more than one faculty member and with other graduate students and
post-doctoral researchers​. Core courses required of all students are minimal.
This leaves students free to design individualized curriculums to
enhance general and specific knowledge of their particular field(s) of
interest. Students are expected to publish their research in prominent
scientific journals and to present their research at national scientific
meetings. Students further develop their oral presentation skills by
giving one or more research presentations per year to the behavioral
neuroscience faculty and students. In addition, students develop
teaching skills by serving as teaching assistants and course
instructors. Advanced students are encouraged to submit grant
applications to support their research training and/or dissertation
research. Taken together, these training activities provide students
with the expertise in research, teaching, and grant writing, that is
needed for successful academic or research careers.
The research interests of the Behavioral Neuroscience Faculty and/or their departmental collaborators can​ be
found by selecting the Behavioral Neuroscience​ filter on the Research Projects webpage or on the faculty profiles pages​. These
links provide more detailed information concerning research training
opportunities in the Behavioral Neuroscience Program.
