Lab Rotations

Each first year student completes a minimum of three laboratory rotations. The aim of rotations is to provide broad laboratory experience and to allow students to explore laboratories in which they might wish to do a thesis. The rotations begin in the fall quarter of the first year and are chosen in consultation with faculty and graduate advisors.

Back to Top

Coursework

The Neuroscience program offers a diverse curriculum in the form of core neuroscience courses and advanced topics courses. Courses taken during the first two years are designed to fill gaps in the general biological or physical science background of each student, to provide broadly based training in neuroscience, and to provide intensive training in the particular area in which a student plans to carry out research.

Back to Top

Thesis Lab Choice

At the end of the first year in the program, students either choose a Ph.D. thesis laboratory or do a fourth rotation.

Back to Top

Qualifying Exams

After joining a thesis lab at the end of the first year, Neuroscience students will take the qualifying exam. The exam is taken in two parts: The outside proposal and the pre-thesis proposal. The general purposes of this sequence of proposals and examinations are (1) to test whether a student has sufficient knowledge of neuroscience in at least two unrelated areas of the field to identify an important problem and to plan an original experimental approach for its solution and (2) to provide experience in writing and defending orally mock grant proposals.

Back to Top

Advancement to Candidacy

Students advance to Ph.D. candidacy in the winter quarter of the second year (or within eight months of joining a thesis lab) after successful completion of the pre-thesis qualifying exam.

Back to Top

Formation of Thesis Committee

Upon successfully passing the qualifying examination, each student forms a Ph.D. thesis committee and files the paperwork to advance to candidacy. The Graduate advisor and Ph.D. thesis director are consulted in forming the thesis committee. Students meet with their thesis committees at least once a year and with the thesis chair at least every six months.

Back to Top

Submitting the Ph.D. Thesis

The student submits the Ph.D. thesis to the University’s Graduate Division. The Ph.D. degree is conferred on the last day of the quarter in which the student submits the thesis to the Graduate Division office. After the thesis is written, the student will present a thesis talk to the Neuroscience community.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Back to Top