Neuroscience

Neuroscience is the interdisciplinary study of neural function, development, and behavior. The University of Oregon offers an undergraduate major in Neuroscience.  The graduate training program in neuroscience is centered in the Institute of Neuroscience (ion.uoregon.edu). Affiliated faculty members in the undergraduate major as well as participating faculty members in the graduate training program are drawn from the Departments of Biology, Human Physiology, and Psychology, along with the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact.

Graduate Studies

Curriculum

First-year graduate students take one of two core sequences:

1. cellular, systems, and cognitive neuroscience
2. developmental, molecular, and genetic neuroscience

The core sequences are taught cooperatively by the faculty. Most students also take elective courses in a variety of subjects.

Faculty-Student Seminars

Faculty members and graduate students participate in weekly informal seminars that feature lively discussion of research papers in specific areas of neuroscience. Students and faculty members also participate in the neuroscience seminar, a weekly series featuring visiting scientists. The purpose of the neuroscience seminar is to keep both the faculty and students abreast of current developments in this broad field.

Research

Students are encouraged to participate in laboratory research from the very beginning of their graduate training. A laboratory rotation program is directed toward this objective. In the rotation program, new students take part in the activities of a different laboratory group during each of the three terms of the first year. Participation may include a research project, ongoing experiments, or other activities. This program allows students to learn firsthand about different approaches to the study of neuroscience before choosing an area of concentration.

Doctoral Study

Students who want to enter the neuroscience program should apply to the PhD program of a participating department and indicate their interest in neuroscience. Typically, students interested in cognitive neuroscience apply to the psychology department; students interested in molecular, cellular, developmental, or systems neuroscience apply to the biology department. Such applications are reviewed by the neuroscience faculty as well as the departmental admission committee. Answers to specific questions about prerequisites and deadlines may be obtained by writing directly to one of the participating departments, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403. Additional information about the Institute of Neuroscience may be obtained from the institute website. See also the Institute of Neuroscience section in the Research Centers and Institutes area of this catalog.