Coursework and Rotations

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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

NSCI 701. Foundations in Neuroscience. This course provides a thorough overview of fundamental neuroscience over two semesters spanning ~90 two-hour lectures across the Fall and Spring semesters. It systematically covers neuroscience in an integrated fashion and includes the following main topics: 1) Neuroanatomy and Cellular Neurobiology; 2) Molecular/Structural Biology of Ion Channels, Electrophysiology, and Neural Potentials; 3) The Synapse; 4) Motor Systems; 5) Sensory Systems; 6) Developmental Neurobiology; 7) Regulatory Systems; 8) Neural Networks and Connectomics; 9) Neuropharmacology; and 10) Neurobiology of Brain Disorders. The course also presents ~10 “technical lectures” that cover techniques and procedures commonly used in neuroscience research, when and why they are used, the assumptions made in implementing the techniques, and final analyses made possible by the techniques. Finally, a neuroanatomy lab will include the dissection of the human brain. The course includes both didactic and primary literature-based content that is actively discussed during the lectures. It is the keystone required course in the Program in Neuroscience (Fall and Spring).

NSCI 708. Special Topics in Neuroscience. A small group, faculty-led discussion course on selected topics in neuroscience offered by groups of faculty. Students discuss primary literature with the faculty (Summer semester).

NSCI 710. Experimental Design and Biostatistics. This course is intended to provide students with advanced understanding of experimental design and the need for rigor and reproducibility in experiments and in data analysis. The course will also provide students with a minimum proficiency in the use of statistical analysis and its execution on common software platforms. (Spring semester).

NSCI 720. Neuroscience Journal Club. A review of significant issues in neuroscience including literature review and discussion of recent data and news. Individual students prepare, orally present, and lead discussions on chosen papers. (Fall and Spring semesters)

NSCI 721. Scientific Writing in Neuroscience I: Abstracts and Manuscripts. An introduction to scientific writing that includes preparation of abstracts for scientific meetings, presentations at meetings, and preparation of a scientific manuscript for publication (Fall semester).

NSCI 722. Scientific Writing in Neuroscience II: Grant Proposals. Advanced writing in neuroscience including preparation of grant proposals for extramural funding in the NIH style (Spring semester).

LABORATORY ROTATIONS

Students in the Program in Neuroscience are required to take two laboratory rotation courses. In their first year, students enroll in NSCI 790 – Neuroscience Laboratory Survey; while in their second year, they enroll in NSCI 791 – Senior Laboratory Rotations. Each course has specific objectives.

NSCI 790. Neuroscience Laboratory Survey. This course is comprised of 4-5 week rotations in up to six active research laboratories in the Program in Neuroscience. A minimum of 15 hours/week is expected to be spent in the chosen laboratory. The goal of these rotations is to expose the student to the breadth of research occurring in the Program in Neuroscience. Additionally, exposure to the approaches and culture of multiple laboratories should allow for the student to make an informed choice when selecting a dissertation mentor and advisory committee members. (Fall and Spring semesters)

NSCI 791. Senior Laboratory Rotations. These are intensive laboratory rotations intended for students to begin research in their planned dissertation laboratories. Thus, all three rotations can be within the same laboratory. However, rotations may also be conducted in up to three different laboratories depending on the student’s training needs and interests. 20-40 hours/week are expected to be spent in the chosen laboratory depending on the semester. A 20-minute seminar covering research performed under NSCI 791 is given to the combined PIN faculty and students at the end of each semester. (Summer, Fall and Spring semesters)

DISSERTATION RESEARCH

Following successful passing of the Qualifying exam (see below), students will spend up to 3 years on their dissertation research:

NSCI 798. Dissertation Research in Neuroscience. (Summer, Fall and Spring semesters). At the end of each Spring semester that a student is registered in NSCI 798, students will present a research talk to the PIN faculty and students. Third year students are expected to present a 20-25 minute research talk and have 5-10 minutes for Q&A. Fourth year students may elect to follow the same timeline as the third year students or may present a longer, 45-50 minute presentation and have 10 minutes for Q&A. Fifth year students (and above) must present a 45-50 minute talk and have 10 minutes (at a minimum) for Q&A.

CURRICULUM and RESEARCH TRAINING OVERVIEW - Ph.D. STUDENTS

CURRICULUM and RESEARCH TRAINING OVERVIEW - MD/PhD STUDENTS

MD/PhD training in PIN: The Program in Neuroscience (PIN) offers a unique training opportunity for MD/PhD students wishing to complete their dissertation research on issues related to nervous system function. The goal of concurrently training MD students in basic biomedical research is to provide modern research experiences to MD students as a means of producing high caliber clinician scientists. These individuals will be well positioned to drive future research endeavors and contribute fundamental and long-lasting scientific findings to the broad biomedical community.

Entry into PIN: MD/PhD students wishing to enter the Program in Neuroscience should notify the Program Director as soon as possible, but no later than the Fall of their M3 year.

Mentor: All students should have identified a mentor willing to direct their research by the end of April before they start their PhD training.

Didactic Training, G1:

1) NSCI 708 Special Topics in Neuroscience (Summer)

2) NSCI 720 (Neuroscience Journal Club) (Fall and Spring)

3) NSCI 701 (Foundations of Neuroscience) (Fall and Spring)

4) ID 709 (Responsible Conduct of Research) (Spring)

Research Training, G1:

During the first three semesters (Summer, Fall, Spring semesters) of graduate training, the MD/PhD student should register for NSCI 791 (Senior Laboratory Rotation) for training in the mentor’s laboratory.

Didactic Training, G2:

1) NSCI 720 (Neuroscience Journal Club) (Fall and Spring)

2) ID 714 (Professional Skills) (Spring)

Research Training, G2 and G3:

For each subsequent semester after passing the Qualifying Examination, the student’s training will be recorded as NSCI 798 (Neuroscience Dissertation Research). The student typically registers for 1 credit for NSCI 798 but is considered full time at this credit level once admitted to PhD candidacy.

Exemptions: The time spent in summer laboratory rotations between M1/M2, and M2/M3 years will be considered the equivalent of NSCI 790 (Neuroscience Laboratory Research Survey).

Research Activity: Students will begin collecting preliminary data in the summer of their G1 year and thereafter be in the lab nearly full time, with the exception of the courses outlined above.

Advisory Committee: Nominations of faculty to the student’s Dissertation Advisory Committee will be finalized and submitted to PIN at the start of the Fall semester of G1. Because of the rapid pace of the dissertation research undertaken in the MD/PhD program, students will meet with their committee once per semester – Fall, Spring, and Summer). This will serve to ensure that research remains on track for a timely conclusion to the research phase of the MD/PhD degree.

Qualifying Exam, NIH Training Grant, and Thesis proposal:

Training grant - During the Summer before G1 and Fall semester of G1, students will prepare an NIH F30 grant proposal under guidance of their advisory committee and MD/PhD program fellowship committee members. This grant proposal will be submitted to the NIH during G1 at the earliest possible submission date for the December or April  cycle.

Qualifying Exam - This NIH F30 grant proposal will also serve as the written portion of the student’s Qualifying Examination. The Qualifier Exam will be composed of the written document (F30) and an oral defense of the document. The exam will be conducted by the Chair of the PIN Qualifying Exam Committee at the end of the Fall semester of G1 (December) or beginning of the Spring semester of G1 (January/February). Qualifier exam procedures will otherwise be identical to those followed for the standard PhD student (see section VI, below).

Thesis Proposal - Upon successful completion of the Qualifying Examination, the student will be admitted to PhD candidacy. Note that appropriate Graduate School forms must be filed. The F30 grant proposal will also serve as the thesis proposal and will be submitted for approval to the student’s Thesis Advisory Committee by the end of the Fall semester of G1 (December) or beginning of the Spring semester of G1 (January/February).

Other Requirements - All other requirements of MD/PhD students and their mentors are the same as those enrolled in the PhD training track in the Program in Neuroscience, including presenting research seminars in the seminar series (G2 = 30 min; G3 = 60 min) and attending all seminars and Graduate School and Neuroscience Research Days.