Program of Study and Requirements for the Ph.D. with a Neuroscience Concentration

The Neuroscience Concentration may be either the primary area of specialization or a secondary concentration in another area of the Ph.D. Program in Medical Sciences.

The Neuroscience Concentration is designed to prepare students for careers as productive and versatile researchers as well as effective and knowledgeable teachers. These objectives are met through a broadly based curriculum, which includes formal courses in the medical sciences, participatory seminar programs, and individual research training. The program requires approximately four to five years to complete. Students are expected to enroll full-time. Students must meet University of South Florida guidelines for the completion of the doctoral degree, including completing a minimum of ninety hours beyond the bachelor’s degree, and meeting the Tools of Research requirement. During their graduate education, students are also expected to have some teaching experience.

When entering the Neuroscience Concentration, each student will be assigned an initial advisory committee by the NCC. First year students, in consultation with an advisory committee, will select a curriculum. Students in the Neuroscience Concentration will normally be expected to take the Neuroscience graduate course (GMS 6020) and research laboratory rotations (GMS 7930) in the first year, and other introductory and advanced courses as required. Participation/enrollment in Departmental and Neuroscience Seminar Series is required. During the first year, students are also expected to become familiar with ongoing research activities of faculty participating in the Neuroscience Concentration, which will include their work as research assistants. Annual progress reports submitted to the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Affairs are required.

By the end of the second semester, students will be expected to choose their research mentor, who will then assume the advisor’s responsibilities and form the dissertation committees, the members of which will be from the Neuroscience Faculty. Each student’s advisory and dissertation committee will include a Major Professor or Co-Major Professor with a primary appointment in one of the six Basic Science Departments in the College of Medicine. This appointment is made by the department chair in concurrence with the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Affairs and the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School.

By the end of the second year, a student has usually completed the required course work. A comprehensive qualifying examination must then be passed before the student is admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. The basic science department of the Major Professor or Co-Major Professor will be responsible for administration of the qualifying examination. The final phase of the program emphasizes research and independent study, culminating in the oral defense of a written, research laboratory based dissertation.

The Ph.D. will be awarded through the basic science department with which the student’s major professor is affiliated. Requirements include successful completion of Neuroscience Concentration course work, a comprehensive qualifying examination in the home department, the Ph.D. dissertation, and the oral dissertation defense. To graduate, it is expected that the student will have published or have accepted two first author publications. The student must at least have a manuscript submitted to a peer reviewed journal.

Facilities

Faculty

Members of the Neuroscience Concentration faculty have either primary or secondary appointments in one of the six basic science departments in the College of Medicine and are credentialed to teach graduate students in the Ph.D. Program in Medical Sciences. Members of the faculty are admitted to the Neuroscience Concentration by the NCC.

Administration

Courses for a Concentration in Neuroscience

GMS 6020 Neuroscience (Graduate Course)

TBA Neuroscience Seminar

TBA Laboratory rotation

Anatomy

BMS 6150C Neuroanatomy

GMS 6610 Advanced Neuroanatomy

GMS 6602 Neural Correlates of Behavior

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

GMS 6200C Core Course in Medical Biochemistry

BCH 6411 Molecular Biology

BCH 6135C Methods in Molecular Biology

Pharmacology and Therapeutics

GMS 6500C Core Course in Pharmacology

GMS 6501 Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology

GMS 6502 Pharmacology of Physiological Systems

Medical Microbiology and Immunology

GMS6100 Core Course Medical Microbiology and Immunology

GMS 6102 Research Planning and Methods (this includes major section on grant writing)

GMS 6182 Laboratory Rotation in Microbiology and Immunology

GMS 6104 Cellular Immunology

GMS 6130 Molecular Biology of Tumor Viruses.

Physiology and Biophysics

GMS 6400C Core Physiology

GMS 6404 Systems Neurophysiology

GMS 6433 Membrane Physiology

Psychology

PSB 6056 Physiological Psychology

EXP 6608 Memory, Language and Cognition

EXP 6406 Learning, Perception and Performance