Ph.D. in Biomedical Science: Area of Concentration
Neuroscience Graduate Programs
Graduate Programs in Neuroscience Goals
The Graduate Programs in Neuroscience was formally established in 1981 as part of the
University of Connecticut Graduate School and the Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Sciences at
the Health Center. The Neuroscience Program is committed to fostering for
students an interdisciplinary training environment towards understanding the
normal function and
disorders of the nervous system. Special emphasis is placed upon preparing students for a
research and teaching career in both academic and industrial settings.
The interdepartmental nature of the Program offers comprehensive conceptual and
experimental training in molecular, systems and behavioral neuroscience. The Faculty of
the Neuroscience Program engages in research that involves cellular, molecular, and
developmental neurobiology, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neurochemistry,
neuroendocrinology, neuropharmacology, neuroimaging and neuropathology. Specific examples
of research topics include:
- cellular and molecular bases of synaptic neurotransmission, including the structure and
function of ligand-gated neurotransmitter receptors and voltage-sensitive ion channels
- genetic and epigenetic regulation of membrane biogenesis in neurons and glia
- electrophysiology of excitable tissue
- development of the autonomic nervous system
- development of neural tissue and of the neural crest
- stimulus coding, synaptic organization and development of sensory systems
- structure and function of auditory and gustatory systems
- computational neuroscience
- degeneration, regeneration, plasticity, and transplantation
- fMRI research/functional mapping of normal and diseased brain
- neurobiology of degenerative disorders, notably Huntington's Disease
- Alzheimer's Disease, multiple sclerosis, deafness and loss of hearing.
Graduate Programs in Neuroscience Philosophy
The first focus of our Program is on research, aimed at understanding the
processes that underlie neural development, mature neuronal function, plasticity, nervous
system organization, learning and memory, normal ageing, neurodegeneration, mental
disorders, substance abuse, and behavioral abnormalities. The other focus is
on teaching
and the mentoring needed to train the next generation of neuroscientists so that
they can build upon, and branch out from, the current store of knowledge in neuroscience.
Our methods range from molecular biology to human psychophysics. What makes our program
unique is that our faculty, with their diverse interests, recognize the need to include a
broad spectrum of topics in our training program. The language of a psychophysicist may
seem far removed from that of a single cell PCR cloner, but both will be needed if we are
to gain enough insight into nervous system function so that we can design therapeutic
strategies to prevent disease progression and repair the damaged nervous system.
Curriculum
 The curriculum
instills a broad background in the neurosciences, with strong grounding in cell and
molecular biology and systems-level neurobiology. The curriculum can be individualized to
fit the diverse backgrounds and interests of students. Introductory core courses in the
neurosciences cover neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, neuropathology, and
developmental neurobiology. Elective courses are offered in computational neuroscience,
physiology of excitable tissue, biochemistry, immunology, genetics, and cell biology,
pharmacology. In the first two years, students fulfill didactic course requirements,
participate in weekly journal clubs and undertake three or more laboratory rotations. The
subsequent years are typically devoted to conducting dissertation research.
Visit the Neuroscience Graduate Programs
Program Description page for additional information.
Visit the Department of Neuroscience web
site.>
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