Neuroscience Graduate Program
The Neuroscience Graduate Program is a multidisciplinary and interdepartmental program including the Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Molecular Science, Pathology, Pharmacology, and Physiology. The Neuroscience Track provides a broad background in neuroscience and specific research training in neurochemistry, neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, molecular and cellular neuroscience, developmental neurobiology, and behavioral neuroscience. Neuroscience graduate students must first apply to the Biomedical Sciences Program, and join the Neuroscience Track. Students must satisfy both the requirements of the Neuroscience Track and of the IBS Program to qualify for the PhD degree.
Below, you will find details on the faculty, admissions, courses of study, fellowships, administration, directors, and the graduate committee for neuroscience. If you have additional questions, do not hesitate to contact the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology directly.
Faculty
The Neuroscience Track is composed of faculty who are actively involved in neuroscience research and who are willing to make a commitment, with approval of their departments, to participate in graduate student courses, seminars, guidance committees, and other functions necessary for the continued development of a graduate program. Faculty who hold appointments in clinical departments not offering the PhD degree also participate in the program through joint appointments in one of the basic science departments.
Admissions
Basic Science graduate students at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center are now admitted through the Biomedical Sciences Program. Students interested in Neuroscience are encouraged to indicate their preference for the Neuroscience Track box on the electronic application form. Please see Admissions Requirements on the Biomedical Sciences web page.
Course of Study
Students are required to take Functional Neuroanatomy and a minimum of two additional semester neuroscience elective courses (Cellular Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience and Developmental and Molecular Neuroscience) as well as Seminars in Neuroscience and Neuroscience Symposium. The balance of required and elective courses is specified by the Biomedical Sciences Program. See our Neuroscience curriculum at the UTHSC Biomedical Sciences Program web site.
Neuroscience Graduate Fellowships
All students admitted to the Biomedical Sciences Program receive stipends through the Biomedical Sciences Program for the first 18 months as well as a waiver of tuition and fees until graduation. Stipends are currently $30,000 plus a waiver of tuition and fees plus health insurance. Student mentors provide the student's stipend in subsequent years. After 18 months, students participating in the Neuroscience track are eligible for fellowships from the Neuroscience Institute that cover half of their stipend.
Administration
The Neuroscience Graduate Program is a track within the Biomedical Sciences Program in the College of Graduate Health Sciences. The Neuroscience Graduate Committee is chaired by the program director or co-directors.
Neuroscience Program Director
The Co-Directors of the Neuroscience Track of the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program serve as the Neuroscience Program Director. The current co-directors are listed in the Neuroscience section of the Biomedical Sciences web site.
Neuroscience Graduate Committee
The Neuroscience Graduate Committee is composed of representatives from the Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Molecular Sciences, Pharmacology, and Physiology and the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The members and the chairperson of the Committee must be Neuroscience participating faculty and approved by the College of Graduate Health Sciences. In addition, each department participating in the Neuroscience Graduate Program has been approved by the Dean of the College of Graduate Health Sciences, upon the advice of the department chairman.
The Neuroscience Graduate Committee advises the program director on the operation of the Neuroscience Graduate Program and makes recommendations on matters pertaining to the maintenance of academic quality, student admissions, academic courses, educational policy, pre- and postdoctoral stipends, and individual faculty involvement.