Program Overview

Neuroscience (PhD)

The Neuroscience PhD program prepares students for independent research and teaching in neuroscience. It seeks to train students who will be expert in one particular approach to neuroscientific research, but who will also have a strong general background in other areas of neuroscience and related disciplines. To achieve this objective, students take interdisciplinary core and advanced courses in neuroscience, as well as related courses sponsored by other graduate programs. In addition, students carry out research under the supervision of faculty members in the program.

Program Description

The UCSF Neuroscience program faculty, who are among the world leaders in their respective areas of neuroscience, utilize innovative cellular, computational, electrophysiological, genetic, imaging, and molecular strategies to address outstanding problems in neuroscience. These approaches are employed in an integrative manner to engage in research in all areas of neuroscience, including behavior, biophysics, cell biology, development, neural systems, and disorders of the nervous system. The collaborative nature of the UCSF environment offers a unique opportunity for students to take advantage of the interdisciplinary nature of research at the frontier of modern neuroscience.

Faculty

The Neuroscience program currently has 100 faculty members from the following departments and areas: Anatomy, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Bioengineering, the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Center, Cell and Tissue Biology, CMP, CVRI, the Diabetes Center, IND, Gladstone Institutes, Neurological Surgery, Neurology, the Neuroscience Imaging Center, Ophthalmology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Otolaryngology, Pathology, Pediatrics-Medical Genetics, Pediatrics-Neonatology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Physical Therapy, Physiology, and Psychiatry.

Sub-Disciplines

• Addiction Research
• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Cell and Molecular Neuroscience
• Developmental Neuroscience
• Nervous System Disease
• Synaptic Physiology
• Systems Neuroscience
• Theoretical/Computational Neuroscience

Admission Requirements

• Undergraduate courses in biology, physics, inorganic and organic chemistry, and calculus.
• Prior research experience (undergraduate thesis projects, internships, technician positions, summer research programs, etc.)

Learning Outcomes

1. General knowledge and understanding of modern neuroscience.
2. Theoretical understanding of a broad range of modern neuroscientific techniques.
3. Ability to read, critically assess, and review contemporary scientific literature.
4. Ability to identify outstanding questions in the field, and to design experiments that are ethical and viable to advance the field.
5. Practical expertise in techniques relevant to a subfield of neuroscientific research.
6. Capacity to produce high-quality grant proposals and scientific papers.
7. Clear communication of scientific research to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.
8. Conceptualization of the importance of mentorship, the variety of needs that accompany students of different backgrounds, and demonstration of mentorship ability.

Degree Requirements

In order to assess the successful completion of the goals set out for students of the Neuroscience program, the program requires:

1. An agreement of the student’s thesis committee that the student has demonstrated sufficient aptitude toward the above goals, as well as
2. The production of a graduate thesis in the form of a dissertation that demonstrates:
   1. Minimum GPA of 3.0
   2. All core courses and required activities taken and passed
   3. Six quarters in residence including a minimum of three registered quarters after advancement to candidacy
   4. Pass qualifying examination
   5. Completion and submission of the dissertation
   6. For additional details, please see graduate.ucsf.edu/phd-degree

Core Courses

Course List Code | Title | Units
---|---|---
NEUROSCI 200| Introduction to Neuroscience. Essential Concepts & Methods| 2.5
NEUROSCI 201A| Basic Concepts in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience| 5
NEUROSCI 201B| Basic Concepts for Cellular and Developmental Neuroscience| 4
NEUROSCI 201C| Introduction to Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience| 4
NEUROSCI 215| Laboratory Rotation| 8-12
NEUROSCI 221| Current Topics in Neuroscience| 1
NEUROSCI 250| Research| 1-8
GRAD 214| Responsible Conduct of Research and Rigor & Reproducibility| 1.5
GRAD 215| Managing your Research for Reproducibility| 1
Total Units| 28-39

Approved Electives

Course List Code | Title | Units
---|---|---
NEUROSCI 219| Special Topics in Basic and Translational Neuroscience| 3
NEUROSCI 220| Neuroscience Journal Club| 1
BIOMED SCI 270| Special Topics in Biomedical Sciences| 3
BIOPHYSICS 219| Special Topics in Biophysics| 3
CHEMISTRY 219| Special Topics in Basic and Translational Chemical Biology| 3
DEV STMCEL 270| Special Topics in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology| 3
GRAD 202| Racism in Science| 3
GRAD 210| Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Academic Leadership| 4
GRAD 213| Motivating INformed Decisions (MIND) Catalytic Course| 2
GRAD 286| GSICE Curricular Practicum| 1
PHARMGENOM 219| Special Topics in Pharm Sci and Pharmacogenomics| 3
Other elective courses may be approved by the program as appropriate.

Non-course Core Requirements

• Teaching assistantship
• Qualifying exam
• Dissertation

In addition to the dissertation, students are required to:

• Hold a thesis seminar, in which a curated portion of the dissertation is presented to an audience consisting of both neuroscientists and non-neuroscientists.
• Have published, or have begun the process of publishing, a first-author scientific paper in a reputable peer-reviewed journal (under exceptional circumstances the thesis committee may assess the adequacy for graduation based on meeting all the other requirements for graduation without a first-author paper).