Program Overview

Overview of the Neuroengineering Graduate Track

The Neuroengineering Track, formerly known as “Neural Interfaces,” is designed to train students in the fields of basic and applied neuroscience and neuroengineering. This track aims to treat neural dysfunction with engineering approaches and repurpose strategies utilized by biological nervous systems to solve traditional engineering problems.

Research Specializations

Research specializations of BME faculty in this track include:

• Electrical neural interfaces and neuroprostheses
• Cell and chemical delivery systems for neural tissue
• Engineering of neural self-repair
• Neural plasticity
• Neural coding in sensory and motor systems
• Neural imaging
• Non-traditional modes of stimulating neural tissue (e.g., focused ultrasound and magnetic stimulation)

Masters Students

Masters students within this track complete the same fundamental courses as the Ph.D. students. Understanding of cellular/molecular neuroscience is required for any M.S. comprehensive exams, which include written, oral, project presentations, and thesis defenses.

Ph.D. Students

Ph.D. students within this track must complete courses intended to provide knowledge in the major areas of the field. A student’s supervisory committee may grant exemptions to the course requirements on a case-by-case basis, pending sufficient justification. The courses provide considerable assistance in preparing for the Neuroengineering written qualifying exam, which combines topics across courses.

Neuroengineering Written Qualifying Exam

The written qualifying exam will draw from material covered in both required life-science fundamentals courses and all three required track fundamentals courses. The exam aims to encourage students to approach their graduate education as an experience that transcends the boundaries of single courses; revisit the fundamental principles in basic and applied neuroscience; and consolidate, synthesize, and integrate this material.

Course Readings and Preparation

Course readings also serve as a way for students to prepare for the qualifying exam. The first portion of Kandel et al., Principles of Neural Science, provides an excellent text for the study of cellular neurosciences.

Additional Information

For more detailed information, please review the BME Graduate Resources page and select the Graduate Handbook that correlates to the year you started your program.