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LIFE SCIENCES - SCHOOL OF
MEDICINE
www.biomed.miami.edu
The Neuroscience Program is an interdisciplinary program
established in 1988 leading to the Ph.D. in Neuroscience.
The program aims to train highly-qualified individuals for
independent research and teaching careers in the Neurosciences.
More than 85 participating faculty are located in several
departments and schools; Cell Biology and Anatomy, The Dr.
John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics,
Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Physiology and Biophysics,
the Biology and Psychology Departments, the Rosenstiel School
of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, as well as several clinical
departments including Neurological Surgery, Neurology, Ophthalmology,
Otolaryngology, and Psychiatry.
Neuroscience Program faculty pursue a wide variety of research
interests including cellular and molecular mechanisms involved
in signal transduction, gene expression in electrically excitable
cells, synapse formation, neuronal growth and survival, integrative
neuroscience, neuroimmunology, stroke, neuronal regeneration,
autonomic control, brain metabolism and cerebral blood flow,
degenerative changes within specific neural pathways in Parkinson’s
and Alzheimer’s diseases and genetic analysis of neurological
disorders.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
All students are admitted through the Program in Biomedical
Sciences (PIBS) for the PhD programs in Biochemistry &
Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology, Human Genetics & Genomics,
Microbiology & Immunology, Molecular Cell & Developmental
Biology, Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology, Neuroscience,
and Physiology & Biophysics. The PIBS Admissions Committee
will review and make decisions on applications after December
15th.
Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in a biological
or related discipline (e.g., psychology, chemistry, engineering,
physics). Although there are no absolute prerequisites, courses
in general biology, cell/molecular biology, calculus, general
physics, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and biochemistry
are encouraged.
Strong candidates will have research experience in a laboratory
setting (including publications of abstracts and/or papers),
an excellent academic record and GRE scores, excellent letters
of recommendation from scientists who know the candidate well,
and the motivation to pursue state-of-the-art biomedical research.
In the first year all students take a common curriculum to
build a solid foundation in biomedical science. The core coursework
in the fall ranges from molecules to cells to systems of human
physiology. Lectures are balanced by breakout sessions, in
which faculty members discuss the primary literature with
students in small groups. The core curriculum also offers
critical learning opportunities in biostatistics and in using
genomic and other databases, as well as education in ethics.
Students also meet several times in small groups with experienced
faculty mentors to discuss important issues of faculty development.
Specific coursework relating to the individual graduate programs
is done largely in the second and third semesters of study.
The first year is also focused on choosing a program and a
dissertation mentor. All students are initially mentored by
a senior student and a faculty member to facilitate this process.
In the 1st year, students rotate through at least 3 laboratories
chosen from any of the biomedical sciences graduate faculty.
At the end of the 1st year students choose mentors and formally
enter individual graduate programs.
• Students should apply online at: www.biomed.miami.edu
THE NEUROSCIENCE PROGRAM
Graduate training is the major goal of the program, with
emphasis on cellular, molecular and genetic approaches to
Neuroscience.
A single core curriculum provides the didactic scaffold of
the program. This curriculum consists of courses in Molecular
Biology, Cell Biology, Membrane Biophysics, Statistics, Introductory
Neuroscience, and Neuroanatomy. The core courses are supplemented
with elective courses such as Neuropharmacology, Developmental
Neurobiology and a wide variety of Special Topics Short Courses.
Students also attend research seminars and a scientific journal
club.
The Neuroscience Steering Committee guides the students, overseeing
their course work, until they have passed their qualifying
exams. From then on their progress is supervised by individually-tailored
dissertation committees.
The Neuroscience Program also participates in the School of
Medicine’s MD/PhD combined degree program www.biomed.miami.edu/mdphd
REQUIREMENTS FOR A PH.D. DEGREE IN NEUROSCIENCE
Students are required to complete 36 credit hours of graduate
courses and seminars, including at least 18 credit hours in
Neuroscience, and 24 credits of Dissertation Research.
Students are required to pass a qualifying examination during
their second year, before undertaking Dissertation Research
at an intensive level.
Inquiries should be directed to:
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Locator R-50
PO BOX 011351
Miami, Florida 33101
Tel: 305-243-3368
FAX (305) 243-2970
E-mail: neurosci@med.miami.edu
Web: www.biomed.miami.edu/neuro
RESEARCH AREAS:
1. BEHAVIORAL NEUROBIOLOGY
2. DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY
3. CELL/MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
4. CNS INJURY AND REPAIR
5. GENETIC ANALYSIS OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS
6. NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS
7. PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS
8. SENSORY NEUROBIOLOGY
9. SYNAPSES
10. TRANSMITTERS AND RECEPTORS
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