2009-2010 NS Student Guide
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STUDENT GUIDE GRADUATE TRAINING IN NEUROSCIENCE EMORY UNIVERSITY i Revised: August 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. Purpose and Goals of the Graduate Program ....................................................2 II. Philosophy of Graduate Training ........................................................................2 III. Admission . .............................................................................................................3 A. Criteria..............................................................................................................3 1. Undergraduate Curriculum ..........................................................................3 2. Research Experience ....................................................................................3 3. Graduate Record Examination .....................................................................3 4. Recommendations ........................................................................................3 5. Statement of Goals .......................................................................................3 6. Evaluation ....................................................................................................3 B. On Arrival ........................................................................................................4 C. International Students and Language Requirements...................................4 IV. Program Administration.......................................................................................4 V. Advising…………………………………………………………………………..4 VI. Laboratory Research Rotations ...........................................................................5 VII. Course .....................................................................................................................7 A. Required Courses.............................................................................................7 B. Elective Courses................................................................................................9 C. Rotation and Research Credits ......................................................................9 D. Frontiers in Neuroscience..............................................................................10 E. Events Sponsored by Atlanta Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience ....................................................................10 F. Journal Clubs and Common Interest Groups .............................................11 VIII. Grades …….. ........................................................................................................11 IX. Selection of Research Advisor.............................................................................12 X. Selection of Dissertation Committee .................................................................13 XI. Qualifying Examination ......................................................................................14 A. Written Exam ................................................................................................14 ii B. Oral Examination...........................................................................................15 C. Preparation.....................................................................................................17 XII. Admission to Ph.D. Candidacy ...........................................................................17 XIII. Teaching Experience - TATOO Requirements.................................................17 A. Summer Teaching Workshop ......................................................................18 B. Division Program Experience “Teaching in the Biosciences” ...................18 C. Teaching Assistantship ..................................................................................18 D. Teaching Associateship..................................................................................19 XIV Dissertation Research ..........................................................................................19 XV. Submission of Ph.D. Dissertation .......................................................................19 A. Approval of Committee .................................................................................19 B. Guidelines for Writing and Submission.......................................................19 C. Submission of the Dissertation......................................................................19 D. Final Thesis Committee Meeting..................................................................20 XVI. Defense of Ph.D. Dissertation..............................................................................20 A. Public Dissertation Defense ..........................................................................21 B. Private Dissertation Defense .........................................................................21 C. Revisions .........................................................................................................21 XVII. Awarding of Degree .............................................................................................21 A. Deadlines.........................................................................................................21 B. Degrees ............................................................................................................22 1. Master of Science........................................................................................22 2. Doctor of Philosophy ..................................................................................22 XIII. Tenure of Graduate Studies ...............................................................................22 XIX. Expectations of Performance..............................................................................23 A. Expectations of Faculty for Students ...........................................................23 B. Expectations of Students for Faculty ...........................................................23 XX. Student - Faculty Communication .....................................................................24 XXI. Financial Support ................................................................................................24 XXII. Policy Regarding Outside Employment.............................................................25 iii XXIII. Leaving the Program ...........................................................................................25 A. Beyond the Ph.D.............................................................................................25 B. Poor Performance ..........................................................................................25 XXIV. University Requirements.....................................................................................26 APPENDIX A1. Typical Schedule ................................................................................................. 27 A2. Elective Courses for Neuroscience Students .................................................... 28 A3. Listing of Neuroscience Faculty......................................................................... 29 A4. Neuroscience Program Administration ........................................................... 29 A5. Neuroscience Graduate Student Directory ...................................................... 36 A6. Rotation Proposal Form……………………………………………………… 39 A7. Rotation Reports Guideline………………………………………………………40 A8. Rotation Evaluation Form…………………………………………………….. 41 A9. GDBBS Mentor Assignment Agreement .......................................................... 43 A10. Dissertation Committee Checklist .................................................................... 44 A11. Dissertation Advisory Committee Report ........................................................ 46 A12. Provisional Dissertation Approval Form.......................................................... 47 A13. Required Course Outlines ..................................................................................47 A. IBS 555 – Principles of Basic Biological & Biomedical Sciences ...........................47 B. IBS 526 - Neuroanatomy & Systems Neuroscience................................................ 49 C. IBS 514 – Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Neuroscience........................ 54 D. IBS 551 - Techniques in Neuroscience…………………………………………….57 E. IBS 522 - Grant writing …………………………………………………………....59 iv STUDENT GUIDE TO GRADUATE TRAINING IN NEUROSCIENCE AT EMORY UNIVERSITY I. Purpose and Goals of the Graduate Program The study of the mechanisms by which the brain controls and integrates organismal function is one of the most exciting and rapidly advancing areas of modern science. The general field of neuroscience involves the study of the nervous system at all levels of organization, from single molecules transporting specific ions across biological membranes, to large interconnected networks of neurons controlling complex motivated behaviors. Scientists in this challenging area must consequently cross the normal boundary lines dividing traditional disciplines and employ complex multidisciplinary approaches to begin to understand brain function. Neuroscience draws upon knowledge developed in all of the traditional disciplines, including anatomy, biology, biochemistry, microbiology, physiology, pharmacology, and psychology. The task of the neuroscientist is to choose the most appropriate tools and approaches from each of these disciplines that will assist him or her in unraveling the