Admission  |   Plan of Study  |   Financial Assistance  |   Pertinent Courses

Understanding how the brain works, and how it gives rise to mental function is one of the most exciting challenges in science. This effort is inherently interdisciplinary, drawing upon developments in molecular and cell biology, genetic engineering, cognitive and social psychology, as well as in chemistry, engineering, mathematics,and physics for new methods of measuring and understanding neural function.

To help prepare the next generation of neuroscientists for these challenges, Princeton offers an interdisciplinary program leading to the degree of doctor of philosophy in molecular biology and neuroscience, chemistry and neuroscience, engineering and neuroscience, applied and computational mathematics and neuroscience, philosophy and neuroscience, physics and neuroscience, or psychology and neuroscience. Joint degree possibilities in other relevant departments are possible. The program encourages the serious study of molecular, cellular, developmental and systems neuroscience as it interfaces with cognitive and behavioral research. Current examples at Princeton include: molecular, genetic and pharmacologic analysis of learning and memory, the role of neural stem cells in the adult brain, viral infections of the nervous system, optical and electrical recordings of neuronal function, brain imaging studies of cognitive functions such as attention and memory in humans, and mathematical and computational analysis of neural network function. A more extensive listing of research opportunities in neuroscience is available on-line at neuroscience.princeton.edu.


Admission

Candidates should apply to one of the cooperating home departments, which include the Departments of Chemistry, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Molecular Biology, Philosophy, Physics, Psychology, departments in the School of Engineering, and the Program in Applied and Computational Mathematics. The candidate should fulfill the admission requirements of the chosen department.

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Plan of Study

On entering the program, an adviser is selected who is normally a member of the students department, as well as the program's interdepartment committee (see faculty page). A plan of study is prepared by the student and the adviser following the students major interest, and in keeping with the goals of program. The plan of study should provide depth in one methodological area and breadth in some areas of practical concern. All students are expected to participate in the weekly neuroscience seminar (PSY 511). Additional course selections are made in consultation with the students faculty advisor based on the student's background and interests, and in accord with the requirements for the Ph.D. program in the students home department. Students must satisfy the normal pre-general examination requirements and pass the general examination of their respective departments.

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Financial Assistance

Fellowship awards and assistantship appointments are made by the University after recommendation by the cooperating departments and with the concurrence of the committee. Additional opportunities for support are available through participation in an NIMH-funded training grant in Quantitative Neuroscience (additional information available on-line at neuroscience.princeton.edu/neurotraininggrant.html)

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Pertinent Graduate Courses


Chemistry
514 Molecular and Biomolecular Imaging

Computer Science
551 Introduction to Genomics and Computation Molecular Biology

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
502 Fundamental Concepts in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior 1

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
511/512 Experimental Methods I and II
541/APC541 - Applied Dynamical Systems
546 Optimal Control and Estimation

Molecular Biology
504 Cellular Biochemistry
506 Molecular Biology of Eukaryotes
507 Developmental Biology
508 Advanced Topics in Neurobiology
510 Introduction to Biological Dynamics
514 EEB Biolological Dynamics
515 Methods and Logic in Quantitative Biology
537 Computational Neuroscience
549 Laboratory in Neuroscience

Physics
557 Electronic Methods in Experimental Physics
561/562 Biophysics

Psychology
500, 501,502 Proseminar in Basic Problems in Psychology
(Cognitive, Social and Neuroscience)
503 Quantitative Analysis in Psychological Research
516 Neural Basis of Goal-Directed Behavior

Undergraduate Courses of Interest

Applied and Computational Mathematics
350 Methods in Partial Differential Equations

Chemical Engineering
448 Introduction to Nonlinear Dynamics

Computer Science
402 Artificial Intelligence
487 Theory of Computation
494 Special Topics in Artificial Intelligence

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
311 Animal Behavior
314 Comparative Physiology

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
345 Robotics and Intelligent Systems

Mathematics
201 Multivariable Calculus
202 Linear Algebra with Applications
203 Advanced Multivariable Calculus
204 Advanced Linear Algebra with Applications
305 Mathematical Programming

Molecular Biology
342 Genetics
345 Biochemistry
348 Cell and Developmental Biology
408 Cellular and Systems Neuroscience
431 Advanced Topics in Developmental Genetics and Neurobiology
437 Computational Neuroscience

Operations Research and Financial Engineering
201 Computer Methods for Problem Solving
245 Fundamentals of Engineering Statistics
307 Optimization
309 Probability and Stochastic Systems
411 Operations and Information Engineering

Philosophy
315 Philosophy of Mind
322 Philosophy of the Cognitive Sciences

Psychology
306 Memory and Cognition
330 Introduction to Connectionist Models: Bridging Between Brain and Mind
407 Developmental Neuroscience
437 Computational Neuroscience

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