The Molecular and Systems Neuroscience area offers our students a rigorous and balanced introduction to contemporary molecular, cellular, and systems-level neuroscience. The first-year curriculum includes an introduction to graduate neuroscience, statistics, and laboratory research. During the second year, our students choose their advanced neuroscience electives, become more deeply involved in their Ph.D. thesis research, and prepare for their qualifying exam.

Aside from required classes and milestones, the curriculum and progress to the doctorate are highly individualized to meet your needs and interests. These components of the degree are crafted in consultation with your advisor and advisory committee, as shown below:

The choice of a research lab is the single most important decision a graduate student will make. While some students will come to Indiana University having already identified their Ph.D. thesis lab, others will not yet be certain which lab is best for them. To assist this latter group of students, our first-year Molecular and Systems Neuroscience students will have the option to do three five-week rotations in different labs during their first semester. After this experience, they choose one of these labs for their dissertation research.

Molecular + Systems Neuroscience labs

• Heather Bradshaw - Bradshaw Lab of Lipid Neuroscience
• Jonathon Crystal - Comparative Cognition Laboratory
• Joseph Farley
• Preston Garraghty
• Norbert Hajos
• Andrea Hohmann
• Istvan Katona
• Cary Lai
• Hui-Chen Lu - Lu Laboratory
• Ken Mackie
• Ehren Newman - Newman Memory Lab
• Anne Prieto - Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience Lab

Learn more about our Ph.D. degree in the Student Portal