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Introduction to the Graduate Program in Neuroscience
Degrees Offered: M.S. and Ph.D.
Washington
State
University’s
Program in Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary biomedical program featuring
world-renowned faculty whose focus is in the cellular and molecular
understanding of system biology issues.
The Neuroscience Program is administered
through the Department
of Veterinary and Comparative Anatomy, Pharmacology and Physiology (VCAPP)
in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Our faculty and students participate in a variety of graduate degree programs
within the University. These include not only Neuroscience, but also Pharmacology and
Toxicology, Biochemistry, Genetics, BioEngineering, Biotechnology and
Veterinary Science. Consequently, graduate
degrees may be taken via several distinct programs with concentrations in a
number of specialty areas, such as the neural regulation of physiology and
behavior, muscle physiology, and molecular and cellular neurobiology.
The research emphasis of our
faculty include: neurobiology of sleep, coordination of eating and energy
balance, diabetes, cellular function and biophysics of muscle and related
heart disease, memory, behavior, vision, reproduction, cardiovascular
physiology, muscle physiology, motor control, cancer, neurochemistry,
neuropharmacology, and drug abuse.
The Master of
Science (M.S.) degree program typically takes 2-3 years, whereas the Doctor of
Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree program takes 4-5 years. Students have the
opportunity to learn research techniques in areas such as electrophysiology, microiontophoresis, immunohistochemistry, cell culture, receptor
autoradiography, behavioral studies, molecular biology, biochemical analysis,
in vivo voltometry, microdialysis, fluorescence and electron
microscopy, image analysis, and computer-assisted molecular modeling.
After completion
of the two laboratory rotations (Neuro 531), the student will choose a mentor in
the specialty area of his or her choice. The student will also have a
Thesis or Advisory Committee made up of 3-4 other faculty so that the
student will be well versed in the chosen specialty area.
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