Program in Biomedical Neuroscience – About
- Admission to the Program
- Degree Requirements
- Research Requirements
- Qualifying Examinations
- Dissertation
- Faculty
1. Admission to the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience
Graduate students who have already applied for admission in an established, department-based, degree-granting graduate program (e.g., Physiology and Biophysics), and who also wish to study neuroscience at BUSM will apply for admission to the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience either at the time of their application, or during their first academic year. Any student who meets the criteria for acceptance into the departmental graduate program of any of the participating departments, and who also expresses a commitment to meet the requirements of the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience (see below), will be eligible for acceptance into the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience. All students must also meet the requirements of their respective departmental graduate programs. MD/PhD students are also eligible to participate in the program.
For application information, contact the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences, Boston University School of Medicine, 715 Albany Street, L-317, Boston, MA 02118-2394; 617/638-5120. For specific information contact Ms. Sara Johnson, Administrative Manager, at 617/638-4302, or the individual investigators.
2. Degree Requirements of the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience
A. Course requirements
Students who participate in the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience must fulfill the requirements of their department-based graduate program; students enrolled in training grants may also have additional course requirements.
The Division of Graduate Medical Sciences requires postbachelor’s PhD students to complete the equivalent of 64 credits of graduate-level courses and research, of which a minimum 24 credits must be in formal coursework. Each student in the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience is required to complete 14 course credits derived from the required courses listed below (note that various department-based graduate programs also require some of these courses). The remaining course credits that are needed to fulfill a particular department’s requirements are expected to include elective courses in the area of neuroscience (listed below). Each department-based graduate program also requires a certain number of laboratory research credits, and it is expected that students in the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience will perform such research in laboratories that pursue neuroscience research. All students in the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience are required to attend the ongoing Series on the Responsible Conduct of Research, sponsored by Boston University School of Medicine and the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences. Although not a formal course, students are also required to attend the Seminar Series sponsored by the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience.
1. Required Courses (14 to 18 credits)
a. Either the first course, or the second and third course, and the fourth course (10 or 12 credits):
GMS MS 703 Neuroscience this course provides a comprehensive treatment of the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system, with an emphasis upon the human nervous system. In the anatomy laboratories, the human brain and spinal cord is dissected, and neuronal cytology and axonal projections are microscopically examined using histological specimens. In the physiology tutorials, the functional foundations of neuronal excitability, disease conditions, and neuronal processing are presented. Special topic lectures on neurology, ophthalmology, and otolaryngology are also included. Five week course (January-February), 6 cr, 2nd sem.
OR
GMS AN 810 Systems Neurobiology this offering is Part 1 of a two-semester course at the graduate level that introduces students to a broad range of neuroscience, from cellular to cognitive. This section of the course covers basic cellular neuroscience, nervous system development, sensory systems, motor systems, and homeostatic regulatory systems. Training is organized around didactic lectures that are enhanced by seminar format class sessions using the primary literature as a source for historic as well as new discoveries that are redefining the field. Students explore neuroanatomy through the use of human brain dissection. Clinical vignettes are introduced throughout the course and provide the nexus point for discussions regarding structure/function relationships, 4 cr, 1st semester.
AND
GMS AN 811 Cognitive Neuroscience this offering is a continuation of the two-semester neuroscience course described above that provides an advanced graduate level introduction to experimental cognitive and behavioral neuroscience. Topics include experimental analyses of classical and operant conditioning, higher cortical functions, including attention, language, visuospatial abilities, memory, and executive functions. Students are also introduced to modern advances in cognitive neuroimaging and neuropsychological assessment. They also learn basic properties of cognitive disorders such as those seen in autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, alcohol and drug abuse, and a variety of neurological neuropsychological conditions, 4 cr, 2nd semester.
AND
GMS PM 700 Molecular Neurobiology and Pharmacology Examination of various topics, ranging from the regulation of gene expression in the nervous system to the structure and function of receptors and ion channels. Emphasis is placed upon the theoretical foundations of pharmacology and neurobiology, and the use of molecular and pharmacological methods in neuroscience. 4 cr, 2nd sem.
b. One of the following courses (4 to 8 credits):
GMS MS 753 Cell Biology An examination of the morphology of organelles, receptor biochemistry, responses to extracellular matrices, vesicles within cell, process of secretion; and the regulation of gene expression. Behavior of cells in culture and the cell cycle. This course surveys cellular differentiation, embryogenesis, biochemistry of fertilization, cell movement, and control of cell differentiation. (Required by Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology and Physiology PhD.) 4 cr, 1st sem.
GMS BI 751 Biochemistry or GMS BI 755 (4 cr.) and/or BI 756 Basic principles and concepts of graduate-level biochemistry in a one-semester course. Instruction includes protein structure and function; mechanisms of enzyme action; carbohydrate and lipid metabolism; bioenergetics; metabolism of amino acids and nucleotides; DNA and RNA synthesis, structure and function; regulation of gene expression. (Required by Departments of Biochemistry, Pharmacology, and Physiology and Biophysics) GMS BI 751 6 cr, 1st sem; GMS BI 755, 4 cr, 1st sem; GMS BI 756, 4 cr, 2nd sem.
c. One of the following three courses (other mathematics courses can be substituted, depending upon the student’s background) (2 to 4 credits):
Course Number TBA. An Introduction to Mathematical Models & Data Analysis in Neuroscience this seven week intensive course is a combination of lectures and hands-on computer laboratory projects that introduce students to key concepts of computational analysis that can be built from the ground up using real datasets as case studies. The material in this course is accessible to students of limited mathematical background. Course material ranges from basic visualization of data, descriptive characterization, power spectrum analysis, measures of association, network and principle component analysis, to concepts behind MATLAB and its use to build computational models that may explain activity of single neurons and their networks, 2 cr, 2nd sem.
GMS CI 670 Biostatistics with Computer This course is designed for students with no prior experience with statistics who want to utilize computer software in performing statistical analysis. Topics include the collection, classification, and presentation of descriptive data; the rationale of hypothesis testing; experimental design; t-tests; correlation and regression analysis; and analysis of contingency tables. Laboratory course. 4cr, 1st sem.
GMS MS 700 Elementary Biostatistics Topics include collection, classification, and presentation of descriptive data; the rationale of hypothesis testing; experimental design; t-tests; simple correlation analysis; and analysis of contingency tables. Special attention is directed to the ability to recognize and interpret statistical procedures in articles from current literature. 2 cr, 1st and 2nd sem.
As stated above, each department-based graduate program has its own specific requirements. In addition to the core program courses indicated above, the departmental requirements are:
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology (8 to 10 cr.)
| GMS AN 701 | Gross Anatomy | 8 |
| GMS AN 705 | Microscopic Anatomy of Tissues and Organs | 6 |
| GMS AN 706 | Anatomy Seminar | 2 |
Program in Behavioral Neuroscience (16 cr.)
| GMS BN 775, 776 | Human Neuropsychology, I, II | 4, 4 |
| GMS BN 796 | Neuropsychological Assessment I | 4 |
| GMS BN 798* | Functional Neuroanatomy in Neuropsychology | 4 |
*-not required of M.D./Ph.D. students
Department of Biochemistry (6 to 8 cr.)
| GMS BI 751 | Biochemistry (same as in 1b above) | 6 |
| Or | ||
| GMS MS 753 | Cell Biology (same as 1b above) | 4 |
| GMS BI 854 | Biochemistry Seminar | 2 |
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (12 cr.)
| GMS PA 700 | Basic and Experimental Pathology | 6 |
| GMS PA 510 | Medical Immunology | 2 |
| GMA PA 801, 801S | Special Topics in Pathology | 2 |
| GMS PA 800, 800S | Pathology Seminar | 2 |
Department of Pharmacology (10 to 14 cr)
| GMS MS 753 | Cell Biology (same as in 1b above) | 4 |
| Or | ||
| GMS | Biochemistry (same as 1b above) | 8 |
| GMS PM 810 | Current Topics in Pharmacological Sciences | 2 |
| GMS PH 542 | Human Physiology | 4 |
Department of Physiology and Biophysics:
Biophysics PhD (24 to 26 cr.)
| GMS BI 751 | Biochemistry (same as in 1b above) | 6 |
| GMS BY 771 | Foundations of Biophysics and Structural Biology | 6 |
| GMS BY 771 | Biophysics of Macromolecular Assemblies | 4 |
| GMS BY 871, 872 | Special Topics in Biophysics/Student Seminar |
Department of Physiology and Biophysics:
Physiology PhD (24 to 26 cr.)
| GMS MS 753 | Cell Biology (same as in 1b above) | 4 |
| Or | ||
| GMS MS 751 | Biochemistry (same as in 1n above) | 6 |
| GMS PH 542, 543 | Human Physiology A, B | 4, 4 |
| GMS PH 741, 742 | Experimental Methods in Physiology A, B | 4, 4 |
| GMS PH 842 | Physiology Seminar | 4 |
2. Elective Courses
Along with the courses listed above as requirements for the specific department-based graduate programs, the following elective courses are available to students in the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience:
| GMS AN 702 | Neurobiology of Learning and Memory | 2 |
| GMS AN 707 | Neurobiology of Aging | 2 |
| GMS AN 709 | Neural Development and Plasticity | 2 |
| GMS AN 804 | Special Topics in Anatomy | 2 |
| GMS AN 807 | Neurobiology of the Visual System | 2 |
| GMS AN 808 | Neuroanatomical Basis of Neurological Disorders | 2 |
| GMS BI 782 | Molecular Biology | 4 |
| GMS BI 783 | Structure and Function of Proteins | 2 |
| GMS BI 786 | Pathobiochemistry | 2 |
| GMS BI 789 | Physical Biochemistry | 2 |
| GMS BI 790 | Receptors and Signal Transduction | 2 |
| GMS BN 780 | Behavioral and Biological Aspects of Stress and Trauma | 4 |
| GMS BN 793 | Neuropsychology of Language | 4 |
| GMS BN 795 | Neuropsychology of Perception and Memory | 4 |
| GMS BN 797 | Neuropsychological Assessment II | 4 |
| GMS BN 821 | Seminar in Neuroimaging | 2 |
| GMS BN 891, 892 | Case Studies in Neuropsychology | 2, 2 |
| GMS BY 760 | Foundations in Biophysics and Structural Biology | 6 |
| GMS BY 771 | Biophysics of Molecular Assemblies | 4 |
| GMS BY 772 | Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Biology and Biochemistry | 2 |
| GMS BY 774 | Metabolism and Cellular Function of Complex Lipids | 2 |
| GMS BY 781 | Human Genetics | 4 |
| GMS BY 783, 784 | Molecular Basis of Neurological Disease | 2, 2 |
| GMS PH 740 | Physiology | 6 |
| GMS PH 843, 844 | Cellular Physiology I, II | 4, 4 |
| GMS PM 800 | Advanced General Phamacology | 2 |
| GMS PM 820 | Behavioral Pharmacology | 2 |
| GMS PM 840 | Neuroendocrine Pharmacology | 2 |
3 Research Requirements
Each participating academic department or program has its own research requirement (course listings below). It is expected that, for students participating in the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience, most research credits will involve work performed in laboratories engaged in neuroscience research.
| Department/Program | Course Listing |
| Anatomy and Neurobiology | GMS AN 901/902 |
| Behavioral Neuroscience | GMS BN 991, 992 |
| Biochemistry | GMS BI 951 |
| Biophysics | GMS BY 945, 946 |
| Pathology | GMS PA 901, 901S |
| Pharmacology | GMS PM 931, 932 |
| Physiology | GMS PH 941, 942 |
4 Qualifying Examination
All students in the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience must pass the qualifying examination of their department-based graduate program, an examination that precedes the student’s formal entry into doctoral research. The goal of these exams, which typically take the form of a written test and an oral discussion, is to evaluate the students’ command of information in the discipline of their graduate program and in neuroscience, their ability to think critically, and their ability to solve scientific problems.
The composition of the qualifying examination committee for a student in the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience will be in accordance with the guidelines established by the particular department, but will include at least one member of the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience faculty. In those circumstances where departmental requirements necessitate scheduling the qualifying exam prior to a student’s completion of course requirements for the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience, permission will be given, on an ad hoc basis by the attendant member of the Executive Committee, for the student to proceed with the examination. A student in good academic standing who fails the qualifying examination (written or oral component) may be permitted an opportunity to remedy this failure, in accordance with the rules of the department-based graduate program.
5 Dissertation Research
An intensive period of full-time research in neuroscience is the central element of the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience. The student’s research advisor (mentor) must be a member of the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience faculty.
In accordance with departmental guidelines, approximately 6 months after passing the qualifying examination, the student will present a dissertation research proposal to a research advisory committee that contains at least two members of the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience faculty. This committee is typically charged with monitoring and evaluating the student’s research direction and progress on a regular basis. It is anticipated that students will engage in full-time neuroscience research, under the direct supervision of their research advisor, for approximately three years.
Oral Defense of the Dissertation Research
At the completion of the dissertation research project, each student will prepare a written thesis documenting his or her research project. The format of this thesis document, as well as the acceptance of the dissertation research and its attendant oral defense, will be in accordance with the guidelines of the particular department-based graduate program and the University.
The composition of the dissertation defense committee will be based upon departmental requirements, but will include at least two members of the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience faculty. The student will present a public seminar of the dissertation research to the general BUSM community (i.e., the department, the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience, and the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences). The department-based graduate program and the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience will advertise this seminar.
6 Faculty
Karen M. Allen, Ph.D., Professor of Physiology and Biophysics
Carmela Abraham, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry
Peter Bergethon, M.D., Associate Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology
Gene Blatt, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology
Jan Krzysztof Blusztajn, Ph.D., Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Jiang-Fan Chen, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neurology and Pharmacology
Domenic A. Ciraulo, M.D., Professor and Chairman of Psychiatry
Howard Eichenbaum, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Pharmacology
David H. Farb, Ph.D., Professor and Chairman of Pharmacology
Lindsay A. Farrer, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine and Neurology
Terrell T. Gibbs, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pharmacology
Lee E. Goldstein, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Ophthalmology, Neurology, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine; Biomedical Engineering; Photonics
David A. Harris, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Chair of the Department of Biochemistry
Angela L. Jefferson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neurology
Gary Kaplan, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology
Conan Kornetsky, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology
Susan E. Leeman, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology
Jennifer Luebke, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology
Mark Moss, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Anatomy & Neurobiology
Marlene Oscar Berman, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience Douglas L. Rosene, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology
Shelley J. Russek, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology
Julie H. Sandell, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology
Jean-Jacques Soghomonian, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology
Michael Y. Sherman, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry
Helen Tager-Flusberg, Ph.D., Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology and Psychology
Benjamin Wolozin, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology and Neurology
