Program
in
Biomedical
Neuroscience
David
H. Farb PhD, Program Director
Susan
E. Leeman PhD, Executive Program Director
Program
Information
The
goal of interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Neuroscience is to provide
an academic and research environment at the Boston University School
of Medicine in which to train pre-doctoral students who are committed
to careers in neuroscience. These students benefit from and contribute
to, the active discipline of neurosciences at the Boston University
School of Medicine. The central element of this program is an
intensive period of full-time research in neuroscience. Students
eligible to participate in this program pursue the PhD or MD/PhD degree;
no Master of Arts degree is offered. Students who complete the
program will be awarded a degree that indicates their basic science
department and the Program in Biomedical Neuroscience. The basic
science departments currently participating in the Interdisciplinary
Program in Biomedical Neuroscience include: Anatomy and Neurobiology,
Biochemistry, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pharmacology, Physiology
and Biophysics as well as the Program in Behavioral Neuroscience.
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 Neruoscience 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
Neurosciences (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.
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 Neurosciences 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.
Both of the following two courses (8 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), 4 cr, 2nd sem.
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 & 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
two courses (other mathematics courses can be substituted, depending
upon the student's background) (2 to 4 credits):
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 & Neurobiology (8 to 10 cr.)
| |
|
Credits |
| GMS AN 701 |
Gross Anatomy |
8 |
| or GMS AN
705, 706 |
Microscopic
Anatomy of Tissues and Organs |
6 |
| |
Anatomy Seminar |
2 |
Program
in Behavioral Neuroscience (16 cr.)
| |
|
Credits |
| GMS
BN 775, 776 |
Human
Nueropsychology, 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.)
| |
|
Credits |
| 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.)
| |
|
Credits |
| GMS PA 700 |
Basic and
Experimental Pathology |
6 |
| GMS PA 510 |
Medical Immunology |
2 |
| GMS PA 801,
801S |
Special Topics
in Pathology |
2 |
| GMS PA 800,
800S |
Pathology
Seminar |
2 |
Department
of Pharmacology (10 to 14 cr)
| |
|
Credits |
| 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:
Physiology
PhD (24
to 26 cr.)
| |
|
Credits |
| 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 |
Department
of Physiology and Biophysics: Biophysics PhD (14 cr.)
| |
|
Credits |
| GMS BI 751 |
Biochemistry
(same as in 1b above) |
6 |
| GMS BY 760 |
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 |
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 |
Neurophychology
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 Magentic
Resonance Spectroscopy in Biology and Biochemistry |
2 |
| GMS BY 774 |
Metabolism
and Cellular Function of Complex Lipids |
2 |
| GMS MS 781 |
Human Genetics |
4 |
| GMS MS 783,
784 |
Molecular
Basis of Neurological Disease |
2,2 |
| GMS PH 740 |
Physiology |
6 |
| GMS PH 843,
844 |
Cellular Phyisology
I, II |
4,4
|
| GMS PM 800 |
Advanced General
Pharmacology |
2 |
| GMS PM 820 |
Behavioral
Pharmacology |
2 |
| GMS PM 840 |
Neuroendocrine
Pharmacology |
2 |
B.
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 Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Neuroscience,
most research credits will involve work performed in laboratories engaged
in neuroscience research.
| Department/Program |
Course
Listing |
| Anatomy
& 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 |
C.
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.
D.
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.
E.
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.
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.
