The Neurosciences program at Memorial University offers graduate students the opportunity to pursue research within an interdisciplinary setting. Entering students obtain training in neuroscience through courses, journal club and visiting speakers program. Many members of the Neuroscience program are members of the Newfoundland chapter of the Society for Neuroscience and participate annually in Brain Awareness Week. .
The Neuroscience Group consists of faculty from the Division of BioMedical Sciences within the Faculty of Medicine and from the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Science. Neuroscience research facilities are housed within the Health Sciences Centre which also contains the General Hospital, the Janeway Children's Hospital, Schools of Pharmacy and Nursing and the Health Sciences Library.
Deadline for Applications
Graduate Student Neuroscience Courses
We consider applications throughout the year. However, to be considered for the Dean’s Fellowship, applications must be made to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies by April 1. An entering student must have first class standing (an A average; 80% or better) in the last two years of his or her undergraduate program. Guidelines for applying for this award are provided on the Faculty of Medicine Graduate Studies website (http://www.med.mun.ca/Graduate/GraduateStudies/Studentships-and-Fellowships.aspx).
M.Sc. in Medicine (Neuroscience)
Students are encouraged to contact potential supervisors from the faculty list below before applying to the program. A student may also apply to the program without having identified a supervisor. Once a supervisor is selected and the supervisor agrees to take on the student, a supervisory committee is formed, a project is submitted and the application is forwarded to graduate studies for approval.
A minimum of two graduate courses is required; they are selected to fit the student's needs and interests. Students in the program are normally required to take Systems Neuroscience (MED 6196) and one other graduate level course. Courses are generally organized in lecture and/or seminar fashion with some courses having significant laboratory components. See course descriptions below for details. The Masters program is thesis based and generally takes approximately 2 years to complete.
Transfer from the M.Sc. to the Ph.D.
Normally, to be considered for admission for the Ph.D. program, the minimum requirements will be a Master’s degree from a university of recognized standing, in an appropriate area of study (Regulation 1.2.1.3 University calendar). However, if a student shows aptitude for research and excellent progress in the M.Sc. program then he/she may apply to transfer into a Ph.D. program. The transfer follows the general regulations of the School of Graduate Studies (section 1.2.1.3): the student must be registered for a minimum of 12 months in the M.Sc. program and the transfer should take place no later than the 5th semester of the program. Following an approved transfer the Ph.D. is retroactive to the admission date of the program of study. Graduate students in the Faculty of Medicine wishing to transfer to the Ph.D. program should discuss this with both the supervisor and program coordinator and must have the approval of the supervisory committee. Recommendation for transfer is based on a satisfactory written report and oral presentation to the supervisory committee. In addition, students in the Neuroscience program must give a research seminar to the neuroscience group based on their thesis research topic.
Ph.D. (Neuroscience)
Ph.D. students are expected to take an active role in formulating a research project.
Ph.D. students are required to take the comprehensive examination following general regulation 1.2.8.2 of the University Calendar. In the Faculty of Medicine the comprehensive examination is both written and oral and must be completed before the end of the 7th semester. The specific areas to be examined are decided upon by the examination committee in consultation with the student's supervisor.
Normally, students in the Ph.D. program are required to complete two graduate level courses (both of which would be in Neuroscience and include Systems Neuroscience Med 6196). Course selection is made on the recommendation and advice of the supervisory committee.
The thesis-based Ph.D. generally takes 4-5 years to complete.
Graduate Student Neuroscience Courses
Medicine 6197 -- 2011 Cell and Molecular Neuroscience (pdf)
Medicine 6198 -- 2009 Neuroanatomy for Graduate Students (pdf)
Medicine 6196 -- 2008 Systems Neuroscience (pdf)
High School Outreach Program
Brain Storm/Art Competition
In recent years, our group has held Brain Storm and Brain Art competitions for high school students. A video of the 2006 and 2007 competitions is available.
For information about the 2010 Brain Storm Competitions, please click here
Seminar Series
Program Seminars and Journal Club -- The Neurosciences Group conducts a weekly seminar series during the fall and winter semesters of the academic year. These seminars serve primarily as a forum for graduate students and faculty to present new research findings and ideas. It is expected that graduate students beyond their first year in the program will give one research seminar each year thereafter.
Click here to see the 2012 Winter/Spring Journal Club schedule.
Visiting Speaker Program (since 2000)-- Scientists from other parts of Canada, the United States and elsewhere are invited to give seminars to the students and faculty in the Neurosciences Program. This provides the opportunity for scientific exchange between our faculty and students and scientists from other institutions.
Awards
University Fellowships -- University fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis to outstanding students by the School of Graduate Studies upon the recommendation of the Faculty of Medicine. Currently, M.Sc. fellowships are valued at $18,000 and PhD fellowships are valued at $20,000 per annum.
Colman Graduate Student Award -- This award, valued at $1,000, is made annually to the PhD graduate student in the Faculty of Medicine deemed to have excelled in all aspects of his/her program of study. Applications are accepted by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies (Medicine) and should be accompanied by a letter of support from the student's supervisor.
Burness Graduate Student Award -- This prize, valued at $1,000, is awarded annually to the MSc graduate student in the Faculty of Medicine whose research is of outstanding quality. Applications are accepted by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies (Medicine) and should be accompanied by a letter of support from the student's supervisor.
The Golden Synapse Award -- Once a year a special seminar is held during which students give a 10-15 min. presentation of their research. The presentations are judged by faculty and prizes are awarded for the best presentations.
Inquiries concerning the Neurosciences Program can be directed to:
Dr. Michiru Hirasawa, Neurosciences Program Coordinator
Phone (709) 777-6727
Fax: (709) 777-7010
email: michiru@mun.ca
Participating Faculty:
Chen, X., PhD (Cambridge): Regulation of dopamine neurons.
Corbett, D., PhD (Concordia): Stroke, Cerebral protection, and recovery of function.
Hirasawa, M., PhD, DVM (Tokyo): Central control of body weight; Structural remodeling of adult synapse.
McLean, J., PhD (Dalhousie): A window on promoting memory
Mearow, K.M., PhD (McMaster): Cellular and molecular mechanisms that are involved in neuronal survival and axonal growth.
Moody-Corbett, F., PhD (McGill): Voltage sensitive ion channels in developing cells.
Vanderluit, J. PhD (Univ. British Columbia) Neurogenesis in the developing and adult mammalian brain.
Weber, J. PhD (Virginia): Mechanisms of toxicity and protection in neurons
Yuan, Q. PhD (Memorial University): Neuronal mechanisms underlying associative memory
Affiliated Faculty
Adamec, R. PhD (McGill): 1) Pre-clinical models of traumatic stress effects on brain and emotions; 2) Limbic seizures and inter-ictal psychopathology.
Evans, J. PhD (Wales): Mechanisms involved in habituation and sensitization.
Harley, C. PhD (Oregon): 1)Encoding of information by the hippocampus; 2)mechanisms of synaptic plasticity.
Malsbury, C. PhD (McGill): Effects of gonadal hormones on brain and behavior, brain sex differences and how they develop.