Graduate Program in Neuroscience
Here is a brief outline of typical progress toward the graduate degrees in my lab as I see it. Please check out the "official" neuroscience guidelines as well, although they are pretty sketchy and often out of date. There are very few strict deadlines in PhD programs, so this is only a series of typical milestones and program of studies. Individual mileage may vary.
Judy Bowers (bowers@bio.fsu.edu, 644-3023) is the official administrator of graduate students in Biological Science, so she is the final arbiter on all matters. As you approach deadlines, be sure to confirm University policy and requirements with her. Check with her early and often: a semester in advance is an appropriate timescale!
You should also be familiar with the official Biological Science guidelines and the Florida State Univeristy guidelines at the Office of Graduate Studies.
Here is the information sheet [DOC] that I give out during the recruitment weekend. I am committed to providing all graduate students in my laboratory with NRSA-level graduate stipends (as my funding allows); see current NIH stipend levels.
1. Master of Science Degree in Biological Science
2. Ph.D. Degree in Neuroscience
3. Useful Memos for Graduate Students
4. Useful Links for Graduate Students:
Department of Biological Science Guidelines
Program in Neuroscience Guidelines [PDF]
FSU Office of Graduate Studies
NIH NRSA Training Grants and Fellowships
Student Guide of the Association of Neuroscience Departments and Programs
Making the Right Moves, a career advice book from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
1. Master's Degree in Biological Science
Year One Summer
- Begin Research
- Attend Teaching workshop
Year One Fall
- Continue Research
- Required Core Courses
- Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
- Molecules to Behavior
- Responsibile Conduct in Research
- Attend Society for Neuroscience Conference
Year One Spring
- Continue Research
- Continue Course Work
- Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience (required core)
- Rushton Symposium Prep course
- Biology core elective
- Psychology core elective
- Declare Major Professor for Masters (Memo)
- Form Master's Committee (Memo)
- Attend (in Spring or Summer)
a Secondary Conference
e.g. SBN, AChemS, SSIB, L&M.
- Submit Society for Neuroscience Abstract
Year Two Summer
- Continue Research
- Present summer seminar
- 45 min Powerpoint presentation on research progress and plans
Year Two Fall
- Complete Course Work (18 graded
credit hours)
- Biology elective
- Psychology elective
- Hold First Committee Meeting
(memo)
- Review Research Progress
- Present Time Line
- Schedule Prospectus Deadline and Prospectus Defence
- Confirm program of studies (memo)
- Confirm seminar presentation requirment (memo)
- Write Prospectus
- Defend Prospectus (Memo)
- Attend Society for Neuroscience Conference
- Complete Brag Sheet
Year Two Spring
- Register for Thesis Defense semester
- Complete 1 semester teaching assignment
- Write Master's Thesis
- Defend Thesis (Memo)
- Rewrite and Submit Thesis as Scientific Paper
- Attend ( in Spring or Summer) a Secondary Conference
- Submit Society for Neuroscience Abstract
2. Ph.D. Degree in Neuroscience
The usual course of studies at FSU is to complete a Masters and then begin the Ph.D in the fall of Year Three. However, you may petition your committee at the beginning of Year Two to Bypass the Masters (memo), which indicates that the committee agrees that you are capable of completing projects, writing, and mastering the scientific literature -- i.e. ready to submit an NRSA proposal and prepare for prelims.
Year Three Summer
- Research
- Re-apply to the Graduate School for PhD degree.
- Present summer seminar
Year Three Fall
- Research
- Write and Submit NRSA proposal
- Select Major Professor for Ph.D. (memo)
- Form PhD Committee (memo)
- Hold Committee Meeting (memo)
- Review Research Progress
- Present Time Line
- Schedule Written and Oral Prelim Exams for fall or spring
- Attend Society for Neuroscience Meeting
Year Three Spring
- Research
- Complete Prelims in late fall
or early spring (memo)
- Plan on 1 month doing nothing but working on written part
- Defend Prospectus (NRSA proposal) (memo)
- Attend (in Spring or Summer) a Secondary Conference
- Submit Society for Neuroscience Abstract
Year Four Summer
- Research
Year Four Fall
- Research
- Complete Teaching Requirement
- (2 semesters total required for PhD)
- Hold Annual Committee Meeting
(memo)
- Review Research Progress
- confirm completion of teaching requiment (memo)
- Attend Society for Neuroscience Meeting
Year Four Spring
- Research
- Attend ( in Spring or Summer) a Secondary Conference
- Submit Society for Neuroscience Abstract
Year Five Summer
- Research
Year Five Fall
- Research
- Begin applying for postdocs
- Hold Annual Committee Meeting
(memo)
- Review Research Progress
- Schedule Dissertation Defense
- Attend Society for Neuroscience Meeting
Year Five Spring
- Register for Dissertation Defense Semester
- Complete dissertation
- Notify Judy Bowers of Dissertation time and place well ahead of time!
- Defend Dissertation (memo)
- Submit manuscripts!
3. Useful Memos for Graduate Students
Notice of Committee Meeting
Declare Major Professor for Masters
Form Master's Committee
Defend ProspectusConfirm program of studies
Confirm seminar presentation requirment
Defend Thesis
Select Major Professor for Ph.D.
Form PhD Committee
Complete Prelims in late fall or early spring
Defend Prospectus
Defend Dissertation