Texas

The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
Neuroscience Graduate Program

Contact:

James E. Blankenship, Ph.D.
University of Texas Medical Branch
301 University Blvd.
Galveston, TX 77555-0625

Telephone: (409) 772-2107
FAX: (409) 772-3381

E-Mail: jeblanke@utmb.edu
WWW: http://www.utmb.edu/Neuroscience

Other Degrees Offered in the Program: M.D./Ph.D.

Program Established: 1981

Number of Faculty: 50
Number of Students: 23

U.S. Citizens: 78%
Female: 43%
U.S. Underrepresented Minorities: 0%
American Indian, Hawaiian, Alaskan, or Pacific Islander: 2%
Hispanic: 1%

Number of Graduates in the Last Five Years: 15
Number of Faculty Who Have Supervised Graduate Student Theses Projects in Their Labs in the Last Five Years: 21
Average Number of Years to Complete the Program: 5.4

Program Description: The Neuroscience Graduate Program (NGP) is designed to provide students, through a core of required courses in the first-year Basic Biomedical Science Curriculum (BBSC) and in the NGP, with a broad foundation of knowledge in the biomedical sciences and the fundamental concepts of five major fields of neuroscience: neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neurochemistry, neuropharmacology and behavioral science. Advanced and elective courses allow students to attain a greater depth of knowledge in one or more of these areas. A number of the courses involve detailed examination of the contemporary literature. Seminars by visiting scientists and by local faculty provide a survey of areas of current research interests in neuroscience. Graduate students also present seminars on their research.

Students are introduced to the research laboratories of the graduate program faculty through an orientation course and completion of 2 to 4 laboratory rotations in the first year. After this, students are expected to choose a supervisory professor and to begin work on a research problem, the solution of which will become the dissertation. The research problem can be in any of the subdisciplines of neuroscience and can involve an analysis at any level from the molecular or membrane level to the systems level and behavior. Preparations available range from cell cultures, to brain slices, to intact invertebrates or vertebrates. Experimental techniques that are familiar to members of the faculty include current methods of experimental neuroanatomy, such as retrograde and anterograde tracing and marking procedures, immunocytochemistry, and electron and confocal microscopy; extra- and intracellular recording, voltage clamping, patch clamping and microiontophoresis; recordings of neural activity in awake, behaving animals; behavioral analysis; high-performance liquid chromatography, mass spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance and MRI; measurements of neurotransmitters and their enzymes; receptor assays; isolation and characterization of peptides and proteins; production of monoclonal antibodies; molecular biology and recombinant DNA technology; and other modern approaches to the analysis of neural structure and function.

Admission Requirements:

Baccalaureate degree (or equivalent) at an accredited University or College
Transcripts from each institution attended; there is no minimum GPA requirement
GRE scores (no minimum; subject test not required)
TOEFL score for foreign applicants of 213 computer, 550 paper
Three letters of reference
Preferred prerequisite course work including: differential and integral calculus, one year each of general physics, general chemistry, organic chemistry and biology and at least a year's work in advanced undergraduate or graduate-level courses that have relevance to the neurosciences, such as biology, physical chemistry, engineering, computer science, psychology, and other behavioral sciences
US applicants may be asked to come to Galveston for an interview
Foreign applicants may have a telephone interview

How and Where to Apply: Send application to Enrollment Services, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-1305, USA. Applications can be obtained from the world wide web (http://www2.utmb.edu/utmbapp/App_Intro.asp) and submitted electronically.

Annual Tuition and Fees: Average for all students $3,000

Approximate Cost of Living: $21,000

Housing Availability and Costs Per Year: Rental properties including houses, apartments, garage apartments, dorms are within walking distance of UTMB. Students dorms are currently (per person, double occupancy) $195/month. Other rentals range $400-$700

Day-Care Facilities Available and Costs Per Month: On-campus, University-operated day care is available for $334/mo.

Stipend/Assistantships and Financial Assistance: All students in good academic standing receive an annual assistantship of $23,000 (2005-06 AY). Students also receive fringe benefits, including complete health coverage. The assistantship does not include a waiver of tuition; however, it does allow students to pay tuition at in-state rates. Students may also apply for individual fellowships.

How to Apply for Financial Assistance: There is no separate application process for assistantships.

Last revised November 2006
http://www.andp.org/programs/graduate/unitedstates/texas/utgal.htm

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