Virginia

George Mason University
Neuroscience PhD Program

Contact:

James L. Olds, PhD
Neuroscience PhD Program
George Mason University
Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study
MSN 2A1 4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030

Telephone: (703) 993-4378
FAX: (703) 993-4325

E-Mail: jolds@gmu.edu
WWW: http://neuroscience.gmu.edu

Year Established: 2004

Number of Faculty: 30
Number of Students: 11

US Citizens: 45%
Female: 10%

Number of Graduates in the Last Five Years: n/a

Average Number of Years to Complete the Program: n/a

Program Description: The new interdisciplinary Neuroscience Ph.D. program at George Mason University is a joint program between The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), the School of Computational Sciences (SCS), and the Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study at George Mason. It is administered by the Computational Neuroscience Program within SCS.

The main objective of the Ph.D. program in Neuroscience is to train students to be research scientists in academia, industry, and government. The program provides students with an interdisciplinary academic environment for comprehensively developing their intellectual ability to successfully pursue a career in the neurosciences.

The neuroscience faculty at GMU consists of a unique blend of traditional experimental and theoretical scientists. Research focuses on the broad areas of behavior, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, computational modeling, and informatics. The level of research ranges from the subcellular / molecular level (in the context of such phenomena as drug addiction and the biological basis of schizophrenia) to the systems / behavioral level. External research collaborations exist with federal agencies, private corporations and other universities. Some of the key research initiatives currently underway at George Mason University include:

effects of drugs and alcohol on behavioral and neurological development;
cellular organization and connections of sensory processing areas in fish;
connection between quantum processes and brain dynamics;
biochemical dynamics in disorders of the basal ganglia;
computational methods for simulation of complex biological systems;
description and generation of neuronal morphology;
adaptive control for stabilization of epilepsy;
role of metals in memory and Alzheimer's disease;
biochemical/metabolic simulations at the organism level;
cellular and sub-cellular models of associative learning.

Admission Requirements:

Undergraduate Record

Applicants are expected to have a 3.25 GPA or better, with course work in biochemistry (e.g. BIOL 583) and cell biology (e.g. BIOL 584). In addition, students interested in the theoretical, computational or physiological neuroscience are expected to have completed integral calculus.

Strong candidates who lack several prerequisites to any concentration may be admitted to provisional status. Removal from provisional status, and continuation in the program, is contingent upon earning a GPA of 3.25 in the program's fundamental courses, plus completion of missing prerequisites.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

The GRE exam must have been taken within the past five years prior to the date of application submission. A TOEFL score of 575 (paper-based exam) or 230 (computer-based exam) is required for international students.

Recommendation Letters

Applicants must obtain three strong letters of recommendation from faculty members or individuals who have firsthand knowledge of the applicant’s academic or professional capabilities.

Statement of Purpose

Applicants must draft a statement of purpose consistent with the research interests of at least one faculty member in the program.

How, or Where to Apply: Applicants should forward the following materials to the Application Processing Center of the School of Computational Sciences:

Completed application form with fee;
All undergraduate and graduate transcripts;
GRE scores (use code 5827);
Three letters of recommendations; and
A statement of purpose, including the names of two faculty members that may be suitable as Advisors or supervisory committee members.

The faculty reserves to the right to require interviews as deemed appropriate.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE AND MAILING ADDRESS

Please send application and $60 application fee (payable to George Mason University) to the address below. Applications sent to other addresses will not be considered.

George Mason University
Application Processing Center
CSI / Mail Stop 5C3 4400 University Dr.
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444

Annual Tuition and Fees Costs: $659/credit hour +$60 one time new student fee

Approximate Cost of Living Per Year: $20,000

Stipend/Assistantships and Financial Assistance: Financial assistance is available at competitive levels through graduate research assistantships, graduate teaching assistantships and fellowships to outstanding candidates.

How, if Necessary, to Apply: All applications are automatically considered

Last revised September 2004
http://www.andp.org/programs/graduate/unitedstates/virginia/gm_neurosci_phd.htm

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