Undergraduate Training in Neuroscience. Stay up to date with Neuroscience at the University of Chicago

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1 Stay up to date with Neuroscience at the University of Chicago Join our Facebook page: Follow us on Check out Neuroscience events calendar: neuroscience.uchicago.edu/events/ Undergraduate Training in Neuroscience

2 Students often are drawn to neuroscience at a young age and for a wide range of reasons - from a fascination with the brain to a desire to understand human behavior. The major will follow in the College s tradition of interdisciplinary studies by connecting neurobiology with fields as varied as psychology, economics and linguistics. - Peggy Mason, Ph.D Director of Undergraduate Major Neuroscience Major Neuroscience is the study of neurons and neural systems and their outputs: sensation, perception, homeostasis and behavior. Neural function is investigated at the levels of molecules, cells, circuits, organisms, and species, and is inherently multidisciplinary. Students entering into the neuroscience undergraduate major can explore neuroscience from biological, psychological, computational, biochemical, theoretical, and medical perspectives. The University of Chicago offers a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. Majoring students will have also have the ability to obtain honors in Neuroscience. Photo Credit: D. Freedman Lab

3 Students often are drawn to neuroscience at a young age and for a wide range of reasons - from a fascination with the brain to a desire to understand human behavior. The major will follow in the College s tradition of interdisciplinary studies by connecting neurobiology with fields as varied as psychology, economics and linguistics. - Peggy Mason, Ph.D Director of Undergraduate Major Neuroscience Major Neuroscience is the study of neurons and neural systems and their outputs: sensation, perception, homeostasis and behavior. Neural function is investigated at the levels of molecules, cells, circuits, organisms, and species, and is inherently multidisciplinary. Students entering into the neuroscience undergraduate major can explore neuroscience from biological, psychological, computational, biochemical, theoretical, and medical perspectives. The University of Chicago offers a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. Majoring students will have also have the ability to obtain honors in Neuroscience. Photo Credit: D. Freedman Lab

4 Summary of Neuroscience Core Requirements BIOS Fundamentals of Neuroscience This course provides a rigorous introduction to the study of neurons, nervous systems and brains. In the first half of the course, the functional neuroanatomy of the vertebrate brain is covered in depth with an introduction to our modern molecular understanding of brain development. In the second half, students learn the cellular physiology involved in neuronal communication and use this information to explore the retinal circuits that provide the first step in the visual pathway. BIOS Cellular Neurobiology This course describes cellular and subcellular components of neurons. Basic membrane and electrophysiological properties are introduced. Cellular and molecular aspects of synaptic transmission are examined, leading to an in-depth analysis of mechanisms involved in the generation and modulation of behavior in select model systems. BIOS Systems Neuroscience Vertebrate and invertebrate systems neuroscience is introduced with a focus on the anatomy, physiology, and development of sensory and motor control systems. The neural bases of form and motion perception, locomotion, memory, and other forms of neural plasticity are examined in detail. PSYC Sensation and Perception This course focuses on visual and auditory phenomena, including basic percepts (for example, acuity, brightness, color, loudness, pitch) and also more complex percepts such as movement and object recognition. Biological underpinnings of perception are an integral part of the course. NSCI Neuroscience Laboratory Course The Neuroscience laboratory course gives students the ability to gain valuable research experience in a laboratory setting. As part of the required curriculum for the Neuroscience major, the course is designed to give students insight into molecular neuroscience, cellular electrophysiology, and computation and psychophysics. This laboratory course will be available starting in the academic year.

5 Neuroscience Electives Upon arrival at the University of Chicago, students are assigned to general college advisors who help them navigate their student life and general course/curriculum needs. Students entering into the Neuroscience major in their second year should also engage with the Director of Undergraduate studies to discuss specific goals and interests in neuroscience as well as to receive approval on directed Neuroscience electives. Below is a selection of Neuroscience electives open to students who satisfy the course prerequisites. BIOS Neurobiology of Seeing This course focuses on the neural basis of vision, in the context of the following two questions: 1. How does the brain transform visual stimuli into neuronal responses? 2. How does the brain use visual information to guide behavior? NURB Synaptic Physiology Synaptic Physiology covers the basic principles of synaptic transmission and plasticity using a combination of lecture and discussion of primary literature. CMSC Computational Linguistics This course looks at several current topics in natural language processing, and discusses the theoretical basis for this work. Students will engage in hands-on practical experiments with linguistic corpora. CMSC Computer Vision This course covers deformable models for detecting objects in images. Topics include one-dimensional models to identify object contours and boundaries; two-dimensional models for image matching; and sparse models for efficient detection of objects in complex scenes. PSYC Learning and Memory This course considers the underlying neurobiology of learning and memory alongside the larger behavioral context to understand the links between experience, neural function, and learning-guided behavior. For more information and to view all Neuroscience electives, visit:

6 Undergraduate Laboratory Research Independent research experiences offer students a taste of laboratory research during the academic year. Students have an opportunity to transform knowledge learned in the classroom into tangible skills and to experience science as a dynamic evolving truth. Under the supervision of Neuroscience faculty, students develop valuable scientific techniques and problem solving skills while learning to function independently in a laboratory setting. There are several mechanisms through which students can work in a laboratory setting. Interested students should begin by familiarizing themselves with faculty members and their relevant research areas by reviewing a list of neuroscience faculty at: neuroscience.uchicago.edu/faculty. Inquiries for laboratory research can be made directly to faculty. A system is currently being designed to match students with prospective research laboratories. This mechanism will be made available in the winter quarter. Undergraduates pursuing a BS or honors in Neuroscience will be required to complete experimental research within a laboratory setting. For more information on Neuroscience Research, visit the course catalog:

7 Photo Credit: D. Simmons, Hansel Lab Neuroscience Summer Research Program This summer research program provides undergraduates with the opportunity to gain laboratory research experience under accomplished Neuroscience faculty. Students will explore potential research and career paths while developing useful skills in a laboratory setting. The Program provides students with access to high performing summer projects in conjunction with faculty mentors, graduate students or post-doctoral fellows. Applications for summer research funding will be available in the Winter term at Neuroscience.uchicago.edu/undergraduate

8 Neuroscience on the Seine Neuroscience students have an opportunity to fulfill the Introduction to Cellular Neurobiology and Sensation and Perception course requirements during the winter study abroad program in Paris, France. They will also get credit for one Neuroscience elective (topic in : Neuroanatomy). Students must fulfill the BIOS 24203, Fundamentals of Neuroscience prerequisite, in the Autumn quarter in order to qualify for participation in the study abroad program. Note that this course is currently only offered in odd numbered academic years. For more information, visit: programs/paris-neuroscience University of Chicago Neuro Club The Neuroscience Education, Undergraduate Research & Outreach (NEURO) Club is a Registered Student Organization (RSO) at the University of Chicago centered on college students interested in the field of Neuroscience and in educating the on-campus and surrounding community about Neuroscience. NEURO is committed to expanding public knowledge about the brain sciences in an understandable and applicable manner in both the campus and surrounding communities.

9 Neuroscience on the Seine Neuroscience students have an opportunity to fulfill the Introduction to Cellular Neurobiology and Sensation and Perception course requirements during the winter study abroad program in Paris, France. They will also get credit for one Neuroscience elective (topic in : Neuroanatomy). Students must fulfill the BIOS 24203, Fundamentals of Neuroscience prerequisite, in the Autumn quarter in order to qualify for participation in the study abroad program. Note that this course is currently only offered in odd numbered academic years. For more information, visit: programs/paris-neuroscience University of Chicago Neuro Club The Neuroscience Education, Undergraduate Research & Outreach (NEURO) Club is a Registered Student Organization (RSO) at the University of Chicago centered on college students interested in the field of Neuroscience and in educating the on-campus and surrounding community about Neuroscience. NEURO is committed to expanding public knowledge about the brain sciences in an understandable and applicable manner in both the campus and surrounding communities.

10 Stay up to date with Neuroscience at the University of Chicago Join our Facebook page: Follow us on Check out Neuroscience events calendar: neuroscience.uchicago.edu/events/ Undergraduate Training in Neuroscience