The Ohio State University Neuroscience Graduate Studies Program

1
The Ohio State University Neuroscience Graduate
Studies Program

• Gretchen N. Neigh
• Michael S. Beattie

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First year Introduction to discipline and
department

• Habits of mind
• Go beyond the minimum
• Challenge your instructors
• Depth and Breadth
• Core curriculum
• Molecular through Behavioral Neuroscience
• Seminar series

3
Introduction to the research enterprise

• Starting point
• Core curriculum
• Rotations
• Becoming a researcher
• 10 min update
• Asking the right questions

4
Significant Transition

• Candidacy Exam
• From classroom to bench top
• Tests breadth of knowledge
• Probes depth
• Determines readiness for thesis research

5
Dissertation and defense

• Topic selection
• Highly variable
• Format
• Writing
• Oral Exam
• When are you ready?

6
Choosing a mentor/laboratory

• Key step in development
• Determines trajectory of development
• Determine integration into scientific community

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Innovation (Student Initiated)

• Lunch Series
• Professional skills development
• Foster student-student interactions
• Foster faculty-student interactions
• Provide open forum for taboo questions

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Novel Idea

• Student-Student mentoring
• Assigned upon arrival
• Meet initially bi-monthly, then as needed
• Pros and Cons
• Help students feel connected
• Depends on mentoring skills of senior student