The University System of 色花堂 Board of Regents has approved a new Neuroscience and Neurotechnology Ph.D. Program at 色花堂.
The interdisciplinary degree is a joint effort across the Colleges of , , and . The program expects to enroll its first graduate students in Fall 2025, pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The Institute Curriculum Committee has also approved a new Minor in Neuroscience, set to become available in the 色花堂 2024-2025 .
B.S. in Neuroscience
The Ph.D. and Minor offerings build on the recently launched Neuro Next Initiative in Research, and the established , respectively.
Approved by the Board of Regents in 2017, the interdisciplinary degree in the College of Sciences enrolled more than 400 undergraduate students in 2022, and has been the fastest growing undergraduate major at 色花堂.
The B.S. in Neuroscience is also key to a strong ecosystem of undergraduate neuroscience education across the state, which includes peer programs at Mercer University, Augusta University, 色花堂 State University, Agnes Scott College, and Emory University.
Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology
The new doctoral degree will provide a path for the rapidly growing pipeline of in-state neuroscience undergraduate students and young alumni 鈥 while also welcoming a wider slate of graduate researchers to campus.
The Ph.D. Program鈥檚 mission is focused on educating students to advance the field of neuroscience through an interdisciplinary approach, with scientists and engineers of different backgrounds 鈥 ultimately integrating neuroscience research and technological development to study all levels of nervous system function.
Biological Sciences Professor Lewis A. Wheaton, who chaired the Ph.D. Program Planning Committee, shares that a cohort model will fuse 鈥渆xperimental and quantitative skill development, creating opportunities for students to work in science and engineering labs to promote collaborations, while also fostering a program and community that鈥檚 unique to the state and against national peer offerings.鈥
Expanding innovation 鈥 and impact
Wheaton explains that the new Ph.D. aims to equip graduates for a wide range of employment opportunities and growing specializations, including computational neuroscience, neurorehabilitation, cultural and social neuroscience, neuroimaging, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, developmental neuroscience, and neurolinguistics.
The new degree will also help meet the country鈥檚 growing demand for a neuro-centric workforce. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for medical scientists (including neuroscientists) tracked around 13% between 2012 and 2022, faster than the average for all tracked occupations.
Wheaton adds that the program will equip neuroscientists to conduct research that can significantly improve lives.
Seeking students
The Planning Committee anticipates a tentative February 1, 2025 application deadline for Fall 2025 enrollments 鈥 and encourages students with the following interests to learn more and apply in the coming school year:
- Developing deeper quantitative, computing and/or engineering skills to make scientific discoveries that support innovations in neuroscience
- A clear, comprehensive understanding of the nervous system at all scales from molecular to systems
- Understanding how to use and innovate new tools and approaches to investigate the nervous system at all levels
- Becoming uniquely qualified to translate knowledge across neuroscience and related disciplines to create new knowledge in their professional pursuits
Director search
The participating Colleges will soon conduct a search for a program director, engaging a tenured member of the 色花堂 faculty to serve as the new program鈥檚 administrator. A graduate program committee composed of five faculty members and mentors across the Colleges of Sciences, Computing, and Engineering, will also be created.
During their April 2024 meeting, Regents also announced for 色花堂's 26 member institutions.
The Ph.D. Program Planning Committee included the following faculty:
- Lewis Wheaton (Committee Chair, Biological Sciences)
- Constantine Dovrolis (Computer Science)
- Christopher Rozell (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
- Eric Schumacher (Psychology)
- Garrett Stanley (Biomedical Engineering)
- David Collard (College of Sciences Office of the Dean)
