NEURS-PHD - Neurosciences (PhD)

Applications are made through the Graduate Admissions website and are due by Tuesday, November 30, 2021, at 11:59:59 pm (PST). The GRE is not required or accepted. Applicants should familiarize themselves with the research interests of the faculty and indicate their preferences clearly on the application form. Applicants selected for an interview are notified in early January. Admitted students are notified from early March through mid-April. Accepted students receive an award covering tuition, a living stipend, and a basic health plan.

Medical students may participate in this program provided they meet the prerequisites and satisfy all the requirements of the graduate program as listed below. The timing of the program may be adjusted in consultation with the advisory committee to fit their special circumstances.

The Neurosciences Program does not allow the transfer of units.

The Neurosciences Program is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by both the adviser and the advisee.

Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship. They should proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and take responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for the Neurosciences Ph.D. program.

All first year Neurosciences graduate student have an assigned first year adviser. This faculty member provides guidance on lab rotations, coursework, thesis lab selection, and reminds students of their academic and administrative responsibilities.

Graduate students are expected to select a thesis adviser by the end of the first year in the program and are encouraged to work collaboratively with their adviser to establish a dissertation project and form a Dissertation Reading Committee. Advancement to doctoral candidacy and the formation of a Dissertation Reading Committee is expected to occur by the end of the second year of the program.

Thesis advisers are expected to meet with graduate students at least once per year and help develop the student's Individual Development Plan (IDP). Additionally, advisers and students should meet on a regular basis throughout the year to discuss the student's professional development in key areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, navigating policies and degree requirements, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways. As a best practice, advising expectations should be periodically discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both the adviser and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.

Graduate students are expected to meet with their Dissertation Reading Committee at least annually in the third and fourth year of training, and at least twice annually starting in the fifth year of training.

Academic progress and student completion of program requirements and milestones are monitored by the program director and staff, and may be discussed by faculty at meetings devoted to assessing graduate student progress. A detailed description of the program's requirements, milestones, and advising expectations are listed in the Neurosciences Ph.D. Student Handbook, found on the program website.

For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the "Graduate Advising" section of this bulletin, the Stanford Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures (GAP) handbook. Additional guidance and resources are available from The Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education.

The interdepartmental Neurosciences Program offers instruction and research opportunities leading to a Ph.D. in Neurosciences. The requirements for a Ph.D. degree follow those of the University. Since students enter with differing backgrounds, and the labs in which they may elect to work cover several different disciplines, the specific program for each student is developed individually with an advisory committee and is tailored to fit the background and interests of the student.