The curriculum of the Ph.D. program consists of required and elective courses, laboratory rotations, seminars, and journal clubs. The goals are to provide students with a detailed and comprehensive background in modern neuroscience, to teach them to solve scientific problems, and to prepare them for the production of original, cutting-edge research.

Courses

Core courses in cell and molecular biology, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, membrane biology and biophysics, and integrative neuroscience are required for all students. These courses provide a general framework for students in the broad area of neuroscience. The schedule also allows time for elective courses in the second year; these provide more in-depth information in specific areas of neuroscience. In addition after completing the core courses and before graduating, students are required to complete one Special Topics in Neuroscience Course (NEU 631) of their choosing. A list of special topic courses being offered this year is available on-line.

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Laboratory rotations

Students choose three or more laboratory research rotations with the assistance of their advisors. Each rotation is the equivalent of 4 weeks full-time bench work. These rotations give students a "feel" for what goes on in the laboratories of interest, to help students make an informed choice of dissertation mentor. Rotations also expose students to different techniques, scientific philosophies and research approaches.

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Seminars and Journal Clubs

These aspects of the curriculum continue throughout a student's stay in the Program. Students attend neuroscience-related seminars each week, as well as special seminars associated with Neuroscience Research Day, the Miami Project Lecture Series, and the R.P. Bunge Memorial Lecture series. Each student also presents a seminar to program faculty and students once per year. In addition, students participate and present in at least one of our neuroscience-related journal clubs (e.g., Neuroscience, Ion Channels, Synaptic Transmission, Hot Topics)

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Dissertation

After completion of rotations and coursework, and passage of a qualifying exam, students choose a mentor for their dissertation research. They each prepare and defend a dissertation proposal with the assistance of a supervisory committee, and then conduct, write and defend their thesis research with the assistance of a dissertation committee.

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A SAMPLE CURRICULUM

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Third and Fourth Years

Each semester: Dissertation research, teaching, Neuroscience Journal Club, and optional electives. In addition after completing core courses and before graduating, students are required to complete one Special Topics in Neuroscience Course (NEU 631) of their choosing. A list of special topic courses being offered this year is available on-line.

CORE COURSES

NEU601 Introduction to Neuroscience Techniques (NEU 601): Hands-on exercises in research laboratories introduce first-year Neuroscience students to methods commonly used in the Neurosciences. The course includes selected techniques from electrophysiology, immunocytochemistry, fluorescence microscopy, recombinant DNA, protein immunoblotting and functional imaging. There is also a computer lab on searches and analyses in public databases. Students are required to complete a lab notebook of each exercise. There is also a segment on database searches.

sample curriculum

Cellular and Molecular Biology (IBS 601/602): Intensive interdisciplinary survey of cell and molecular biology given to all first-year graduate students and taught by the best-qualified faculty from all basic science departments; four lectures and one discussion per week. Fall topics include protein structure/function; RNA and protein synthesis, genetics, gene technology, molecular anatomy of genes and chromosomes, DNA replication and repair, transport across membranes, RNA processing, and posttranslational control. Spring topics include cell organization/membrane structure, signal transduction, protein synthesis and sorting, nerve cell signaling, cytoskeleton, cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, cell cycle, cancer, and immune function.

sample curriculum

Principles of Membrane Physiology and Biophysics (NEU 641): This course both provides the students with a survey of membrane structure and function and develops the ability for quantitative and critical thinking. Course content has recently been enhanced by the use of in-class computer simulations to facilitate understanding of ion channel function and action potential mechanisms. Topics include osmosis and cell volume; tracer analysis of permeability and compartmentation; theory of channels and carriers; cable properties; Hodgkin-Huxley formalism; Na, K and Ca ion channels; regulation of cellular Na and Ca activities; single-channel analysis; chemical synapses; membrane receptors; cell junctions; excitation and E-C coupling in muscle.

sample curriculum

Fundamentals of Neuroscience I/II (NEU 661/662): Survey of the cell biology of the nervous system and the neural control mechanisms underlying behavior. Major sections of this two-semester course include neuronal cell biology, sensory neurobiology, organization and synaptic connections of specific invertebrate, brain, and spinal cord systems, and "higher" nervous system functions.

sample curriculum

Research Ethics (NEU 680). As part of its compliance with NIH guidelines, the University of Miami created the interdisciplinary graduate course, "Research Ethics." The course features didactic material and provides opportunities for group discussion on the following topics, among others: Scientific Misconduct, Responsibility and Data Management; Social Mechanisms in Science: Publication and Authorship; Intellectual Property and Conflicts of Interest; Use of Animals in Research; Human Subjects and Informed Consent; and Handling Fraud and Misconduct. Guest faculty give presentations on selected topics; other presentations are by the director of the University's Bioethics Program, Dr. Ken Goodman.

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Neuroanatomy (NEU 697): Functional neuroanatomy of mammalian nervous system. Laboratory segments include dissections of sheep and human brains, and extensive interactive computer lessons using laser videodisks and programs with pictures, text, clinical examples, and 3D rotations of the nervous system.

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IBS 683 Professional Skills and Ethics I (IBS 683): Intensive workshop with a combination of lectures, discussions, readings and writing exercises to enhance the professional development of beginning graduate students. Topics include strategies for selecting mentors, professional writing, oral presentation and ethics in research.

sample curriculum

ELECTIVE COURSES

Developmental Neurobiology NEU 663 (3 credits). Development of the nervous system in all its aspects: origins of neurons and glia; nerve cell differentiation; cellular interactions during neurogenesis; formation of synaptic connections and neuronal circuits; development of nervous functions and ontogeny of behavior; mechanisms of repair and reorganization in the nervous systems; and theories of neuronal plasticity.

Electron Microscopy Biol 554 (4 credits). Techniques in transmission electron microscopy including tissue preparation, use of the electron microscope, photography, and interpretation of micrographs. Lecture 1 hour; laboratory, 6 hours.

Cell Signaling MCP 652 (3 credits). Recent advances in the molecular biology of cellular activation by hormones and neurotransmitters. Hormone-regulated signal transduction mechanisms and the manner in which they interact to control cellular responses as they pertain to the pharmacology of drug and hormone action.

Nerve and Synapse PHS 669 (2 credits). An advanced seminar course in the basic mechanisms underlying the propagated nerve impulse and synaptic transmission, including second messengers, neuromodulation, memory mechanisms, and integrative mechanisms underlying behavior.

Neuroethology Biol 640 (2 credits). Neuronal, sensory, neuromuscular and integrative foundations of animal behavior. Topics include: orientation, navigation, sensory perception, patterns of movement, learning, memory and communication.

Neuropeptides, Molecular Biology PHS 670 (2 credits). An advanced seminar course in the genetics, synthesis, action, and degradation of neuropeptides as hormones, transmitters, and modulators of cell function.

Pharmacology and Therapeutics MCP 604/605 (6 credits). Mechanisms underlying the therapeutical and pharmacodynamic properties of pharmacological agents. Emphasis will be placed on cellular and molecular aspects and the quantitative factors governing equilibration within multicompartment systems and drug control of nervous and muscular function in relation to therapeutic action.

Psychobiology Psych 605 (3 credits). Consideration of neuronal transmission, transmitter dynamics, and principles of nervous system organization in relation to behavior. Psychobiology of drug actions, pain, modulation of consciousness, regulatory processes, sexual behavior, information processing, emotion, and psycho- physiologic disorders.

Psychoneuroimmunology Psych 613 (3 credits). Structural and functional aspects of the immune system that are sensitive to neural and psychological processes. Interactions between the nervous and immune systems are examined in relation to empirical associations between psychological factors (i.e., stress) and immune- mediated processes in diseases such as cancer and AIDS.

Psychophysiology Psych 606 (3 credits). A review of current research and experimental procedures in psychophysiology. Emphases are upon behavioral and environmental situations that influence physiological functioning. These include the study of stress-induced hypertension, ulceration, and other psychophysiologic disorders.

Special Topics NEU 631 (1-5 credits). Short seminar-type courses offered throughout the year that deal with special topics of interest in neuroscience.

Statistics I, Advanced Psychological Psych 631 (3 credits). Statistics for experimental designs with uncorrelated independent variables. Review of t-test; introduction to analysis of variance, including one way and factorial designs, repeated measures, and post hoccomparisons among means.

Statistics, Multiple Regression and Multivariate Psych 632 (3 credits). Techniques for the analysis of multiple quantitative measurements including multiple regression, multivariate analysis of variance, discriminant analysis and canonical correlation. Computer application of these techniques to the behavioral sciences.

Systemic Physiology PHS 512 (5 credits). Physiology of the mammalian cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, endocrine and reproductive systems. Respiratory, renal and gastointestinal lectures and laboratories are taught by program faculty, clinical correlations by medical faculty. A special feature of this course is the final two week Endocrine Module taught by a multidisciplinary team of basic scientists and clinicians, which includes lectures, clinical correlations, and conferences in which small groups of students discuss and interpret data from the current literature relevant to the understanding and treatment of endocrine and reproductive disorders.

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