Translational Neuroscience (Ph.D.)
Program Director: Alana Conti, Ph.D.
Office: Tolan Park Medical Building, Suite 5-B,
3901 Chrysler Service Drive, Detroit, MI 48201
The primary mission of the Translational Neuroscience Program (TNP) is to foster a new generation of neuroscientists trained in interdisciplinary science that focuses on improving the health and care of individuals affected by psychiatric or neurological disorders, or injuries to the nervous system through an understanding of disease mechanisms. The didactic curriculum encompasses an integrated syllabus of basic science, pre-clinical research, and clinical neurobiology, including cutting-edge neuroimaging technologies. The strength of the program is its interdisciplinary training faculty, which includes leading experts in brain disorders, diseases and injuries, pre-clinical animal research, transgenic and knockout models, substance abuse, neuropharmacological treatments, brain network and computational modeling, and brain development and aging.
The TNP is housed in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, but is comprised of over 50 faculty members from 18 different departments spanning 4 colleges and schools within Wayne State University (WSU). The collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of the TNP program aligns well with the University's mission and strategic plan. Moreover, applications for graduate training in the neurosciences has quadrupled in the past 25 years making neuroscience research one of the most rapidly developing branches of medical research. The TNP program is fully committed in training basic and clinical neuroscientists who will be driving innovations that impact public health.
Admission Requirements
Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School and satisfaction of the admission requirements the School of Medicine. Applicants must have an undergraduate degree including several courses in basic sciences such as biology and chemistry. Three letters of recommendation are required from individuals able to judge the applicant's scientific potential. A one-page statement of purpose for applying in the translational neuroscience program, a Curriculum Vitae (CV) that summarizes academic and research experiences, minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and an interview with a Graduate Officer or designated representative from the Steering Committee are required. Writing samples including conference abstracts and presentations, or publications, are optional. Foreign students must be proficient in English as determined by satisfactory performance on the standardized TOEFL English proficiency examination. An interview with potential graduate faculty mentor(s) is also desirable.
Program Requirements
Students in the doctoral program are required to complete a minimum of 60 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree. Required courses include the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| GS 0900 | Essential Research Practices: Responsible Conduct of Research | 0 |
| PSY 7150 | Quantitative Methods in Psychology I | 4 |
| PSY 8150 | Multivariate Analysis in Psychology | 4 |
| PSY 8060 | Functional Neuroanatomy | 4 |
| PYC 7010 | Basis of Neural Sciences I: Mechanisms and Molecules | 3 |
| PYC 7150 | Fundamentals of Neuropsychiatric Disorders | 3 |
| PYC 7890 | Research Seminar (4-8 cr. required) | 4-8 |
| PYC 7996 | Laboratory Rotation (2-8 cr. required) | 2-8 |
| PYC 7998 | Translational Rotation Experience (1-3 cr. required) | 1-3 |
| Dissertation Credits | ||
| PYC 9991 | Doctoral Candidate Status I: Dissertation Research and Direction | 3-9 |
| PYC 9992 | Doctoral Candidate Status II: Dissertation Research and Direction | 1-18 |
| PYC 9995 | Candidate Maintenance Status: Doctoral Dissertation Research and Direction | 0 |
| Elective Credits | ||
| A minimum of 3 elective courses is required for both PhD and MD/PhD students. An elective course is defined as any graduate level didactic course that complements the student’s thesis research or career aspirations. TNP required/core courses cannot be used to fulfill an elective course requirement. Elective courses can include, but are not limited to, graduate level didactic coursework in: Psychology, Biology, Psychiatry, Statistics, Computational, Imaging, Pharmacology, Business, Genomics, Ethics, Law, Science Communication/Policy. For MD/PhD students, the Translational Rotation Experience can replace one elective course. | ||
Students are required to seek advice from a graduate advisor on his/ her course selection. All course work must be completed in accordance with the regulations of the Graduate School and the School of Medicine governing graduate scholarship and degrees.
PYC 0900 Reproducible and Responsible Neuroscience Research: Case Studies from Addiction Cr. 0
This course is designed for graduate students interested in neuroscience research. This course is mandatory for TRAIN@wayne T32 Fellows. The objective of this course is to provide students with the knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to conduct rigorous, reproducible, and ethical neuroscience (and related) research. Topics will include the principles and practices that guide ethical research (preclinical and clinical), scientific integrity, experimental design, data interpretation, publishing standards, and other relevant topics. Offered Fall, Winter.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
PYC 6050 Biology of the Eye Cr. 3
Introduction to biology of eye structure/function, and to causes and clinical treatments of eye-related disorders and diseases. Offered for undergraduate credit only. Offered Fall.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate level students.
Fees: $25
PYC 7010 Basis of Neural Sciences I: Mechanisms and Molecules Cr. 3
Graduate-level course presents an in-depth consideration of the bases of brain functions, including mechanisms that underlie neurological and psychiatric disorders. Offered Fall.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
PYC 7020 Basis of Neural Sciences II: Systems and Syndromes Cr. 3
This course will provide foundational instruction in systems neural science including cellular, circuit, and anatomical level understanding of neural systems and disorders/diseases of the nervous system. Offered Winter.
Prerequisite: PYC 7010 with a minimum grade of C
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
PYC 7140 Fundamentals of Neuroimaging Cr. 3
Overview of methods: PET, EEG/ERP/TMS, fundamentals of MR, structural MRI, functional MR, MR spectroscopy and DTI. Review of the application of these methods in studying disorders of the nervous system. Offered Winter.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
PYC 7150 Fundamentals of Neuropsychiatric Disorders Cr. 3
Overview of pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment of major neuropsychiatric disorders. Offered Fall.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students; enrollment limited to students in the School of Medicine.
PYC 7320 MR Imaging of Neurovascular Disease Cr. 3
Recent advances in MRI technology applied to human brain vascular diseases. Methods include: 3D anatomical imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, functional brain imaging, perfusion hanging, and susceptibility weighted imaging. Offered Every Other Fall.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Equivalent: BME 7720
PYC 7500 Advanced Topics in Neuroscience Cr. 1-6
Topics offered each semester in one-credit modules, relevant to ongoing research in the degree program. Offered Every Term.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Repeatable for 9 Credits
PYC 7515 Advanced Topics: Imaging, Neurodevelopment and Psychiatric Disorders Cr. 3
Advanced introduction to imaging neurodevelopment based on anatomical, biochemical and functional studies; focus on abnormal development of psychiatric disorders. Offered Every Other Winter.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students; enrollment limited to students in a Doctor of Philosophy degree.
PYC 7595 The Gut Microbiome and Translational Neuroscience Cr. 3
This combined lecture and discussion course will introduce graduate students with interests in translational neurosciences to the emerging field of the gut microbiome. Lectures will cover basics of the gut microbiome to include bacterial taxonomy, samples used to study the gut microbiome, DNA isolation, library construction and quality control and 16S rRNA sequencing on a MiSeq next generation sequencer. Additional lectures will include descriptions of sequence data download and analysis, bioinformatics, multivariate statistics, and graphical display of data. The latest published literature on the gut-brain axis will also be used for purposes of discussion and to give students an appreciation for how the gut microbial community can influence the brain and its function. Particular emphasis will be placed on how a dysbiosis in the gut microbiome can influence psychiatric diseases, substance abuse disorders and other physiological functions attributed entirely to the brain heretofore. Offered Every Other Fall.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
PYC 7890 Research Seminar Cr. 1
Presentations by clinical and basic research staff and by the program's graduate students. Offered Every Term.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Repeatable for 8 Credits
PYC 7990 Directed Study Cr. 1-6
Independent study under the guidance of an advisor, including complete review of a problem area immediately relevant to basic or clinical neuroscience. Offered Every Term.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Repeatable for 10 Credits
PYC 7996 Laboratory Rotation Cr. 3
Directed laboratory rotation for graduate students in the translational neuroscience program. Offered Every Term.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Repeatable for 8 Credits
PYC 7998 Translational Rotation Experience Cr. 1-3
The mentored Translational Rotation Experience course can include, but is not limited to: preclinical, clinical, industry, advocacy scientific communication experiences. Rotational experiences in areas such as industry, advocacy, scientific communication, public health should be designed to provide non-academic career experiences related to the student’s career aspirations. Translational Rotation Experience proposal form must be submitted and approved prior to registration. Offered Every Term.
Prerequisites: PYC 7150 with a minimum grade of C
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
PYC 9990 Pre-Doctoral Candidacy Research Cr. 1-8
Research in preparation for doctoral dissertation. Offered Every Term.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Repeatable for 12 Credits
PYC 9991 Doctoral Candidate Status I: Dissertation Research and Direction Cr. 3-9
Offered Every Term.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Repeatable for 9 Credits
PYC 9992 Doctoral Candidate Status II: Dissertation Research and Direction Cr. 1-18
Offered Every Term.
Prerequisite: PYC 9991 with a minimum grade of S
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Repeatable for 18 Credits
PYC 9993 Doctoral Candidate Status III: Dissertation Research and Direction Cr. 7.5
Offered Every Term.
Prerequisite: PYC 9992 with a minimum grade of S
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
PYC 9994 Doctoral Candidate Status IV: Dissertation Research and Direction Cr. 7.5
Offered Every Term.
Prerequisite: PYC 9993 with a minimum grade of S
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
PYC 9995 Candidate Maintenance Status: Doctoral Dissertation Research and Direction Cr. 0
Offered Every Term.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Repeatable for 0 Credits