PhD in Neuroscience - Neurobiology and Anatomy in Rochester United States | University of Rochester

The Neuroscience Graduate Program delivers exceptional graduate training within a highly collaborative setting at a prestigious research institution. Our mission is to cultivate the next wave of innovative, autonomous neuroscientists through rigorous academic coursework, hands-on research, and personalized mentorship. Rochester's program benefits from distinguished faculty, engaged students, and a cooperative research culture. We aim to equip students with research expertise, professional development, and career support within a diverse, inclusive environment, empowering them to push neuroscience forward through scholarship, teaching, and public engagement.
This program offers intensive research-focused training for Ph.D. candidates studying the nervous system. The first-year curriculum establishes a strong foundation in modern neuroscience principles, spanning molecular, cellular, and systems levels. Students enhance their learning through Neuroscience Journal Club participation, Student Seminars, and faculty-guided lab rotations of their choosing.
After the first year, students select either the Neuroscience or Neurobiology & Anatomy Ph.D. track and a thesis advisor. Subsequent years focus primarily on dissertation research, seminar attendance, and presenting findings at various academic conferences.
The Neuroscience track welcomes students from biology, physical sciences, psychology, and engineering backgrounds. Its adaptable structure enables students to tailor coursework to complement their research or expand their neuroscience knowledge. From year one, students customize their education through advanced electives across the School of Medicine and School of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering, often co-creating specialized tutorials with faculty. With over 60 faculty across 17 departments and 6 research centers available as advisors, graduates earn a Ph.D. in Neuroscience.
The Neurobiology and Anatomy track particularly suits M.D./Ph.D. candidates and those studying nervous system function and disorders at larger scales. This track expands the core curriculum to include human anatomy, neurobiology, and neurological disorders through medical school courses. Designed for academic careers in medical education, it emphasizes teaching alongside research in systems, integrative, and clinical neuroscience. This option is open to students working with advisors affiliated with the Department of Neuroscience.