Steps to a PhD

The 10-week core course begins in the Fall of your first year and emphasizes all aspects of neuroscience (molecular, cellular, circuits, behavioral and systems). This consists of two lecture-style courses (Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, and Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience), and one practical course that focuses on hands-on neuroscience, Advanced Techniques in Neuroscience, where you work with your incoming classmates to tackle experimental questions across neuroscience.

You will also get to meet in small groups with all faculty members to discuss big questions in different areas of research and the focus of questions and techniques of every laboratory research group on campus.

The program also emphasizes training in reading and dissecting the primary literature, the focus of the Neuroscience Advanced Seminar course as well as any recognized Journal clubs at Dartmouth. 

Additionally, you will have to take “neuroSCIENCE”, a full-term discussion-based course designed to promote the development of rigorous research practices. This course focuses on science methodology broadly, and responsible and ethical conduct of neuroscience research in particular.

At the end of the core course, you take a comprehensive take home exam, which tests you both on your grasp of the neuroscience core curriculum and on your skills in understanding neuroscience papers.

During the Fall term of your first year there are no research rotations. However, faculty auditions are held weekly to introduce you to 20-30 potential mentors and help you choose your rotation labs. 

You will participate in 3 full-time laboratory rotations (at least 2 months in duration) starting in January of your first year, using these rotations to help you choose a dissertation lab.

During the first year, you will be assigned to a senior student who will serve as your mentor, navigating you through your new journey at Dartmouth and guiding you through your courses, including electives and rotation selections.

Professional development will continue with your thesis mentor beginning in June of your first year when you select your thesis lab and continues throughout your PhD.

Your qualifying exam consists of a written thesis proposal and an oral defense.

In the winter of your second year, you will take a scientific writing course to prepare for the thesis proposal, which is written in the format of a pre-doctoral NRSA grant*.

By May of your second year, you will submit your written proposal and take the oral qualifying exam. Successfully passing your qualifying exam allows you to advance to PhD candidacy.

*Optional grant writing courses are also offered by Dartmouth Grants GPS to apply for federal and foundation grants. 

Effective teaching is a critical skill required in most academic and research careers.

In the second year of the program, you will serve as a Graduate Student Instructor (equivalent to a teaching assistant) for one 10-week trimester.

In your third year of the program, you will work in a 2-week module of the Advanced Neuroscience Techniques Course or the Neuroanatomy workshop (or any other graduate level course) training the new first-year cohort of Integrative Neuroscience Students.

Experience outside of the laboratory can play a crucial role in graduate student professional development.

After passing your qualifier exam, you will have the chance to take advantage of 1-2 term internship outside of Dartmouth, in industry, government, with approval of your primary advisor as an elective. Such experience will expose you to diverse career opportunities, providing you with lead-time to focus and network in a field of interest prior to completing your PhD.  Furthermore, dedicated time to scientific outreach is recognized as part of your training towards you degree as an optional part of your training with a certificate and as part of your transcript.

After you pass your qualifying exam, you will choose a dissertation advisory committee to help guide your dissertation research.

You will meet with your thesis committee every six months, and will give a public talk on your research annually.

Finally, the culmination of your graduate career is the assembly of a written dissertation and its oral defense.