Careers_in_NeuroscienceFJRH.ppt

What Is Neuroscience?What Is Neuroscience?

Function ofFunction of

the Brain the Brain

and Nervous and Nervous

SystemSystem

What Is Neuroscience?What Is Neuroscience?

Neuroanatomy: Structure is Key to Function Neuroanatomy: Structure is Key to Function

What Is Neuroscience?What Is Neuroscience?Function of Neurons

There are approximately 100 billion neurons in the human brain

The human brain has 100 trillion synaptic connections

There are about 3 million miles of axons in the human brain

There are over 1,000 disorders of the brain and nervous system

What Is Neuroscience?What Is Neuroscience?Diseases of the Nervous System

Alzheimer’sParkinson’s

Stroke EpilepsyParalysisObesity?

What Is Neuroscience?What Is Neuroscience?

At least 30 million neurons in the entire visual cortex are activated by the single image of a house or face

For centuries, people thought that the heart, not the brain, was important for memory. The expression "memorize by heart" is derived from this old belief

Perception, Learning, Memory

What Is Neuroscience?What Is Neuroscience?How Drugs Work

Botox temporarily paralyzes muscles by interfering with acetylcholine, which transmits nerve signals to muscles. Sales of the wrinkle-softening toxin Botox totaled $309.5 million in 2001

In 2002, the US government spent close to $19 billion treating and preventing drug abuse

What Is Neuroscience?What Is Neuroscience?Genes And Behavior

What Is Neuroscience?What Is Neuroscience?Development The weight of the human brain triples during the first

year of life, going from 300 grams to 900 grams When children are six years old, they can understand

approximately 13,000 words; high school graduates know at least 60,000 words

What Is Neuroscience?What Is Neuroscience?Evolutionary and Comparative Perspective

What Is Neuroscience?

Sex Differences The number of neurons in the

neocortex of females is 19.3 billion; in males, the number of neurons in the neocortex is 22.8 billion

The brain of the great physicist Albert Einstein weighed 1,230 grams. This is far below the average brain weight of 1,400 grams

In 2000, 495 doctorates were awarded in neuroscience; 39.4% of these new PhDs were women

Undergrad

Minimum Requirements

GPA 3.0

GRE 1100

Research Experience

Letters

Physical Sciences Bio Chem Physics

Psychology

Computer Science

Molecular Approaches

Grad

Begin life as a ProfessionalMasters OptionalStipend=18-25K per yr

Coursework & Teaching First 2 yrs Cell, Molecular Biology Neuroanatomy Pharmacology Physiology Clinical, Cognitive Psych

Labwork Develop skills First 2 yrs Dissertation Project Last 3 yrs

Learn How To. . . 1. Ask Questions 2. Experimentally Test 3. Write Papers 4. Give Scientific Talks

Post-Doc

Stipend=35-45K

Expand Technical Skills

Continue to Learn. . . Questions Experiments Papers Talks

Learn How to Obtain Funds NIH NSF Private Foundations

A grant as a Post-Doc makes you MUCH more attractive as a job candidate

‘Real’ Job

Salary

Academic Non-Academic Research Inst. Biotech NIH Other

Teaching is the difference

Both Involve 1. Funding 2. Experiments 3. Papers 4. Talks

Undergraduate5-7 years

2-6 years

What Is Neuroscience?What Is Neuroscience?The Place to Start in PsychologyThe Place to Start in Psychology

Fundamental Understanding Fundamental Understanding of Behavior (normal and of Behavior (normal and abnormal!)abnormal!)

Technical Area with Widespread Technical Area with Widespread ApplicationsApplications

More Than Lab Work . . . More Than Lab Work . . .