For the past three decades, modern neuroscience has expanded
our understanding of the brain and behavior and led us to recognize
that all forms of disease, from cancer to infectious disease
to obesity, are influenced by the nervous system.
To meet Georgia’s training and research needs in this
expanding field, UGA has established a new doctoral degree
program in neuroscience. The degree program was approved by
the University System of Georgia Board of Regents in July.
The multidisciplinary degree program will be coordinated by
UGA’s Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute (BHSI)
and its Division of Neuroscience. It will be a unique collaboration
between many UGA academic units, including the departments
of psychology, biochemistry and molecular biology, cellular
biology and veterinary physiology and pharmacology.
“Due to its inherently broad and multidisciplinary nature,
neuroscience research provides an unparalleled collaborative
opportunity,” said Gaylen Edwards, BHSI neuroscience
division chair and program graduate coordinator.
The UGA Graduate School and BHSI will officially begin accepting
applications for fall 2006 semester. However, graduate students
currently enrolled at UGA who wish to transfer into the program
for the spring 2006 term may do so by submitting a supplemental
application to the Graduate School by Nov. 1.
“The UGA Graduate School strives to be very proactive
about foreseeing needs and acting accordingly,” said
Maureen Grasso, dean of the Graduate School. “The BHSI
multidisciplinary degree program is an exciting example of
how graduate education at the university is making great strides
to better serve these global needs.”
Neuroscience represents research strength for the university
with extramural funding currently exceeding $11 million. UGA
investigators involved in neuroscience research span seven
colleges and 14 departments. In addition, the University of
Georgia is currently supporting the establishment of a neuroimaging
facility in the Paul D. Coverdell Center for the Biomedical
and Health Sciences, slated to open in spring 2006.
The program is currently building connections with other regional
neuroscience programs as well, according to Edwards. Establishment
of these connections will allow future neuroscience students
at UGA to take part in research projects and participate in
classes at UGA, the Medical College of Georgia, Georgia State
University, Emory University, the University of South Carolina
and Medical University of South Carolina.
The BHSI was established in 2001 to expand and promote biomedical
sciences and human health programs at UGA and to serve as a
catalyst in the development of new interdisciplinary undergraduate
courses and graduate degree programs.
Building the New Learning Environment
The new learning environment is an academic and intellectual
community on the campus of the University of Georgia humming
with the vibrancy of the true college experience—bright
and talented students working with brilliant faculty formally
in the classroom and informally over a cup of coffee or lounging
in the greenspace which stretches from one end of campus to
the other. It is a place which recognizes that new information
technologies are transforming traditional academic disciplines
and embraces those opportunities. |
Approved
by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents in July, UGA
has established a new doctoral degree program in neuroscience.
