Overview
Oregon Health & Science University is a Training Hospital, Leader in Research, and Center for Continuous Innovation
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is located in Portland, Oregon, in the heart of the beautiful Pacific Northwest. It is the state's only research university. Oregon Health & Science University strives for excellence in patient care, education, research, and community service. OHSU is dedicated to improving the health of people across Oregon, providing health care for many people who would otherwise be unable to receive it.
Serving as a training hospital and leader in research, OHSU earned $307 million in research funding in fiscal year 2007. Additionally, OHSU serves as a catalyst for the region's bioscience industry and is an incubator of discovery, with more than 4,100 research projects currently under way. OHSU disclosed 132 inventions in 2007, many of which open new markets, generate spin-off businesses, and create new opportunities. Students at OHSU get to be a part of a dynamic environment of constant innovation.
The Neuroscience Graduate Program (NGP) at OHSU offers a multidisciplinary, personalized education within a world-class research institution. Roughly 65 pre-doctoral students are trained in modern neuroscience concepts and techniques, in research areas ranging from molecular to behavioral neurobiology. The faculty of over 140 members has expertise in all areas of neuroscience, including molecular, cellular, systems, behavioral, and medical neuroscience.
The Neuroscience Graduate Program at OHSU Offers a Rigorous Curriculum with a Strong Focus on Laboratory Research
The Neuroscience Graduate Program at OHSU guides students through each year so they will gain the most from their education. Before the first year of classes even starts, students are encouraged to attend the NGP retreat in September, which gives them an opportunity to socialize off-campus while attending lectures and workshops.
The first-year core curriculum covers all the important areas of neuroscience, including cellular and molecular systems and disease. Various electives are also available, which students may consider after being advised by faculty members. The NGP focuses on careful reading of primary literature, as well as hands-on research. To this end, students participate in laboratory rotations in the first year, and use these rotations to help choose a thesis lab. A comprehensive written exam is the final portion of the first-year program, testing students on their understanding of the core NGP curriculum as well as their skill in comprehending the nuances of primary literature in neuroscience.
Students who pass the exam may begin their second year, during which they will finish up any remaining class requirements. The NGP curriculum is flexible, but courses are mostly completed in the first year, permitting students to focus on the essence of graduate training, independent research in a mentor's laboratory, as soon as possible. Students in their second year begin work on a thesis, and must take an oral qualifying exam at the end of the year.
Third-year students may become Ph.D. candidates, writing a thesis proposal in the approved NRSA grant format. Assistance is available for students who want additional writing help to create this proposal. Students then choose a thesis exam committee to help guide research, meeting with the committee regularly to discuss thesis progress, before finally writing a Ph.D. thesis and presenting an oral defense. At this point, after presenting data, attending meetings, writing grants, and working on original research, those enrolled in the NGP will go from students to scientists.
Oregon Health & Science University Offers Graduate Students a Unique Educational Environment in the Pacific Northwest
The Neuroscience Graduate Program at OHSU offers a unique educational experience. OHSU is largely a graduate institution without a teaching requirement, so there is more time for classes and research. However, for students who do wish to teach, there are a number of opportunities in the Portland area.
Neuroscience faculty members of all specialties are represented at OHSU, from channel physiology to animal behavior. Neuroscience research in abundance gives students a wide range of options when selecting a thesis lab, in addition to serving as a resource for advice, collaborations, and data to draw upon for their own research. Students also enjoy lectures from some of the world's most successful neuroscientists.
All of this takes place in Portland, Oregon, a vibrant and growing city filled with a diverse population. Portland embodies the relaxed West Coast culture, which is even evidenced in the methods students use to get to their NGP classes. Students can commute to campus via bicycle (and be paid for their environmental stewardship), take the Portland Streetcar, or even the Portland Aerial Tram.
Portland is divided into four quadrants. The Southwest is home to OHSU and many restaurants. The Northwest has many coffee shops, sidewalk cafes, and nightlife locations. The Northeast offers very affordable housing. The Southeast boasts Mt. Tabor Park and an extinct volcano, while the suburbs offer quiet living space for students who do not enjoy city life.
The Neuroscience Graduate Program at OHSU Gives Each Student a Tuition Stipend to Help Them Graduate Successfully
The current entering stipend for NGP students is $24,500 annually, which covers tuition and fees. Following graduation, most NGP students go on to postdoctoral fellowships and receive additional financial assistance.
