I’m confused on what to apply: arts and sciences OR engineering school, in such schools as Northwestern, Penn, Cornell.
I have an interest in Neuroscience, I’ve done a project with proteins affecting cerebellum. But I’m concerned obtaining a major in this field will have less career opppurtunities. I mean the only path is to become a doctor-possibly a neurologist.
I do like BioMed Engineering also, and it looks like i can do NEURAL ENGINEERING (branch of BioMed). This is offered in the engineering dept. I think this would be more interesting, I THINK. It’s more along the lines of pure research and development as opposed to a doctor.
Should I just apply to the engineering school or just the arts and sciences and then transfer if I really want to?
<p>neuroscience is in fact a very hot field in science. Centers for research are popping up all over the place and more and more big figures in the academic side of the field are getting involved with private research as consultants and so on. Having worked in research in neuroscience for 5 years and from my mom's experience as a medical consultant working with pharmaceuticals and the like, i know that people are after this stuff. "Neural Engineering" is an interesting but offset subset of neuroscience, which you may want to learn more about before jumping into a major. my impression of it would be that you would be working more on the applied, front end side whereas traditional (i use that word loosely because neuroscience as a field is very young) neuroscience usually falls into either clinical or basic sciences. Becoming a neurologist is certainly NOT the only path you can follow with a major in neuroscience. If you are interested in research, and basic sciences in particular, you should relealize that the Society for Neuroscience, an organization of neuroscience RESEARCHERS that supports their endeavors and brings the community together, is one of the country's largest, with and incredible number of members. I would do more research before ruling out either path, thats the sum of my point, hope this helps!</p>
<p>Yes, it very much does. For the research oppurtunies though, would you find yourself researching more often at a university or a company? Also, society for neuroscience, is that a seperate place to work that gives money, or just a non-profit org.? One more, if you want to become a researcher, would just get a MS/Ph.D in neuroscience or must you go to medical school??</p>
<p>Vinzzy-
There is a great book, "What Color is Your Parachute", by Dick Bolles, that does a great job describing where career trends are going. You might want to take a look at it. There is also something called the "Dictionary of Occupational Titles" that gives you an idea of the gazillion jobs out there that might suggest a vocation that you hadn't thought of or even knew existed. You can pursue research opportunities at varying levels with varying degrees, and the research and development opportunities may or may not require an advanced degree, but if so, probably more likely a Ph.D than an M.D. Individuals with degrees in the neurosciences may choose to go on to pursue career in brain or spinal cord injury and rehabilitation, neuropsychology, speech, physical or occupational therapy, etc. depending on how much of an advanced degree you want to pursue. There is really great research going on in the field of bioengineering, with cell regeneration and tissue growth, the development of laboratory-grown/artificial bone cells, blood, tissue, etc. Improvement in cochlear implants, development of computer brain stimulators for the blind (there is a better term for this-- I just can't think at the moment) is all ongoing. As the population ages, more research is going on in the field of the dementias. Wouldn't it be fun to be on the cutting edge of this stuff??</p>
<p>Yes, that's precisly where I want to be: the cutting edge of science. Just wondering, I did a project on the regeneration of purkinje cells and the rest of the molecular cells on the zebrafish cerebellum after part of it was cut. The fish actually survived and grew the brain back, and I isolated the one protein (cadherins) that seem to show a great increase during this rengeneration process. Under what field do you thing my research falls under: neuroscience/neurobiology, bioengineering, or neural engineering?</p>
<p>Neuroscience research takes place both in universities and in the private sector, but keep in mind the University setting is more likely to provide basic sciences opportunities than a medical school or company. SfN is a non profit organization that helps members of the field and serves as a portal for communication between its members. The majority of neuroscience researchs likely have a Ph.D in basic sciences, however many (including some famous ones) have an M.D. or an M.D./Ph.D...its more than possible to do neuroscience research with a Ph.D, it makes perfect sense. Your work on purkinje regeneration would easily fit into neuroscience/neurobio, and there are a lot of neuro/psych/bio departments at the collegiate level doing comprable style work.</p>
<p>Sorry for pestering on this subject again, but one last question. Does WashU in St. Louis have a good undergrad. neurosciences program. I've researched their site, but I don't see anything!!</p>
<p>they have a program called Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology (PSP) or something like that...some people feel its good, but in my personal opinion its not very strong. They've lost a couple faculty members over the years and are just not known for the neuroscience research. It might be stronger if you want the more cog psy side however</p>
<p>Yeah, at WUSTL, it seems the only thing I'd be interested in is Cognitive Neuroscience (CN track). It mainly focuses on psychology and biological psychology, which irritates me. I was looking for more courses along the lines of neurobiology/neurophysiology. They offer neurobiology type courses at Northwestern/cornell/penn. But I guess this shouldn't really matter since you'd just be looked as Biology major. You won't even be taking any Major electives in neuroscience till your senior year. Biology, physics, chemistry, and math are the main courses you'd be taking up till senior year. I guess all in all, neuroscience is a thing for graduate/doctorate studies. Am I correctly understanding this??</p>
<p>no not at all. A lot of schools have very strong undergraduate neuroscience programs, you just have to know where to look. Johns Hopkins (where ill be going next year) has a sweet neuro program with the opportunity to take actual neuro classes year 1. Duke University has a pretty good neuro track program and a neurobio dept in the hospital right near by. Hmm let me think...some liberal arts colleges have interesting neuro programs...off the top of my head Wesleyan, Williams and Bowdoin come to mind. If you would like to talk on AIM since this seems like a back and forth lol contact me at AOBSynase</p>