More on the Graduate Program
Here is additional information on specific aspects of our graduate program.

Environment
The Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy is housed in a modern university medical center where research scientists, clinicians, teachers and students work in concert at unravelling the mysteries of the brain and body.  Neuroscience as a field has grown tremendously in the last decade; for instance, attendance to the 2004 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting included over 31,000 people, more than double the number in 1990. Wake Forest University's effort to study the development, organization and pathology of brain function has expanded in parallel, creating unprecedented opportunities for collaborations between departments, between investigators with expertise in diverse techniques and fields, and between basic scientists and clinicians. Our department plays a key role in this effort, and students are a major part of it.

Laboratory Rotations
During the first year of graduate study, each incoming student selects several faculty members with whom to do laboratory rotations. Each rotation lasts between 3 and 4 months, and affords first-hand experience in the day-to-day research activities of a laboratory.  Rotations are fun and are an excellent way to learn cutting-edge scientific techniques and methods. Although they start as short projects, it is not uncommon for them to grow and become parts of full-blown publications.  Usually three rotations are made before deciding on a home lab to pursue the thesis work, but occasionally students decide early and may forego one or more rotations.

Financial Support
Both a stipend and full tuition coverage are offered to all students selected for admission. Stipends are competitive with those of major universities across the country and have been increased annually over the past several years, a trend we believe will continue in the future. Currently, stipends are slightly over $20,000 per year. Our stipends are particularly competitive in view of the low cost of living in the Winston-Salem area and the availability of student housing within walking distance of the medical center.

In addition, graduate students receive an new IBM ThinkPad laptop computer and, if enrolled in the student health plan offered by the university, a monthly supplement that defrays about 85% of the health insurance costs.

Teaching
The main focus of the Neurobiology and Anatomy program is on research, but teaching is often a very important component of an academic career. Although the progam has no teaching requirements, for students who are interested, there are opportunities to serve as teaching assistants in the anatomy laboratory. In addition, the department offers a course in human gross anatomy that is tailored to individuals who want to teach this subject later in their careers.

I'm Confused: Neurobiology or Neuroscience?
In addition to the Ph.D. program in Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest University has an Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program also leading to a Ph.D. degree. The existence of two similar programs is somewhat of a historical accident which, admittedly, may cause some confusion. The Neurobiology and Anatomy Department houses students from both programs -- on average, about 15 from each in the last couple of years.

So, first let's mention the similarities. Although the curricula are not identical, the differences are really minor. The key first-year course is Introduction to Neuroscience and is taken by students from both programs; lab rotations and qualifying exams are essentially the same, and so is the financial assistance. For students doing their thesis work in the department, in practice it does not matter which program they are in.  Now the differences. The first one is that is that Neuroscience students have a wider variety of laboratories to choose from because their program is inter-departmental, whereas Neurobiology students stay within the department (if this ever becomes a problem, there is an option to switch programs; see the Graduate School page). The second difference is that, as a consequence, the Neuroscience Program is more competitive; it receives more applications.

In the application form, the Graduate School allows you to specify a first and a second option for the programs you want to apply to.  Thus, if you are interested in neuroscience but specifically in the projects outside our department, you should probably put the Neuroscience Program as your first option. On the other hand, if you are most interested in the research within our department, it would make more sense to put the Neurobiology and Anatomy Program as your first option.

How to get in?
What recruiters really look for in an applicant is a big desire to learn, good skills in logical and quantitative thinking, and a passion for scientific inquiry; that is, the ideal candidate should have a knack for solving scientific mysteries and should enjoy doing so. Alas, admission committees only see the traditional measures of performance that are only flawed indicators of these characteristics: transcripts, GRE scores and letters of recommendation.

To be admitted into the program, a solid preparation in science (biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics) is necessary, but there is no cut-and-dry profile; in the past, the program has accepted majors from a variety of fields, including biology, psychology, computer science, and even philosophy. Another requirement is the general GRE test. We do not have a strict cutoff score for acceptance because all application materials are weighed in, but a combined verbal + quantitative score of 1200 is an approximate standard. Evidently, exceptional circumstances, such as speaking English as a second language, are taken into consideration. The subject GRE test is not strictly required, but if one of the test subjects is suitable to the applicant's undergraduate degree, it is highly recommended; it simply gives the admissions committee a bit more information to make an adequate decision. International students are also required to take the TOEFL test.

Finally, the last requirement, other than a completed application form, is three letters of recommendation. The most useful letters are those that make an objective assessment of the applicant, pointing out strengths and weaknesses.

Completed applications, including official transcripts and three letters of recommendation, should be submitted by January 15 for a student to be considered for financial aid. Therefore, the GRE should be taken no later than December in order for these scores to be obtained by January. Application materials and precise instructions may be obtained from the Graduate School website. Please note that we are in the Bowman Gray (or biomedical sciences) campus.

For further questions about the program, please contact the Program Director at the address below.

e-mail