Doctor of Philosophy with a major in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology
To unlock the brain’s vast mysteries, a new era of neuroscience is emerging — one that demands not only deeper insight but also innovative tools, technologies, and ways of thinking. Advancing our understanding of molecular, cellular, systems, and cognitive neuroscience — and translating these discoveries into real-world impact — requires equally forward-thinking training approaches. The Ph.D. program in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (NSNT) at Georgia Tech is designed to meet this need, offering advanced, interdisciplinary training at the intersection of neuroscience and technology. Through a curriculum that integrates cutting-edge computational, technical, and quantitative methods with the full spectrum of advanced neuroscience research, students are equipped to explore the brain across scales — from molecular mechanisms in simple organisms to the complexities of human cognition.
Program of Study
Summary of Requirements & Curriculum
Sequence of requirements on the pathway to the degree:
- A program of study in neuroscience core and depth courses
- A series of seminar/journal club & professional development courses intended to prepare students for their qualifying exam and thesis defense
- A qualifying exam that includes the creation and oral defense of an NIH F31 style or similar proposal of the student's proposed thesis research topic
- At least one scientific paper in which the student played a central role, accepted for publication or indexed on a preprint server (e.g. bioRxiv)
- A written Ph.D. thesis and public defense of that thesis
The NSNT student's written thesis proposal satisfies Georgia Tech's requirement for a written qualifying exam. The NSNT student's oral defense of their thesis proposal satisfies Georgia Tech's requirement for an oral qualifying exam. Georgia Tech requires that all doctoral students maintain a 3.0 grade point average. There is no foreign language requirement.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 9 | |
| Three courses providing core competencies in neuroscience to be taken in the first 2 years. Topics across all scales from cell and molecular to systems and behaviors. | ||
| NEUR 6001 | Principles of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology | 3 |
| NEUR 6002 | Neurophysiology | 3 |
| NEUR 6003 | Cognitive Neuroscience | 3 |
| Depth Electives | 6 | |
| Courses designed to build the student’s expertise in the area of their intended research area. Selected in consultation with the student’s research advisor. | ||
| Seminar & Journal Club | 8 | |
| Students attend seminars and read papers as part of a journal club (2 credits) for one semester each year. | ||
| Professional Development Course | 3 | |
| Students take 2 courses focused on neuroscience communication, ethics, and professional/career development in their first year. Students then take a final writing course in their 2nd-4th year. | ||
| Thesis Research | 21 | |
| NSNT students register for credit while conducting dissertation research | ||
| NEUR 9000 | Doctoral Research | 1 |