Scholarly Concentration: Neuroscience

Directors

Boris D. Heifets, MD, PhD

Eric R. Gross, MD, PhD  

Objectives and Goals

Neuroscienceis an Application area in the Scholarly Concentration program that promotes investigation in all areas of neuroscience: systems and behavioral, molecular and cellular, developmental, clinical, and computational. This field seeks to understand neurological disease and the normal functioning of the central nervous system, from individual molecules to the circuits and computational aspects involved in generating behavior. In conjunction with the Stanford University Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, a broad range of faculty interests support students in research in any of these areas of neuroscience. The ultimate purpose of this work is to improve care of the patient with neurological disease.

Requirements

Students who pursue Neuroscience are required to complete 6 units including:

One unit of ANES 215, an NBC-specific class dedicated to exploring emerging topics and controversies in applied neuroscience through a review of recent literature.

Students should also consult with the concentration director about their choice of additional elective course(s) to complete the unit requirement.

The one (or more) elective course should be a graduate level course(s) offered in one of the following five areas of Neuroscience:

  • Systems and Behavior
  • Molecular and Cellular
  • Developmental
  • Clinical
  • Computational

In addition, students are encouraged to participate in the annual Stanford Neuroscience Retreat. The Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute also sponsors seminar series annually, at which internationally known speakers discuss recent work. Students are encouraged to attend these presentations. 

Scholarly Concentrations & the MD Program

The Scholarly Concentration (SC) program is a required, structured program of study in the Medical Student Curriculum that promotes in-depth learning and scholarship. The SC's provide medical students with faculty-mentored scholarly experiences in areas of individual interest combined with structured coursework to support this scholarship.