PhD in Neuroscience

A candidate seeking admission to the course of study leading to the award of Doctor of Philosophy should meet the following criteria :

• Master's degree or equivalent in any branch of Science such as Life Sciences / Physics / Chemistry / Mathematics / Statistics / Computer applications / Pharmacy / Veterinary Science / Psychology from a recognized Institute / University.
• Students who have done a minimum of four-years of course-work leading to a Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Engineering / Technology / Medicine from a recognized Institute / University.
• Candidates appearing for the final year of the qualifying examination are also eligible to apply.
• At least 55% (50% for SC / ST / PH candidates) marks or equivalent grade or grade point average from the secondary (10th) examination onwards is required. Candidates should calculate their percentage up to two decimal points to determine their eligibility.

Notes: Reservation / Concessions for SC / ST / PH candidates will be as per rules of Government of India / UGC.

The Ph.D. Programme in Neuroscience to develop trained manpower possessing a broad overview of different aspects of Neuroscience. NBRC inducts students for its Ph.D. programme from diverse backgrounds who have a Masters degree in any branch related to Neuroscience as mentioned below. NBRC recognizes that understanding brain functions requires a fusion of knowledge from multiple disciplines.The PhD course is designed to foster the development of an independent research aptitude in students and prepare them for academic and research positions in a wide range of fields and industries.

COURSE CURRICULUM:

Semester-I (August - December)

• Cell Biology & Biochemistry: 45 hours
• Molecular Biology: 45 hours
• Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience: 30 hours
• Developmental Neurobiology: 30 hours
• Membrane Biophysics: 30 hours
• Genetics: 30 hours
• Neurochemistry: 30 hours
• Biostatistics: 30 hours

Semester-II (January - July)

• Neuroanatomy: 45 hours
• Systems Neuroscience: 45 hours
• Cognitive Neuroscience: 30 hours
• Fundamentals of Computation & Computational Neuroscience: 45 hours
• Clinical Neuroscience: 30 hours
• Neuroimaging: 30 hours

Lab Rotation: (from second year)

• Student’s choice of 3 labs - one each in Systems, Molecular and Computational Groups

ASSESSMENT METHODS:

• Comprehensive written examinations (objective, short answers and essays)
• Course assignments (reports, presentations)
• Practical lab reports and viva-voce
• Public defense of thesis/dissertation work
• Publication of original research articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals
• Conference presentations of dissertation/thesis-based work
• Institute journal club presentation
• Successful placement or continuation of studies towards PhD
• Organization of institute-level curricular and co-curricular events

EXAM PATTERN:

A total of 100 marks are allocated to each subject (which is a part of the course-work) as mentioned below:

• Internal Exam: 30 marks
• Assignment: 10 marks
• Final Exam: 60 marks

Examinations are held bi-annually in the months of December (1st Semester) and May (2nd Semester).