About the Neuroscience Graduate Program
United in Neuroscience
The Neuroscience Graduate Program represents a university-wide interdisciplinary curriculum strengthened by more than 160 affiliated faculty.
Training Tomorrow’s Leaders
Since 1971, the U-M Medical School Neuroscience Graduate Program has been furthering the understanding of the human brain. Our mission is to prepare future leaders in the field with the training and expertise necessary to succeed in any scientific career they choose.
Make your mark in the longest-standing neuroscience graduate program in the United States. Our dynamic group of more than 95 graduate students and 160-plus faculty perform research that spans the breadth of neuroscience, within a cohesive, close-knit campus community.
Within our program, students lead an annual retreat, annual symposium and community outreach efforts. Upon graduation, our alumni go on to have successful careers in academic research, industrial research and development, academic medicine and biotechnology.
Culture & Faculty
The graduate program is the heart of U-M Medical School’s Neuroscience community and sits at the exciting center of new, cutting-edge clinical and research developments. This collegial and cohesive group collaborates across the spectrum of neuroscience, side-by-side with our renowned faculty and leaders in the field, including:
- Members of the National Academy of Sciences
- Members of the National Academy of Medicine
- Past presidents of the Society for Neuroscience
- Fellows of the American Association of Advancement in Science (AAAS)
- Highly cited researchers
Giving to NGP
Your partnership will support our world-class, neuroscience graduate student training. Explore opportunities to support our important work and further our goals.
NGP History
On March 24, 1971, the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies approved an interdepartmental PhD program in neuroscience. Today, we are the longest-standing neuroscience PhD program in the United States.
NGP Internal SharePoint
Resources and information for current NGP faculty, learners, and staff. (U-M Login Required)
Hear from a Student
I chose Michigan because of its collaborative, welcoming environment. I’ve definitely found this to be the case in my time here—everyone is more than happy to help, lending resources and time. Michigan cultivates a supportive community, enabling high impact research that pushes science forward and builds collaborative scientists.
Meet our Admin Team
Carol Elias
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director Academic Program
Neuroscience Graduate Program
Medical School
Audrey Seasholtz, PhD
Shelly Flagel
Research Professor in Michigan Neuroscience Institute
Associate Director Academic Program, Neuroscience Graduate Program, Medical School
Professor of Psychology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Natalie Tronson
Robert K Duncan, PhD
Associate Professor of Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Program Director and Associate Director for Student Support and Engagement for the Neuroscience Graduate Program
Medical School
Adam J Iliff
Lecturer III in Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Medical School
Rachel Harbach
Valerie Smith
The NGP Admissions Committee includes 20+ NGP faculty and 2-3 candidate level NGP students from a wide variety of research disciplines and scientific backgrounds. The committee is engaged throughout the entire admissions process, evaluating applications from both routes of admission (Direct & PIBS), providing feedback and evaluations, participating in interviews, attending recruiting events and ultimately identifying the top applicants being offered admission to the NGP. Most faculty and student representatives serve a 2 year term with some serving additional years. The committee is led by the NGP Associate Co-Directors of Admissions, Drs. Shelly Flagel and Natalie Tronson.
The NGP Executive Committee is the governing body of the graduate program and meets quarterly. They participate in programmatic policy review and revision; curriculum and qualifying exam updates; student academic progress and disciplinary actions; internal and external award nominations; and faculty service review and affiliations. The committee is made up of 4 NGP faculty members and one candidate level student representing the diversity of Neuroscience research within the NGP. The EC is led by the current NGP director and the NGP Program Advisor attends all meetings to provide guidance and historical context of policy and procedures. The NGP Associate Directors, T-32 representative and Curriculum coordinator are ad-hoc members.
The Curriculum Committee is responsible for coordinating course offerings and staffing, as well as discussing and implementing changes to the curriculum and deciding on course waivers. It plans the design of preliminary exams and approves Preliminary Exam Scientific Advisors and Committee Members. Additionally, the committee ensures that the curriculum aligns with the guidelines set by Rackham and the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (OGPS).
Bright Ideas
Welcome to the Bright Ideas and Grievances (BIG) suggestion box, a repository for your ideas, feedback and concerns. All entries are anonymous (unless you choose to name yourself) and submitted to NGP administrative staff and leadership.
Code of conduct
The NGP Code of Conduct is a living document meant to guide our students, protect against discrimination and uphold student rights. It is founded on the combined experiences of students and faculty and aligns with our program's core values.
