Neuroscience

Neuroscience is a dynamic and growing field that unites discoveries from biology, psychology, human physiology, and many other disciplines to probe the edges of human understanding. The UO has an established reputation for excellence in neuroscience research, and our program is the first of its kind at a public university in Oregon. Students who major in neuroscience have the opportunity to work in a field that could represent some of the 21st century’s most astonishing and transformative breakthroughs.

What you can do with a degree in Neuroscience

Upon completion of the neuroscience major, students will be well-prepared for careers in scientific research, medicine, and other health professions, as well as science-related government, nonprofit, and industry jobs. Neuroscience graduates can find employment in:

  • Healthcare clinics and hospitals
  • Government agencies that focus on neurological diseases
  • Public health and global health organizations
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Biotechnology companies
  • Management consulting firms specializing in healthcare companies
  • Colleges and universities
  • Research institutes and laboratories
  • Scientific writing and publishing
77
STUDENTS ENROLLED AS NEUROSCIENCE MAJORS IN FIRST TERM OF OUR PROGRAM
100%
OF TENURED INSTITUTE OF NEUROSCIENCE FACULTY MEMBERS HAVE PUBLISHED A PAPER WITH A UO COLLEAGUE
40+

SCIENTISTS TRAINED BY THE CENTER FOR TRANSLATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE IN ITS FIRST FIVE YEARS

Valerie-Owusu-Hienno

Neuroscience Major Named Goldwater Scholar

Future physician and global health advocate Valerie Owusu-Hienno has received the nationally prestigious Goldwater Scholarship. Her research examines the use of vitamin B1 to reduce infant mortality and protect neuro-cognitive development in Cambodian children.

Evan-Vickers

A Window to the Brain

What happens across the brain during movement and decision making? Postdoctoral neuroscientist Evan Vickers has developed a "cranial window" implant that allows researchers to look at thousands of neurons at once in hopes of answering that question.

Read about his Research

Neuroscience major Minh Ahn Nguyen

Unlocking the Secrets of the Brain

“The first time I held a human brain in my hand was such a magical moment. I felt so thankful I got to be part of the cadaver lab, and that was the moment I knew that neuroscience was for me. Neuroscience is emerging out of its infancy, and there’s so little that we know about the brain, even though it’s such a central part of our lives.”

—Minh Anh Nguyen, neuroscience major, '21

Our Degree Programs

Neuroscience majors gain a strong foundation in the natural sciences while exploring three main areas of neuroscience: molecular/cellular neuroscience, systems neuroscience, and cognitive neuroscience. Undergraduate students can earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in neuroscience.

people chatting

Learn from Experts in the Field

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary major that brings together award-winning faculty from the departments of Biology, Human Physiology, and Psychology. Many of the program’s faculty are affiliated with the Institute of Neuroscience, a group of UO researchers who have pooled their expertise to tackle fundamental questions in neuroscience.

neuro_minh-ahn_nguyen_microscope

Get Real-world Experience

Beginning as early as their first year, neuroscience majors are encouraged to engage in hands-on research, working side-by-side with faculty in cutting-edge research labs across the university. Students can take their investigations in many different directions, from molecular, cellular, behavioral, anatomical, and computational to more explorative types of research.

Scholarships and Funding

Students can seek funding through the College of Arts and Sciences, which awards various scholarships to both incoming students and those who are already attending the UO.

Undergraduate Scholarships

 

Academic Support

Students are strongly encouraged to maintain contact with their academic advisors to discuss their course of study and plan for their careers. Neuroscience majors can seek advising through Tykeson Hall.

Undergraduate Advising

Neuroscience News and Events

Highlights from the June 15 University of Oregon College of Arts and Sciences commencement ceremonies at Autzen Stadium and Matthew Knight Arena.
NEUROSCIENCE, PHYSICS - PhD candidate Saumya Keremane's research, conducted in the labs of Richard Taylor, a professor and head of the Department of Physics, and Dr. Bala Ambati, an ophthalmologist and research professor in the Department of Bioengineering, focuses on understanding and preventing neuron degradation to treat inherited blindness.
NEUROSCIENCE - Using a novel technique he developed in Professor David A. McCormick’s neuroscience lab, postdoctoral researcher Evan Vickers is studying how the brain’s various regions react during different states of arousal, such as sleep versus wakefulness, both at the individual cell level and across large swathes of the cerebral cortex.

All news »


Great Oregon ShakeOut

Oct

15

Great Oregon ShakeOut

Oct 15
History Department Fall Term Coffee Hour

Oct

15

History Department Fall Term Coffee Hour

Oct 15 McKenzie Hall
Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Fall Open House

Oct

15

Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Fall Open House

Oct 15 Hendricks Lawn
History Dept. Seminar: “From Cabinets of Curiosity to Global Science: How Southeast Asia Shaped Modern Natural History”

Oct

15

History Dept. Seminar: “From Cabinets of Curiosity to Global Science: How Southeast Asia Shaped Modern Natural History”

Oct 15 McKenzie Hall
Jeremiah Public Lecture: "Finding Sustainable Transitions in Declining Japanese Municipalities"

Oct

15

Jeremiah Public Lecture: "Finding Sustainable Transitions in Declining Japanese Municipalities"

Oct 15 Knight Library
Career Tour - Tech + Design Edition

Oct

16

Career Tour - Tech + Design Edition

Oct 16 Ford Alumni Center
Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies: Welcome Event

Oct

16

Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies: Welcome Event

Oct 16 McKenzie Hall
Job Shadow Day Info Session

Oct

19

Job Shadow Day Info Session

Oct 19 Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall
Cinema Studies Fall Term Coffee Hours

Oct

20

Cinema Studies Fall Term Coffee Hours

Oct 20 Villard Hall
Your Future in Sustainability (Career Panel + Networking)

Oct

20

Your Future in Sustainability (Career Panel + Networking)

Oct 20 Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall

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