Careers in Neuroscience

Frank Johnson, Ph.D.Director, Program in Neuroscience

Florida State University

What is the Definition of Neuroscience?

• Interdisciplinary study of relationships between brain structure and function, purpose of conscious and unconscious processes, and the control of behavior.

• Combines Psychology with elements of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics.

– Psychological Functions of The Brain– Integrative Functions of The Brain– Development and Aging of The Brain– Diseases of The Brain

What are the activities in which Neuroscientists engage?

• RESEARCH: “Science is a way of thinking. This is central to its success. Science invites us to let the facts in, even when they don’t conform to our preconceptions.” – Carl Sagan

• COMMUNICATE: Scientists openly share their experimental methods, results, and interpretations – on page and in person. Essential to communicate findings to peers and the public and to transfer the tradition of Science to the next generation.

• PARTICIPATE: Scientific and academic organizations operate in a democratic way. Peer review at many levels – funding, publication, promotion. Administrative service to professional organizations and educational institutions.

What types of organizations or businesses employ Neuroscientists?

• Universities (research + teaching)

• Colleges (teaching)

• Federal/State Agencies (legislation, implement policy, manage review and funding process)

• Private Foundations (manage review and funding process, raise funds for research, consulting)

• Industry (translating research into products)

• Media (translating research for the general public)

How much graduate training is needed to become a Neuroscientist?

• Masters Degree Optional

• Doctoral Degree (~5 yr)– Become an experimentalist

– Learn to Communicate on page

– Learn to Communicate in person

Are certifications or additional training needed to become a Neuroscientist?

• Post-Doctoral Training (3-5 yr)– Additional training and broadening as an experimentalist

(neuroscience is interdisciplinary and data-driven)

– Fine-tune communication skills (scientific, instructional, public)

– Develop proposals to fund your independent research

• Not Necessary for Teaching Careers

How good are employment opportunities forNeuroscientists?

• Neuroscience is a young, growing field.

• Focus is still on basic research. Most neuroscientists are employed by research universities.

• For the most part, the jobs are where the universities are.

What salaries do Neuroscientists earn?

• Starting Academic Salary: 68-72K

• Advanced Academic Salary: 115-125K– Important to consider benefits as part of total compensation

– Important to consider the opportunity one has to apply for funding

– Important to consider the level of debt incurred during training (near zero)

How flexible are working conditions for Neuroscientists?

• Prepare to “work” 50-60hr per week – however:– Creativity demands a flexible schedule

– A good portion of your time is your own

– One can often work remotely and flexibly

– Wardrobe costs are pretty reasonable

What skills and experiences should Undergrads acquire if they are interested in Neuroscience?

• Learn to enjoy working with your hands– 1+ years of undergraduate research experience a must

– Most experimental techniques require ‘arts and crafts’ type skills

• Learn to be resilient in the face of failure– You’re trying to understand the product of 4 billion years of evolution – it

might take a few tries to figure this one out

– Make your failures work for you

• Develop a broad scientific curiosity– Coursework in Psychology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics.

– Breadth over specialization

– To be considered for graduate training, must have a GPA above 3.2 and score above the 50th percentile on Verbal and Quantitative portions of GRE

What are the most rewarding aspects of being a Neuroscientist?

• Exploring the unknown.

• The opportunity to be creative in one’s profession.

• Neuroscience is interdisciplinary so you’re always learning something new.

• The opportunity to contribute to the body of human knowledge about the world.

What are the biggest drawbacks of being a Neuroscientist?

• Conscious experience has – thus far – proved to be of little value in understanding the brain. Frustrating.

• Science is completely unforgiving of professional dishonesty and plagiarism. Not really a drawback, but should be clearly understood before choosing this career.

• Regular people may find you weird.

Website recommendations for students interested in Neuroscience

• FSU Program in Neuroscience

• Searchable Directory of Neuroscience Training Programs

• Median Salary Information