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
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