The Neuroscience Graduate Group (NGG) at the University of Pennsylvania is a collaborative and interdisciplinary Ph.D. program that provides training for careers in neuroscience research and teaching. Founded in 1984, the NGG is part of the Biomedical Graduate Studies (BGS) program and is closely affiliated with the Mahoney Institute of Neurological Sciences (MINS). We bring together over 100 faculty from 32 academic departments in the Schools of Arts and Sciences, Dental Medicine, Engineering, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, and the associated Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Our training program is designed to provide a strong foundation of neuroscience knowledge while at the same time taking into account each student's strengths, needs, and career goals. In the first two years, students take core and elective courses and participate in laboratory rotations that provide practical experience in different techniques and approaches to the study of the nervous system. At the end of the second year, students prepare and defend a research proposal and then enter their dissertation laboratory to carry out an original research project. Throughout their training, students participate in seminars, retreats, and other programmatic activities. More information can be found in our Student Handbook.
NGG students are very active in outreach efforts to promote neuroscience throughout our community. Students organize and run the annual Brain Bee for high school students and local Brain Awareness Week activities through the Society for Neuroscience. With Penn's undergraduate Biological Basis of Behavior program, NGG students help organize and run activities in the annual Kids Judge Neuroscience! fair for elementary school students. For many years, NGG students have also organized and run neuroscience lectures for high school students through Penn's Upward Bound program during the summer and on selected Saturdays during the year. These activities and the students that make them possible are highlighted at the annual Flexner Lecture and Dinner, held in October.
Joshua Gold, NGG Chair
Contact Information
| Chair | Joshua Gold | 746-0028 |
| Coordinator | Jane Hoshi | 898-8048 |
| Director for Admissions | Chris Pierce | 746-8915 |
| Director for Advising | Mike Nusbaum | 898-1585 |
| Director for Curriculum | Yale Cohen | 898-7504 |
| Director for Outreach | Kelly Jordan-Sciutto | 898-4196 |
| NGG Financial Director | Cherie Glanzmann | 898-8820 |
| NGG Financial Coordinator | Kim Walls | 573-5270 |
| BGS Financial Director | Nam Narain | 573-2234 |
| BGS Administrative Director | Judy Jackson | 898-2793 |
