About the Neuroscience Graduate Group (NGG)
The Neuroscience Graduate Group (NGG) is a collaborative and interdisciplinary Ph.D. program designed to develop first-rate scientists who will pursue careers in research, teaching, medicine, and other neuroscience-related fields. The NGG includes approximately 160 students and over 200 faculty with primary appointments in the Schools of Arts and Sciences, Dental Medicine, Engineering and Applied Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Veterinary Medicine, Wharton, and the associated Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Our training program provides both the rigor and flexibility needed for our students to pursue cutting-edge research on topics that match their interests and goals. In the first two years, students take core courses that provide a strong foundation of basic neuroscientific knowledge. With guidance, students also choose elective courses and laboratory rotations that introduce them to new concepts and techniques and help them to customize their training. 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. These activities keep them up-to-date on the current state of the field, promote collaborations and a sense of community, and provide instruction in the responsible conduct of research.
We are closely affiliated with the Mahoney Institute of Neuroscience (MINS), which integrates neuroscience activities and education throughout the Penn campus. MINS organizes a weekly seminar series, an annual retreat, and other events attended by our students. The NGG and MINS also work closely together on several outreach efforts to promote neuroscience throughout our community.
A primary strength of our program is the quality and dedication of our students, as evident in their outstanding performance in the classroom and laboratory; a strong record of achievement in terms of publications, individual funding, and career placement; and involvement in outreach and other activities, many of which are organized through their own Graduate-Led Initiatives and Activities (GLIA) Committee.