Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience

Training researchers to answer these fundamental, unanswered questions is the goal of the Ph.D. program in the Princeton Neuroscience Institute. Students in this program learn to use the latest techniques and approaches in neuroscience and are trained in how to think and how to develop new techniques and approaches. Creativity and originality are essential to cracking the puzzle of the brain. Neuroscience Ph.D. students take lecture and laboratory courses, learn to read, understand, and present current scientific literature, develop and carry out substantial original research, and present their research at meetings and conferences. Coursework in the Princeton Neuroscience Ph.D. program is based on the idea that hands-on experience is an essential part of gaining real understanding. During the first year, all students participate in a unique year-long Core Course that surveys current neuroscience. The subjects covered in lectures are accompanied by direct experience in the lab. Students learn through first-hand experience how to run their own fMRI experiments, to design and run their own computer simulations of neural networks, to image live neural activity, and to patch-clamp single cells, to name a few examples. This course offers students a unique opportunity to learn the practical knowledge that is essential for successfully developing new experiments and techniques. Previous experimental experience is not required. Incoming students are encouraged to rotate through up to three different labs to choose the lab that best matches their interests. During this process, students may sometimes discover an area of research completely new and fascinating to them. Following their rotations, and by mutual agreement with their prospective faculty adviser, students choose a lab in which they will carry out their Ph.D. research.

All official Transcripts. A bachelor's degree or its foreign equivalent from an accredited college or university. Official transcripts of your grades.
Three letters of recommendation. Applicants are required to upload a transcript (may be unofficial at this time) including the key from all attended colleges or universities.
The transcript must show the name of the student, name of the issuing institution, name of courses taken, and the grades received in those courses.
The Graduate School does not have a minimum TOEFL or IELTS score requirement. If you are offered admission and accept our offer and have scored below a 27 on the Speaking sub-section of the TOEFL iBT or below an 8.0 on the Speaking sub-section of the IELTS you will be required to take an English placement test at the start of the fall term. Students who do not pass the test will be required to enroll in English Language Program classes.
The application for the Neuroscience PhD program includes a statement of purpose, transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate programs, three letters of reference, and an updated resume/CV. GRE scores are not required, but we do accept them if students choose to submit them. While PNI reviews graduate applications holistically, most referees place the greatest emphasis on the statement of purpose and the letters of reference, and are particularly interested in letters of reference from previous research mentors. The statement of purpose is an opportunity to convey scientific and career goals directly to the admissions committee. A good statement will include a brief overview of your motivation to pursue graduate training in neuroscience, a history of research experiences up to this point, along with future interests and ambitions. When discussing previous research experiences, focus on the big picture questions the research addressed, and then specifics of your role in the project, in addition to any outcomes and the impact to the field. A successful statement also outlines why PNI is the best place for you to conduct your graduate training. Applicants should identify 2-3 faculty members at PNI who might be a good fit for their research interests. PNI welcomes graduate applications from students of all disciplines. Our current graduate students completed undergraduate degrees in neuroscience, psychology, biology, engineering, computer science, and more. The program itself is designed to support students from many disciplines in an effort to create an intellectually diverse neuroscience workforce. In addition, while we welcome international applicants, please note that due to funding constraints, we are only able to admit a small number of international students.

General Test - optional/not required

Additional departmental requirements
Optional: Applicants may submit a statement with their application, briefly describing how their academic interests, background, or life experiences would advance Princeton's commitment to diversity within the Graduate School and to training individuals in an increasingly diverse society. Please submit a succinct statement of no more than 500 words.