Neuroscience Graduate School

NUI Galway has a long association with the postgraduate training of neuroscientists. Neuroscience has been identified as a key strategic research priority in NUI Galway. The recent recruitment of several neuroscientists to the University has added to the already significant number of PIs with interests in neuroscience. The formation of a neuroscience cluster within the National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science (NCBES) has consolidated local neuroscience research and neuroscience teaching across preclinical and clinical areas and will lead to exciting new synergies for research and its application. Capitalising on the track record and the current breadth of education and research expertise in NUI Galway, we outline the preliminary perspectives on the formation of a Neuroscience Graduate School. We believe that graduates of this programme should be able to:

  • Appreciate the breadth of neuroscience endeavour (from bench to bedside), and its role in improving the health and well-being of the global community
  • Have a detailed competency in an area of neuroscience research
  • Collect and analyse research data and deliver presentations in oral and poster formats, in both national and international settings
  • Have gained the skills necessary to be able to critically appraise neuroscience research
  • Have successfully published research papers in peer-reviewed journals
  • Be capable of undertaking independent professional research
  • Demonstrate potential for management, leadership and innovation
  • Establish a clear career path using their neuroscience expertise and a broad range of transferrable skills
Programme Details
In our opinion, the added value of a Neuroscience Graduate School is that it will significantly enhance the international profile of neuroscience in Ireland, as well as providing a focus for global neuroscience research within Irish research institutions. For the student, it provides a greater breadth of education on many levels. For instance, students will be exposed to research ranging from preclinical to clinical, will experience different perspectives from the key partner institutions, as well as receiving an international dimension to their education. Students that embark on a 4-year funded PhD will take educational activities amounting to 90 ECTS. This will comprise the following activities during the 4-year programme:
 
 Seminar Programme within Neuroscience research cluster (6 ECTS/year):    24 ECTS
 National/European Seminar attendance (6 ECTS/year):  24 ECTS
 Laboratory exchange with National partners (one occasion):   12 ECTS
 Taught modules (largely in Year 1, 5 x 6 ECTS):  30 ECTS
 Total:  90 ECTS
                                                                                                    
Course Coordinator
 
Dr. Karen Doyle
 
Physiology Department &
Neuroscience Research Cluster leader,
National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science,
National University of Ireland, Galway
 
Tel: +353 91 493665
 
karen.doyle@nuigalway.ie