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Neuroscience Graduate Program

General Information

What We Are Looking for in a Student

A good scientist is intelligent, curious, hard-working, and honest. We desire applicants who possess these qualities. We also strive to select applicants who can cooperate and communicate with others, since these skills are also most important in a scientific career.

The average characteristics of applicants accepted into our program are:

  • GPA: 3.4/4.0
  • GRE Verbal and Quantitative: above 60th percentile

About 40% of our students are women, about 33% are from outside the United States, and about 33% are non-Caucasian.

Applicants may apply online (no application fee). The first round of applications are evaluated in January so early submission is encouraged. Applicants are evaluated on their entire application packet. Only applicants with a GPA of 3.4 or better are considered strong candidates. The following documents are required from domestic applicants:

  • A completed admission application
  • One set of official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
  • Official GRE scores from the General Exam taken within the past four years
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Statement of Purpose

For international applicants, the following documents are required in addition to those listed above:

  • TOEFL or IELTS scores
  • A Declaration and Certification of Finances Form
  • Evaluations of international transcripts by an outside credentialing service.Go to www.ece.org for information about this service and to download an application.

The deadline for receipt of all application materials is March 15 of the academic year for which application is being made.

Current Students

There are 19 Ph.D. students currently (August 2004) enrolled in the Neuroscience Graduate Program, including 3 students from Loyola's M.D.-Ph.D. program. We enroll 3-4 new Ph.D. students each year from a pool of more than 50 applicants. We also usually admit one or two new Masters students per year.

Faculty

There are currently 28 full faculty and 1 associate faculty member. Most are drawn from the basic science departments of Loyola's Stritch School of Medicine, but a number are based in clinical departments at both Loyola and the adjacent Hines Veterans Administration Hospital.

History

The Neuroscience Graduate Program at Loyola University Medical Center admitted its first student in the fall of 1986. Since then a total of 67 students have enrolled (51 Ph.D., 9 M.D./Ph.D., 10 Masters). Our first Ph.D. in Neuroscience graduated in May of 1992, and thus far a total of 33 Ph.D.'s, including 5 M.D./Ph.D's, and 6 Masters degrees have been awarded.

Dr. Robert D. Wurster, Professor of Physiology and the originator of the Program, was the first Director. In 1989 he was succeeded by the current Director, Dr. E.J. Neafsey, Professor of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy. A Program Advisor Committee assists the Director in running the program. Current members of this committee are Dr. George Battaglia (Pharmacology), Dr. Wendy Kartje (Neurology at Hines VA and Loyola), Dr. Lydia DonCarlos (Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy), Dr. Erika Piedras-Renteria (Physiology), Dr. Karie Scrogin (Pharmacology), and Dr. Evan Stubbs (Neurology and Hines VA). The Neuroscience Graduate Program is part of Loyola University Medical Center's Neuroscience Institute.