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| Program of Study |
| This interdisciplinary graduate research and education program, established
in 1986, has 32 faculty participants. The international reputation of
the faculty members and their ability to attract strong extramural support
has resulted in the program being designated as one of Colorado State
University's Centers of Research and Scholarly Excellence. Faculty research
interests are focused in cellular, molecular and integrative neurobiology,
with emphasis in areas related to neuronal differentiation, degeneration
and regeneration, ion channels and membrane physiology, synaptic mechanisms,
neuronal circuitry and chronobiology, sensory biology, artificial neural
networks, cognitive neuroscience and neurovirology. Students interested
in the cellular and molecular aspects of nervous system function and systems
neuroscience are encouraged to apply.
Students can apply and be admitted directly to the program, or they
can be admitted into one of the participating departments (Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology, Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Computer Science,
Microbiology or Psychology) and participate in program activities. Students
admitted directly into the Program participate in laboratory rotations
and may select from the laboratories of all participating faculty, regardless
of department. Student interaction with faculty members from more than
one department is strongly encouraged. Graduate programs are customized
to fulfill students' interests and long-term objectives. Basic training
in the neurosciences comes from an integrated first-year curriculum
featuring core courses in cellular and molecular neurophysiology, developmental
neurobiology, functional neurobiology, and neuroscience techniques.
Students also participate in a variety of discussion and seminar groups
that enhance interaction between the more than 80 members of the neuroscience
community. At the end of the first year in residence, each student must
select an advisor and the department through which he or she will work
toward the Ph.D. or M.S. degree. No formal degree is offered through
the Program, but a transcript endorsement indicating the student has
successfully completed the requirements of the interdisciplinary Molecular,
Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences Program will become part of the
student's official record.
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| Research Facilities |
| Program faculty members occupy more than 30,000 square feet of high-quality
laboratory research space in seven buildings, four of which are adjacent.
State-of-the-art facilities are available for virtually every aspect of
research, including UV, visible, fluorescence, and infrared microscopy;
laser-scanning confocal microscopy; computer-enhanced imaging; scanning
and transmission electron microscopy; freeze-fracture; and combined optical
microscopy/electrophysiology. Complete support is available for modern
molecular neurobiological research and includes facilities for protein
sequencing, peptide and oligonucleotide synthesis, and polyclonal antibody
production. |
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| Financial Aid |
| Students accepted into the Ph.D. program receive assistantships, usually
for the duration of their graduate studies. The yearly stipend for 2007-08
is $22,500 for students accepted directly into the program. Departmental
stipends may vary slightly from this amount. |
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| Cost of Study |
| Tuition costs for domestic students are paid by the program or from
faculty research grants that support the student. Students are responsible
for fees totaling about $1050 per year (twelve months); these fees cover
the student center, student health service, student recreation center,
student activities, athletics, the stadium, the auditorium-gymnasium complex,
and free Trans-Fort bus transportation. |
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| Living and Housing Costs |
| On-campus housing for married students is available with rent starting
at about $600 per month for modern two-bedroom units. Off-campus housing
is also available near the University. Living costs in this moderately
sized community are reasonable, averaging about 10 percent less than those
in the Denver-Boulder area. |
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| Student Group |
| Graduate students make up about 15 percent of the 23,934 students enrolled.
The program currently has about 45 graduate students and 27 postdoctoral
fellows and research associates. There is a diverse mixture of men and
women from across the United States and several other countries. |
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| Student Outcomes |
| There have been 27 Ph.D. and 19 M.S. degrees conferred to students affiliated
with the Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences Program, some
of which include the 30 new doctoral students that have been recruited
directly into the program since 1994. The great majority of the graduates
have successfully pursued careers in science. Of the 27 students who earned
a Ph.D., 18 continued their training as postdoctoral fellows and 8 entered
a science-related field. |
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| Location |
| Fort Collins, an active, growing community of about 140,000 residents,
is nestled along the beautiful Front Range, with Rocky Mountain National
Park located less than a 1-hour drive away. At an elevation of 5,004 feet,
Fort Collins enjoys a moderate climate typified by warm, sunny days; low
humidity; and cool nights. An abundance of mountain recreational activities
exist close to Fort Collins, including skiing (downhill and cross-country),
hiking, camping, fishing, white-water rafting, rock-climbing and mountain-climbing.
Fort Collins is a highly educated community, with many residents employed
by the University or by various computer and high-technology industries.
The Lincoln Center cultural facility is the home of the city's resident
symphony orchestra, repertory theater, and opera companies. The Denver
metropolitan area, 60 miles south, is home to about 2 million people and
offers professional sports teams, excellent museums, and a large performing
arts complex. |
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| The University |
| Colorado State University, founded in 1870, is the oldest university
in Colorado. On its 830-acre main campus, it offers research and professional
training in numerous academic fields, with a major emphasis in biomedical
areas. Of the six departments participating in this interdisciplinary
neuroscience program, three are in the College of Veterinary Medicine
and Biomedical Sciences and three are in the College of Natural Sciences. |
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| Applying |
| A current description of the requirements and guidelines for graduate
students is available from the program office. Entrance requirements for
graduate study include an undergraduate degree with a minimum grade point
average of B, Graduate Record Examination scores, and three letters of
recommendation. A GRE Subject Test is recommended. College-level courses
in organic chemistry, biochemistry, biology (including cell biology and
physiology), physics, and calculus are highly recommended. To be assured
of complete consideration for entrance into the program and for financial
support, complete applications should be received by January 1. Applications
received after January 1 are considered for positions that are still
available. Application materials and additional program information are
available from the address below. |