Michigan State University

1
Michigan State University

• Yanny Lau
• Joe Lonstein

2
First year Introduction to discipline and
department

• Discipline
• Survey courses in molecular, cellular, systems,
  and behavioral neuroscience (over first two
  years)
• Weekly colloquia
• Lab rotations
• Program/Community
• First year student orientation
• Program-wide retreat
• Lansing Lugnuts Baseball Outing
• Faculty interviews in Research Forum
• Common first year curriculum

3
Introduction to the research enterprise

• Lab rotations
• Lab course
• Good Laboratory Practice
• Creation of protocols and animal use forms
• Training in Responsible Conduct of Science
• Graduate School workshops
• Training in Professional Skills
• NRSA preparation
• Oral presentations

4
Significant Transition

• Comprehensive examination
• Written exam on molecular, cellular, systems, and
  behavioral neuroscience
• Taken at end of second year
• What transition tests/certifies
• Breadth and competency in the field
• Critical thinking, hypothesis testing
• Linked stages
• Transition from didactic focus to research focus

5
Dissertation development

• Research question developed with faculty advisor
• Research plan developed with advisor and guidance
  committee
• Written thesis proposal
• Public presentation and oral defense of proposal

6
Dissertation completion

• Moment of truth--when is student ready to fledge?
• student becomes expert by completing a program of
  original research
• progress assessed by regular committee meetings
• student develops senioritis and advisor agrees
  its life-threatening
• Dissertation defense
• traditional written format (not publications
  stapled together)
• public seminar
• oral defense with committee

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Innovation

• Transitioned to a degree-granting program from a
  joint degree program
• minimized variations in curriculum, comprehensive
  exam, and training experience
• enhanced program cohesiveness
• provided impetus for additional change and growth
• Faculty positions allocated to Program
• Faculty time now devoted to neuroscience
  instruction and program activities

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Novel Idea

• Exclusive use of problem-based learning in
  neuroscience curriculum