Undergraduate Opportunities
Neuroscience Major and Minor
51°µÍø's bachelor of science degree in neuroscience is an interdisciplinary major offering coursework and research opportunities from faculty in various departments and colleges. The curriculum is designed to allow students to explore the structure and function of the nervous system.
A student with a GPA of at least 2.25, can minor in neuroscience with the approval of the Psychology Department Chair. Declarations must occur prior to the completion of the first semester of the junior year.
Neuroscience Student Research: Exploring New Treatments for Corneal Pain
Meet Professor Ian D. Meng, Ph.D., and Gillian Singer (Neuroscience ’23) as they study ocular pain by mapping out the corneal nerves.
Neuroscience Club
The Neuroscience Club holds a number of events throughout the year on a variety of neuroscience topics. It also raises funds for the Michel T. Goulet Foundation and works to educate children and adults on traumatic brain injuries and diseases.
The club caters to individuals who have an interest in all things neuroscience. Activities, fundraisers, and meetings are all centered around neuroscience-related events. All students are invited to join this club — not just neuroscience majors and minors.
The Neuroscience Club typically meets two to three times per month. For more information email Michael Burman at mburman@une.edu.
Research
Interested in working in a neuroscience lab? One of the best ways to determine if you want to go into a career in neuroscience is to volunteer or work in a lab.
Tyler Vunk
Academic Freedom
As a neuroscience major, I was looking for a way to stand out among other medical school applicants. I decided that the easiest way to get to the top of the overachiever pile was to adopt a second major — English.
I soon realized that my second major brought balance to my academic life. My English professors challenged me to back up my arguments, sharpening my research and writing skills, and gave me the space to safely experiment with both formal and colloquial forms of communication. This made me seek out hour-long conversations during office hours and design and take as many independent studies as possible.
While my neuroscience courses were essential, my English courses — or more specifically the writing, speaking, and communication skills I gained in these courses — helped set me apart from other applicants. There are a lot of one-trick science ponies out there. Having a strong humanities background makes you gallop a bit faster.
Three years after graduation, I was the CEO of Vested Academics — a college planning and student coaching company. I focus on helping students improve their college readiness and avoid overpaying for their degrees. The skills I learned in my English courses have served me well.
Hands-On Learning
I was a research student for three-plus years in Dr. Ling Cao's neuroimmunology lab and co-authored a research review piece with Dr. Kristen Burkholder over a summer. Located on the 51°µÍø campus, these labs gave me the opportunity to perform professional scientific research, get published, and better understand the level of discipline one needs in order to succeed as a professional scientist.
Working with Dr. Jennifer Tuttle over one summer, I was able to perform an exploratory investigation of the narrative writing style. This experience not only generally strengthened my writing skills but also allowed me to develop my listening skills—actually hearing what people were saying, beyond their words. In fact, it's a skill I use every day, whether speaking with vendors, employees, or clients. I remain grateful for the opportunity that both Dr. Tuttle and the 51°µÍø English Department offered me.
My English professors challenged me to back up my arguments, sharpening my research and writing skills, and gave me the space to safely experiment with both formal and colloquial forms of communication.
Volunteering
All of these volunteer activities can be counted toward citizenship hours.
Activities
The Neuroscience Club encourages all members to participate in the Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences' K-12 Outreach Program. This program unites faculty, staff, graduates, and undergraduate students while bringing interactive learning to area schools. The activities are designed to introduce such neuroscience topics as anatomy and physiology, injury and injury prevention, addiction, and cognition. Students are trained by 51°µÍø staff and invited to go into local schools to teach students one of the many modules that the Neuroscience Center has developed.
The Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences at 51°µÍø has created an annual Brain Fair to engage the local community in brain exploration. The goal of the fair is to promote interest in STEM disciplines (neuroscience in particular) within the greater community. Students, staff, and faculty develop neuroscience-related hands-on activities and experiments for the general public, resulting in a science museum-like experience for the local community. The fair is held in celebration of Brain Awareness Week.</