The Interdepartmental Undergraduate Neuroscience Program of Johns Hopkins University

If you are interested in pursuing research, you should plan to get a Ph.D. in a graduate program.  Even if you wish to conduct research in a medical setting, you should plan on a Ph.D.  The M.D. and Ph.D. provide very different kinds of training and qualify you for very different kinds of jobs.

 

The major criterion for entry into a Ph.D. program is your ability to do research.  Consequently, you should make research a top priority in your undergraduate education.  Research opportunities are everywhere at Hopkins.  Finding the correct opportunity for you is a matter of reading catalogues that describe the research interest of faculty, talking to other students, and reading what is available in the list of tutorials in work-study jobs.  If you have problems finding a compatible research project, please speak to your advisors, and they will be happy to guide you.

 

The research experience should be one that involves you in the scientific aspects of the project, not just the technical ones (washing bottles, etc.).  Typically, individuals begin helping in research at a relatively elementary level, but can progress to very advanced positions.  Ideally, you should leave Hopkins with one or more publications, strong letters of recommendation from one or more research supervisors, a good understanding of the research process, and a strong direction for yourself in a research career.

 

Choosing a graduate school is important.  During the spring of your junior year, you should write for catalogues at universities with programs that interest you.  Information about programs in other universities is available from a variety of sources, most of which are available at the resource library in the Office of Preprofessional Advising in Garland Hall.  You should apply to programs that you are interested in pursuing.  Upon acceptance, you should visit those programs, speak to students and faculty in them, and make your decision about where you wish to go.  Your adviser and other faculty may help to guide you in your choices.