Graduate Programs in the Life Sciences

Neuroscience and Behavior (NSB) is one of eight programs within the life sciences graduate program that offers PhD degrees and a Fast Track Masters Program. NSB offers many areas of research including Neuroendocrinology, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Animal Behavior and Learning, Neural and Behavioral Development, and Sensorimotor, Cognitive, and Computational Neuroscience. There is strong collaboration between NSB, Computer Science, Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering, Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB), Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB), and Psychological and Brain Sciences (PBS). 

Each fall and spring semester a seminar series, hosted by Neuroscience and Behavior and Initiative on Neurosciences, with co-sponsorships with MCB, OEB, and PBS, gives students a chance to hear from established and distinguished faculty at UMass and other research institutions across the country. Students are able to meet with speakers and learn about ongoing research in the field. 

The Center for Neuroendocrine Studies provides opportunities for research groups of 17 faculty members from Psychology, Biology, and Veterinary and Animal Sciences to foster neuroendocrine research. All faculty members are from the Neuroscience and Behavior Graduate Program. Individual members are also associated with MCB and OEB Graduate Programs. Monthly research meetings, team-taught seminars, hands-on workshops, and an Annual Symposium on Neuroendocrinology every fall are just some of what the Center for Neuroendocrine Studies offers.

Neuroscience is a discipline that spans a wide variety of research, career goals, and background interests. The NSB program welcomes students with flexibility in individual training while offering core courses to keep students up to date with knowledge based in contemporary neuroscience. Coupled with the classes and research, the NSB program offers the colloquium series, journal clubs, and collectives, such as Socially-Just Science, which provides opportunities for a vibrant, diverse, and career-minded experience at UMass Amherst. 

IONs is supported by
the College of Natural Sciences and
the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences