Is this for me? 

All students in the NESC major are encouraged to participate in Neuroscience research across grounds. Students considering the Distinguished Majors Program (DMP) are encouraged to begin research early in their UVA careers.

Finding a Neuroscience Research Lab

An appropriate research lab will allow a student to test a hypothesis, as well as to develop investigative and critical thinking skills in a supportive environment. Neuroscience-related research projects can also be found in other laboratories across campus. A student planning to perform a neuroscience research project in one of these laboratories should consult the Neuroscience Program Director (Jay Hirsh) as to the appropriateness of the project. Projects that involve observation of clinical procedures and collation of data from clinical trials are generally not appropriate for undergraduate neuroscience research. 

With these guidelines in mind, the student should look for faculty who conduct basic research in interesting areas of neuroscience. Once a student has identified a list of possible research mentors, he/she should send an email to each one inquiring about research opportunities.  This email should contain information about the student, including: the student's year at UVA, current accomplishments in UVA science courses, reasons for the student's interest in performing research, what it is about this faculty member's research that is of interest, and whether the student has relevant course and/or research experience. A copy of the student's transcript may also be attached.  Space in neuroscience research labs is competitive, so students should ensure that they contact multiple faculty members to increase the potential for securing a spot. 

Please use these pages to find Neuroscience Faculty and Labs: 

• PFN Neuroscience Faculty or PFN Research Areas
• Neuroscience Graduate Program
• UVA Brain Institue

Issues for Research Involving Animals or Human Subjects

Regulatory approvals can take considerable time to process; therefore, students must ensure that the lab initiates the approval process early enough to avoid delays.

Work with live animals requires Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC) approval prior to initiating research. ‘Animals’ in this context includes all animals with a spine. For additional information, contact your research mentor and this link: https://sites.research.virginia.edu/compliance/compliance-programs/animal-care-use-committee

Human subject research requires specific Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals prior to initiating research.  Human subject research includes research with living subjects and work with human-derived data that can potentially be identifiable. For more specifics, contact your research mentor and this link: https://research.virginia.edu/irb-hsr

Human Subject Research often requires a significant amount of preliminary work, including routine patient processing tasks essential for the execution of multi-patient studies. These tasks, while fundamental, can overshadow the more intellectually engaging aspects of research. As such, Research in Neuroscience, NESC 3995, 3960, or 4970, should devote at least 50% of time and effort devoted to data collection and analysis rather than just enrolling and processing of patients.

Balance of Administrative vs. Research Related Duties

To ensure that undergraduate research students gain meaningful hands-on experience, it is expected that while students may occasionally assist with basic administrative tasks to learn the operational aspects of the research lab, at least 50% of their time and effort should be devoted to direct data collection and/or analysis. This balance allows students to develop critical research skills, such as experimental design, data handling, and interpretation, while still providing them with an understanding of the broader administrative and logistical processes involved in academic research.

A good way to maintain this balance would be for the student and PI to write and sign a research agreement at the beginning of the semester that outlines expectations for both student and PI. 

Neuroscience Undergraduate Research Courses

NESC 3995 Research in Neuroscience (for undeclared students, non-NESC majors)

• You may enroll in NESC 3995: Research in Neuroscience once you have been accepted to work in a lab and your project has been approved by Director Jay Hirsh as appropriate for neuroscience research. To request approval please fill out this form. Once approved a section for your Primary Investigator (PI) will be created in SIS if needed.

NESC 3960 Research in Neuroscience (for NESC declared majors)

• You may enroll in NESC 3960: Research in Neuroscience once you have been accepted to work in a lab and your project has been approved by Director Jay Hirsh as appropriate for neuroscience research. To request approval please fill out this form. Once approved a section for your Primary Investigator (PI) will be created in SIS if needed.
• Note: Two semesters of NESC 3960: Research in Neuroscience in the same lab are required to fulfill the laboratory requirement. Students engaged in independent research are still encouraged to take one of the designated laboratory courses.

NESC 4970 (fall) / NESC 4980 (spring) Distinguished Majors Thesis

• You may enroll in NESC 4970/4980 in your final year at UVA once you are admitted to the DMP program. Check SIS/Stellic to find the section for your Primary Investigator (PI). If your PI is not listed, you will need to request a section of NESC 4980 by completing this form.

Admission Requirements

The requirements to apply to the Distinguished Major Program are:

• UVA Cumulative GPA: A cumulative GPA of at least 3.400. 
• Major GPA: A cumulative major GPA of at least 3.400 including all courses taken as part of the Neuroscience major.
• Research Proposal: Submission of a brief (1–2 page) research project proposal.
• Faculty Endorsement: Written endorsement of the proposed project by a faculty member of the Neuroscience Graduate Program who agrees to serve as the student’s research mentor.
• Academic and Conduct Standing: Students must be in good academic and conduct standing with the University.

How to Apply

When to Apply: All neuroscience majors are encouraged to apply for the Distinguished Major Program (DMP) during the spring semester before their final year.  

Application Deadline: The Online DMP Application Form will open in January and will close in March. In order to receive full consideration, applications must be submitted by the deadline.

Application Process: Third-year Neuroscience majors may apply to the Distinguished Major Program (DMP) using the online DMP application form.

To be eligible, students must have at least a 3.4 cumulative GPA overall and in all Neuroscience major coursework. Applicants must also submit a transcript showing they meet the GPA requirement.

The application includes a research proposal (maximum two pages) that should describe:

• the research question
• progress made so far
• methods to be used
• expected outcomes
• a timeline for completing the project
• the names of the primary faculty mentor and secondary faculty reader

The secondary faculty reader must have expertise in the thesis field and agree in writing to help mentor the student and evaluate the thesis. Any applicant-generated data included in support of the proposal does not count toward the two-page limit.

Students must also submit written endorsements from both the primary faculty mentor and the secondary faculty reader.

DMP Course Requirements (4 Courses, 12 Credits)

Students admitted to the Distinguished Major Program complete four required courses (12 total credits) associated with their thesis research in their final year. These courses do not count toward the GPA of the major.

NESC DMP - Current Topics in Neuroscience (NESC 3980 and NESC 3985): Students in the DMP program meet as a cohort to examine current developments in the interdisciplinary field of neurosciences, from molecular neurobiology through cognitive neuroscience. Instruction will be based on readings of original literature, presentation of original and new data from Neuroscience faculty and attendance of seminar talks as part of the Neuroscience Graduate Seminar series.

Distinguished Majors Thesis Credits (NESC 4970 and NESC 4980): In NESC 4970, students conduct research under the supervision of their faculty mentor. In the second semester, students enroll in NESC 4980 to complete and finalize the thesis, culminating in a journal-style manuscript. The research project is intended to foster independent thought and develop the student’s critical ability to formulate and conduct scientific research.

Fall Semester (Final Year) Courses

• NESC 3980 - NESC DMP - Current Topics in Neuroscience I Credits: 3
• NESC 4970 - Distinguished Majors Thesis Credits: 3

Spring Semester (Final Year) Courses

• NESC 3985 - NESC DMP - Current Topics in Neuroscience II Credits: 3
• NESC 4980 - Distinguished Majors Thesis Credits: 3

Thesis Submission and Evaluation

The final submission of the DMP thesis to the student’s committee is due two weeks before the last day of classes. The two-member faculty committee (the research mentor and the second reader) evaluates the thesis and reports one of the following outcomes to the DMP Director:

• Distinction
• High Distinction
• Highest Distinction

The PFN Undergraduate Committee then considers the thesis evaluation along with the student’s academic record and submits the final level of distinction to the College Registrar.

Standards for Continued Participation

Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress, make consistent progress toward completion of their thesis research, and adhere to all University academic and conduct policies in order to remain in the Distinguished Major Program. Failure to meet these expectations may result in removal from the program at the discretion of the DMP Director.

DMP Contact

For further information on entering the Distinguished Major Program in Neuroscience, students should contact the current director, Dan Meliza at cdm8j@virginia.edu.