Want to do Neuroscience Research for your PhD at UC Berkeley?

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Keegan Houser

How to choose the best program for you

Berkeley offers several PhD programs in which students can receive training in neuroscience and conduct neuroscience research. This reflects the highly multidisciplinary research environment at Berkeley.  In each program, students can choose their thesis mentor among a broad range of many of the same Neuroscience faculty.  This website provides links to the main graduate programs on campus in which you can do neuroscience research.  The programs differ by broad intellectual focus, size and coursework. There are also  differences in qualifying exams and details about the rotations. Applicants can only apply to one program, so choose the one that's best for you. Please contact faculty and/or individual program managers if you have any questions!

Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute

Neuroscience PhD Program

The Neuroscience PhD Program offers intensive, interdisciplinary, and integrated training in neuroscience through a combination of research, mentoring, coursework, and professional development. Students have backgrounds across many disciplines, including neuroscience, biology, psychology, physics and computer science. The program trains ~12 students per year in molecular-cellular, circuit-systems, cognitive and computational neuroscience.

School of Optometry

Vision Science PhD Program

Research covers a wide range of disciplines that include all aspects of vision, from the cornea to artificial systems. Students have degrees in psychology, biology, engineering, computer science, or optometry. Neuroscience students study visual neural circuits, psychophysics, and computational vision. About 8-10 students join the program each year.

Dept of Molecular and Cell Biology

MCB PhD Program

The MCB Ph.D. program focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms inherent to life, integrating research with a modern training curricula, teaching, and career mentorship. Students have backgrounds across many cell, development, structural, chemical and other areas of biology. 30-40 students enter per year. Many of the MCB faculty are engaged in neurobiology research and many of the Neuroscience faculty have joint appointments in MCB and are active members of the graduate program.

Graduate Group in Biophysics

Biophysics PhD Program

The biophysics PhD program aims to train students in quantitative approaches to studying biological processes. Students have backgrounds in physical sciences or quantitative biology. 8-10 students enter per year. Of 7 research tracks spanning physics and biology, 2 are neuro-related (systems neuroscience, brain imaging, bioelectronics and structural biology).

Department of Psychology

Psychology PhD Program

The PhD program in Psychology trains scholar-researchers with breadth in the field of psychology and while pursuing in depth independent and directed research. Students come from animal behavior, reproductive biology, and human developmental, clinical, systems neuroscience and computational backgrounds. About 20 students enter the program per year, of whom ~5 focus in either behavioral, systems or cognitive neuroscience.

UCB-UCSF Grad Program in Bioengineering

Bioengineering PhD

Neuro-related research covers a wide range of disciplines including molecular, computational, and systems neuroscience. Students have training in basic and applied areas relevant to bioengineering research. The program annually admits about 30-35 students join each year, about 6-8 are on the neuroscience track.

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