Prof. Daniel Miller leads a student in research in the Carthage rat lab.The Neuroscience Program emphasizes research for undergraduate students.Many neuroscience students go on to careers in medicine and pharmacy.In the neuroscience lab, students conduct research using signaled barpressing, a water maze and the 17-arm radial maze. There are opportunities for neuroscience students to conduct independent research. Each student is required to complete an independent research project under the supervision of one of the neuroscience faculty.
Neuroscience

Research

Neuroscience students at Carthage have the opportunity to conduct significant research, both with faculty and independently.

In Class

Neuroscience courses provide students with extensive research experience. In NEUR 250 Research Methods in Neuroscience, students gain experience in experimental design, data collection, statistical analysis and interpretation, and manuscript preparation, as well as research techniques including surgery, histology and pharmacological manipulations. In NEUR 410 Neuroscience III: Development and Anatomy, students explore brain and spinal cord morphology through guided dissection exercises.

In the Neuroscience Laboratory

Carthage’s Neuroscience Laboratory, used by both neuroscience and psychology students, includes a rodent colony where students can conduct research guided by faculty and independent projects. Equipment includes a signaled bar press, water maze and 17-arm radial maze.

Students can also work in the laboratory for genetics and neurobiology with biology professors Patrick Pfaffle and Dan Choffnes. Opportunities exist for research in electrophysiology with neuroscience professor Dan Miller and physics professor Doug Arion.

At Conferences

Each student is required to complete an independent research project under the supervision of one of the neuroscience faculty. These projects may lead to presentation opportunities. Neuroscience students have been very successful in presenting their findings at local, regional and national conferences, including the Pavlovian Conference and the Society for Neuroscience Conference.

Erin Didion, '04, presented her research at the International Infant Society Conference and the Society for Neuroscience Conference. Sara Servais Schramm, '06, was selected to present her research at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research and the Society for Neuroscience. Her original study has led to senior thesis research for several neuroscience and psychology majors.

Students dissect central nervous system tissue during a Neuroscience III laboratory exercise.
Students use neuron simulation programs in the computational and visual laboratory to conduct experimental simulations involving the action potential and synaptic potentials as the material is taught in class.

Academic Resources

Prospective Students

Research Opportunities

SURE

Summer Undergraduate Research Experience lets students work one-on-one with a faculty mentor.

Student Voices

Neuroscience major Jamie Hamill, '11, has had valuable research experience on campus and off. Read more.