Neuroengineering
| Degrees Offered | PhD |
| Website | www.uab.edu/engineering/home/neuroengineering |
| Program Co-Director, Engineering | Jamie Tyler, PhD |
| Program Co-Director, Medicine | Mark Bolding, PhD |
| Program Associate Director, Engineering | Rachel Smith, PhD |
| Program Manager | Chastity Malcom |
| neuroeng@uab.edu |
Program Objectives
The primary objective of the Neuroengineering PhD program is to produce highly skilled and innovative researchers who can address complex challenges in understanding the brain and developing new technologies for neural applications. Graduates will be prepared for careers in academia, industry, and government research labs.
Program Overview
Students entering the doctoral program will possess a BS, MS, or be currently enrolled in the MD/PhD program at UAB. PhD students normally have earned a bachelor's degree in Neuroscience, Neuroengineering, a relevant engineering discipline, or a closely-related field. Students with undergraduate degrees in the physical sciences, life sciences, or mathematics will also be considered for admission; however, such students must demonstrate preparation for the Neuroengineering graduate curriculum.
Admission to the Neuroengineering PhD program is competitive. Successful applicants have a 3.5 or greater GPA from their previous degree(s) (on a 4-point scale) and significant research experience. Scores on the GRE General Test are not required. Students admitted to the doctoral program typically receive a competitive stipend that includes payment of tuition.
In addition to completing coursework requirements, doctoral students must form a Graduate Dissertation Committee consisting of at least five faculty members, including the primary research mentor. At least one committee member must be Neuroengineering faculty and one should be from outside the Neuroengineering faculty. A written dissertation proposal must be orally presented to the committee and approved, at which time the student is admitted to candidacy. This must take place at least two semesters before the student may graduate.
Publication Requirement
Original peer-reviewed research articles in reputable journals are the standard for demonstrating scientific productivity. The research conducted by Neuroengineering doctoral students is expected to result in such publications. Before the degree is awarded, students are required to have at least one “first-author” journal article that has been published (or accepted for publication) and a second that has been submitted to a journal. Many students will be co-authors on collaborative research articles and may also share authorship on review articles, book chapters, conference proceedings, and other forms of scientific communication. Although these works bolster the student’s scientific credentials, they do not count toward the Neuroengineering publication requirement. In some cases, first-authorship of an article is shared among multiple individuals. In these cases, the article may count toward the publication requirement of only one doctoral student.
Admission Requirements
● A bachelor's degree in neuroscience, engineering, physical sciences, or a related field.
● A minimum GPA of 3.5.
● A statement of purpose outlining research interests
● CV or Resume.
● Three letters of recommendation.
● International applicants must submit English proficiency scores in accordance with UAB Graduate School requirements. Click here for details;
● Original transcripts from all colleges and universities attended since high school must be sent directly to the UAB Graduate School (detailed instructions are included during the online application process)
Ph.D. in Neuroengineering
Degree Requirements
The Neuroengineering PhD program requires a total of 72 credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree. Students are expected to complete a rigorous course of study, lab rotations, ad original research leading to a dissertation.
Coursework for PhD After BS Degree
Students entering the PhD program with a BS degree are required to complete at least 72 semester hours of graduate work.
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 15 | |
| Topics in Neuroengineering I | ||
| Topics in Neuroengineering II | ||
| Principles of Scientific Integrity | ||
| Statistical Methods II | ||
| Neural Time Series Data Analysis | ||
| Neural Time Series Data Analysis | ||
| Mathematics 1. | 3 | |
| Numerical Methods in Engineering | ||
| Engineering Analysis | ||
| Math Methods in EGR I | ||
| Research & Journal Club | 36 | |
| Lab Rotation 2 | ||
| Non-Dissertation Research | ||
| Dissertation Research | ||
| Neuroengineering Journal Club 3 | ||
| Engineering Electives | 9 | |
| Neural Computation | ||
| Dynamical Biological Systems | ||
| Artificial Intelligence | ||
| Machine Learning | ||
| Computer Vision | ||
| Data Visualization | ||
| Foundations of Data Science | ||
| Technical Communication for Engineers | ||
| Random Variables and Processes | ||
| Computer Vision | ||
| Digital Image Processing | ||
| Introduction to Neural Networks | ||
| Embedded Systems | ||
| Modern Control Theory | ||
| Intelligent Systems | ||
| Introduction to Big Data Analytics | ||
| Machine Learning in Engineering | ||
| Medical Signal Processing | ||
| Advanced Brain Machine Interface | ||
| Computational Methods in EGR | ||
| Neuroscience Elective | 9 | |
| Developmental Neuroscience | ||
| Epigenetics | ||
| Brain Tumor Biology | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Grant Writing- Crafting a Research Proposal | ||
| Neuroanatomy | ||
| Statistical Methods I | ||
| Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology | ||
| Cognition & Cognitive Disorder | ||
| Statistics for Biomedical Science | ||
| Mechanisms of Memory | ||
| Methods in Neuroimaging | ||
| Brain and Cognition | ||
| Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Optics and Imaging | ||
| Visual Neuroscience | ||
| Functional MRI | ||
| Neuroethics | ||
| Total Hours | 72 | |
Coursework for PhD After MS Degree
Students entering the PhD program with an MS degree or those entering the PhD portion of the MD/PhD program are required to complete at least 51 additional semester hours of graduate work.
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 12 | |
| Topics in Neuroengineering I | ||
| Topics in Neuroengineering II (Mathematics ) | ||
| Neural Time Series Data Analysis | ||
| Neural Time Series Data Analysis | ||
| Principles of Scientific Integrity | ||
| Mathematics 1. | 3 | |
| Numerical Methods in Engineering 1 | ||
| Engineering Analysis 1 | ||
| Math Methods in EGR I 1 | ||
| Research & Journal Club | 27 | |
| Lab Rotation 2. | ||
| Non-Dissertation Research | ||
| Dissertation Research | ||
| Neuroengineering Journal Club 3 | ||
| Engineering or Neuroscience Electives | 9 | |
| Neural Computation | ||
| Dynamical Biological Systems | ||
| Artificial Intelligence | ||
| Machine Learning | ||
| Computer Vision | ||
| Data Visualization | ||
| Foundations of Data Science | ||
| Technical Communication for Engineers | ||
| Random Variables and Processes | ||
| Computer Vision | ||
| Digital Image Processing | ||
| Embedded Systems | ||
| Modern Control Theory | ||
| Intelligent Systems | ||
| Introduction to Neural Networks | ||
| Introduction to Big Data Analytics | ||
| Machine Learning in Engineering | ||
| Medical Signal Processing | ||
| Advanced Brain Machine Interface | ||
| Computational Methods in EGR | ||
| Developmental Neuroscience | ||
| Neuroanatomy | ||
| Epigenetics | ||
| Brain Tumor Biology | ||
| Bioinformatics | ||
| Grant Writing- Crafting a Research Proposal | ||
| Statistical Methods I | ||
| Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology | ||
| Cognition & Cognitive Disorder | ||
| Statistics for Biomedical Science | ||
| Mechanisms of Memory | ||
| Methods in Neuroimaging | ||
| Brain and Cognition | ||
| Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Optics and Imaging | ||
| Visual Neuroscience | ||
| Functional MRI | ||
| Neuroethics | ||
| Total Hours | 51 | |
Additional Academic Policies
Special Topics and independent/individual study courses are reviewed for degree applicability to the degree. No more than 6 combined hours of Special Topics and/or Independent Study courses will be applied to the Neuroengineering PhD without appeal to and approval from the Program Directors.
UAB offers similar courses at the 400/500 and 600/700 levels. While the higher numbered course has more advanced content, there is a significant overlap in topics. Therefore, students are not allowed to take a 500-level or 700-level course for credit if they have previously taken the related 400-level or 600-level course, respectively.
- 1.
Prereqs for engineering math: Successful completion of at least Calculus II (Cal III preferred) and Intro to Differential Equations (or equivalent) these courses will not apply toward the PhD.
- 2.
Students who were not admitted directly into a lab may register for a lab may register for a maximum of 4 rotations.
- 3
Students must register for a minimum of 6 semesters; may also select another 700-level 1 hour Journal Club with Program Director approval.