Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University

Yanny LauYanny Lau

Joe LonsteinJoe Lonstein

First year: Introduction to First year: Introduction to discipline and departmentdiscipline and department

DisciplineDisciplineSurvey courses in molecular, cellular, systems, and Survey courses in molecular, cellular, systems, and behavioral neuroscience (over first two years)behavioral neuroscience (over first two years)Weekly colloquiaWeekly colloquiaLab rotationsLab rotations

Program/CommunityProgram/CommunityFirst year student orientationFirst year student orientationProgram-wide retreatProgram-wide retreatLansing Lugnuts Baseball OutingLansing Lugnuts Baseball OutingFaculty interviews in Research ForumFaculty interviews in Research ForumCommon first year curriculumCommon first year curriculum

Introduction to the research Introduction to the research enterpriseenterprise

Lab rotationsLab rotations

Lab courseLab courseGood Laboratory PracticeGood Laboratory Practice

Creation of protocols and animal use formsCreation of protocols and animal use forms

Training in Responsible Conduct of Training in Responsible Conduct of ScienceScience

Graduate School workshopsGraduate School workshops

Training in Professional SkillsTraining in Professional SkillsNRSA preparationNRSA preparation

Oral presentationsOral presentations

Significant TransitionSignificant Transition

Comprehensive examinationComprehensive examinationWritten exam on molecular, cellular, systems, Written exam on molecular, cellular, systems, and behavioral neuroscienceand behavioral neuroscienceTaken at end of second yearTaken at end of second year

What transition tests/certifiesWhat transition tests/certifiesBreadth and competency in the fieldBreadth and competency in the fieldCritical thinking, hypothesis testingCritical thinking, hypothesis testing

Linked stagesLinked stagesTransition from didactic focus to research Transition from didactic focus to research focusfocus

Dissertation developmentDissertation development

Research question developed with Research question developed with faculty advisorfaculty advisor

Research plan developed with Research plan developed with advisor and guidance committeeadvisor and guidance committee

Written thesis proposalWritten thesis proposal

Public presentation and oral defense of Public presentation and oral defense of proposalproposal

Dissertation completionDissertation completion

Moment of truth--when is student ready to Moment of truth--when is student ready to fledge?fledge?

student becomes expert by completing a program of student becomes expert by completing a program of original researchoriginal research

progress assessed by regular committee meetingsprogress assessed by regular committee meetings

student develops “senioritis” and advisor agrees it’s student develops “senioritis” and advisor agrees it’s life-threateninglife-threatening

Dissertation defenseDissertation defense““traditional” written format (not publications stapled traditional” written format (not publications stapled together)together)

public seminarpublic seminar

oral defense with committeeoral defense with committee

InnovationInnovation

Transitioned to a degree-granting Transitioned to a degree-granting program from a joint degree programprogram from a joint degree program

minimized variations in curriculum, minimized variations in curriculum, comprehensive exam, and training experiencecomprehensive exam, and training experienceenhanced program cohesivenessenhanced program cohesivenessprovided impetus for additional change and provided impetus for additional change and growthgrowth

Faculty positions allocated to ProgramFaculty positions allocated to ProgramFaculty time now “devoted” to neuroscience Faculty time now “devoted” to neuroscience instruction and program activitiesinstruction and program activities

Novel IdeaNovel Idea

Exclusive use of Exclusive use of problem-based learning problem-based learning in neuroscience in neuroscience curriculumcurriculum