Neuroscience professionals are some of the most transformative and critical contributors to the STEM field today. Drawing on interdisciplinary fields including biology, biomedical science, medicine, psychology, and computer science, neuroscientists are tasked with researching and pioneering innovative solutions to challenges related to the brain and nervous system.
A field as critically important as neuroscience requires professionals be equipped with the most up-to-date, groundbreaking scientific knowledge and research methodologies. As such, a Ph.D. in neuroscience has quickly become the standard for innovators working in this field. Here’s what you need to know about pursuing a doctorate in neuroscience.
What is Neuroscience?
Neuroscience is the study of the brain and nervous system — including the spinal cord and nerves. Neuroscientists are medical scientists who draw on diverse disciplines to better understand how these systems develop, function, and evolve as we grow. These findings can then be used to evaluate how the brain responds to diseases and disorders, such as Alzheimer’s, neurodegeneration, traumatic brain injuries, autism, PTSD, depression, and stroke.
Neuroscience can also provide a better understanding of what it means to be human: neuroscientists are actively doing research and implementing studies that can benefit quality of life and the overall human experience.
5 Things You Need to Know About a Ph.D. in Neuroscience
Pursuing a doctoral degree in any STEM discipline is a commitment, and a Ph.D. in neuroscience is certainly no small feat. Investing your time, money, and energy in a doctorate in neuroscience should come with the assurance that you will secure the STEM career you’re most passionate about.
Here are five things you need to know about earning a Ph.D. in neuroscience.
1. Graduate studies in neuroscience are rooted in research.
Research is the avenue through which neuroscience gains new insights and pioneers novel solutions to critical neurological challenges. It’s important to recognize that as a Ph.D. candidate in a neuroscience program, you will be tasked with conducting research using the most up-to-date methodologies.
Graduate studies in neuroscience will provide you the opportunity to conduct groundbreaking research in areas, such as:
- Addiction
- Alzheimer's disease
- Neurodegeneration
- Neural Circuits
- Stroke
- Sleep
- Traumatic brain injury
Your research findings could lead to innovations that directly impact the health of individuals suffering from diseases or even provide intervention before someone experiences a neurological disorder.
2. A Ph.D. in neuroscience provides the invaluable opportunity to specialize.
In conjunction with your chosen research area, a Ph.D. in neuroscience will give you the invaluable opportunity to specialize in an area of neuroscience that you find compelling and impactful.
Maybe you’re passionate about combatting the effects of traumatic brain injury in former athletes; or the development of PTSD symptoms in veterans; or how addiction manifests in those struggling with substance abuse disorder — a Ph.D. in neuroscience will equip you with sought-after, specialized skills needed to secure roles that align with your area of expertise.
3. The neuroscience field opens up diverse job opportunities in STEM.
Pursuing a STEM career generally requires the achievement of a graduate degree, and within the neuroscience field specifically, a Ph.D. will result in diverse job opportunities in STEM. Because a Ph.D. in neuroscience approaches the study of the nervous system at multiple levels (cellular, behavioral, computational, molecular, evolutionary, medical), there are many career paths in this field.
With a doctorate in neuroscience (and depending on your research area and specialization), you can expect to be eligible for neuroscience careers, such as:
- Researcher
- Neurologist
- Biostatician
- Psychiatrist
- Speech pathologist
- Neuropsychologist
- Professor
4. A doctorate in neuroscience also prioritizes soft skills.
A doctorate in neuroscience isn’t siloed to technical skills — it also teaches critically important soft skills that are transferable to countless roles and careers, both within STEM and beyond. Soft skills are paramount to career success: they enable you to work well with others and adapt to challenges in the workforce.
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Communication Problem solving Critical thinking Teamwork Leadership |
Organization Adaptability Time management Conflict resolution Creativity |
In neuroscience, nurturing your soft skills will prepare you to collaborate with others in professional environments as well as communicate your research findings in the context of conferences, journal clubs, or research forums.
5. With a doctoral degree, neuroscience careers are lucrative.
The knowledge and skills that come with obtaining a doctorate in neuroscience are in-depth and extensive. Neuroscience professionals can expect to command a salary that matches thCe rigorous level of training that a Ph.D. provides.
Salaries will range based on level of experience, specialization, and job title, but research shows that those working in the medical sciences experience higher-than-average salaries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical scientists make an average of $100,000 per year with a projected job growth rate of 11 percent (which is significantly faster than the national average). Those with the title of neuroscientist are predicted to make approximately $127,000 per year — with some positions paying as much as $178,000 annually.
If you’re looking for a doctoral degree that will offer significant return on investment, then a Ph.D. in neuroscience could be the avenue through which you experience a lucrative STEM career.
A Groundbreaking Ph.D. in Neuroscience Offered at One of the Nation’s R1 Institutions
As an aspiring Ph.D. candidate in a research-intensive field, you need to be strategic about the graduate neuroscience program you choose. You should prioritize a university that is recognized at the forefront of research and innovation: universities with Research 1 status.
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Higher Education classifies certain universities as R1, regarding them as institutions that operate at the very highest level of academic research. West Virginia University is proud to be one of the 146 U.S. universities that holds R1 status (and is the only R1 institution in the state of West Virginia).
Neuroscience doctoral students benefit from WVU’s R1 status in myriad ways. Ph.D. candidates work with respected experts who have years of industry experience, and they have access to more than 50 laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment. You can also click here to explore the various research areas offered through WVU’s Ph.D. in neuroscience.
Here’s just a snapshot of some of the innovation coming out of WVU’s neurological graduate program:
- WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute receives state funding to expand research and treatment for food addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder
- WVU researchers develop 3D model to better treat neurological disorders
- WVU Alzheimer’s disease study focuses on broken connections
Reach Your Full Potential in STEM: Achieving Your Ph.D. in Neuroscience at West Virginia University
At West Virginia University, we offer a doctorate in neuroscience that is designed for driven, ambitious, aspiring neuroscience professionals who have a mind for research and who are interested in developing the expertise needed to make a difference in myriad STEM capacities.
Our R1 status gives us unique authority in the field of neuroscience research, and through multiple avenues, including our Neuroscience Graduate Student Organization, we are committed to equipping you with the skills needed to experience a lifelong, meaningful career in the field of neuroscience.
If you’re ready to join a community of future neuroscience professionals, we invite you to request more information or get started on your online application today.
Learn more about jumpstarting your neuroscience career at WVU; explore our STEM Career Guide.
