The Ottawa-Carleton Specialization in Neuroscience

Life Sciences Research Building 325
Telephone: 788-4020
Fax: 788-4052

The Specialization

Coordinator of the Specialization: J.B. Kelly

Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system and its function. This field cuts across many disciplines and incorporates such areas as anatomy, neurobiology, pharmacology, physiology, and psychology. While individual researchers usually specialize in a particular area, neuroscientists today must also be able to appreciate significant research in the other fields and therefore require an understanding of the basics of the other disciplines.

Training in the neurosciences extends past the boundaries of traditional departments. In response to the challenge of providing a comprehensive education for future neuroscientists, the University of Ottawa and Carleton University offer a multi-disciplinary specialization in neuroscience.

The specialization is intended to augment the research and training which the student receives through one of the primary departments which are participating in the neuroscience specialization. The departments are:

• Department of Anatomy, University of Ottawa
• Department of Biology, Carleton University
• Department of Biology, University of Ottawa
• Department of Physiology, University of Ottawa
• Department of Psychology, Carleton University
• School of Psychology, University of Ottawa

Five additional departments from the University of Ottawa Medical School are also affiliated.

• Department of Medicine (Division of Neurology)
• Department of Neuropathology
• Department of Pharmacology
• Department of Psychiatry
• Department of Surgery (Division of Neurosurgery)

The specialization is coordinated by a committee consisting of representatives from each of the participating departments.

Application should be made to the primary department which is most appropriate to the student's research interest. Once accepted by the department, students must be sponsored into the specialization by a member of the neuroscience faculty.

Application forms and further information can be obtained by writing directly to any of the primary departments.

Members of the Neuroscience Specialization

Hymie Anisman, Stress, Coping, Depression, Catecholamines

Catherine Bielajew, Brain Stimulation Reward, Feeding Mechanisms and Thermal Regulation

Roger Broughton, Biological Rhythms, Sleep Disorder

Joseph de Koninck, Sleep Cycles, Biorhythms, Dreams

Jack de la Torre, Brain and Spinal Trauma, Central and Peripheral Regeneration, Stroke

George Fouriezos, Brain Stimulation Reward

P.A. Fried, Alcohol, Marihuana, Smoking and Pregnancy

James Fryer, Neurohypophysial Hormones, Neuropeptides, Teleost Endocrine Function, Neuropetide Gene Expression

D.R. Gardner, Patch Clamping, Pesticides, Invertebrate CNS

Walter Hendelman, Tissue Culture, Locus Coeruleus, Growth Factors

Pavel Hrdina, Antidepressants, Imipramine Binding, Central Neurotransmitters

J.B. Kelly, Auditory System Structure and Function

R.M. Knights, Head Injury, Cognition Behaviour

Symon Lemaire, Neuropeptides, Receptor Modulation, Catecholamines, Phencyclidine Receptors

Kenneth Marshall, Neurotransmitters, Neural Development, Neuronal Regeneration

Irene Mazurkiewicz-Kwilecki, Brain Histamine, Aging, Stress, Drug Abuse

Michael McBurney, Neuronal Cell Differentiation, Molecular Biology, Gene Expression, Teratocarcinomas

D.C. McIntyre, Epilepsy, Kindling, Learning, Memory

Zulfiquar Merali, Peptides, Catecholamines, Behaviour

Theris Miliaressis, Psychobiology, Brain Stimulation Reward, Neuroleptics

Vital Montpetit, Pyridoxine Neurotoxicity, Alzheimer's Disease, Leukoencephalopathy

Catherine Morris, Single Channel Studies, Acetylcholine Activation

B.A. Pappas, Locus Coeruleus, Behavioural Teratology

David Parry, Muscular Dystrophy, Neurotrophic Interactions, Myosin Isoenzymes, Muscle Regeneration, Muscle Development

David Peters, Brain Development, Stress, Neuropharmacology

Terence Picton, Evoked Potentials, Information Processing, Sensory Pathways

R.T. Pivik, Sleep, Neurophysiology, Psychophysiology, Biological Psychiatry

D.C.S. Roberts, Drug Abuse

William Staines, Neuroanatomical Tracers, Neurotransmitters, Neuronal Tissue Culture and Transplantation

B.W.Tansley, Spatial Vision, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Neurotoxicity, Visual, Auditory Systems

T.N.Tombaugh, Drug Abuse, Neuroleptics

Jose-Maria Trifaro, Neurotransmitter Synthesis, Storage and Secretion

R.M. Zacharko, Intracranial Self-stimulation, Stress, Depression, Dopamine, Anhedonia

Master's Program

Admission Requirements

The requirements for admission to the master's neuroscience specialization are as follows:

• Prior admission to the master's program of the primary department which participates in the specialization
• A letter of recommendation from a participating faculty member of the neuroscience specialization, indicating the willingness of the faculty member to supervise the candidate's research program

Students with less than a high honours average in their undergraduate and graduate courses will not normally be recommended for admission.

Program Requirements

In addition to fulfilling the requirements for the master's program of the department in which they are enrolled, the specialization requires that the students successfully complete Psychology 49.520:
Basics of Neuroscience. The thesis research must concern a neuroscience topic and must be supervised by a member of the neuroscience faculty. The student is expected to join the Ottawa Neurosciences Society and attend its scientific meetings.

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements to the Ph.D. neuroscience specialization are as follows:

• Prior admission to the Ph.D. program of the primary department which participates in the specialization
• A letter of recommendation from a participating faculty member of the neuroscience specialization, indicating the willingness of the faculty member to supervise the candidate's research program
• Two additional letters of recommendation from University faculty who are familiar with the candidate's academic and research career
• Students with less than a high honours standing in their undergraduate and graduate courses will not normally be recommended for admission

Selection of master's and doctoral students is carried out by the neuroscience specialization coordinating committee which will select and rank the admissible candidates. Admission is determined by priority of ranking, and the number of admissions depends upon the available positions in the specialization.

Program Requirements

Students must fulfil the Ph.D. program requirements of the department in which they are enrolled. The requirements for the specialization also include the following, some of which may satisfy the Ph.D. requirements of the participating departments:

• The student is expected to join the Ottawa Neurosciences Society and attend its scientific meetings
• Successful completion of the following neuroscience courses: Advanced Seminar in Neuroscience (49.620), Neuroscience Techniques I and II (61.623 and 61.624) and Basics of Neuroscience (49.520)
• A thesis in the area of neuroscience, which must be defended at an oral examination

Graduate Courses*

Neuroscience courses are available through the primary departments. These currently include behavioural neuroscience, neuroendocrinology, clinical neuropsychology, neurophysiology, synaptic transmission and behavioural medicine. Course offerings vary slightly from year to year and a complete listing can be obtained from the specialization coordinator.

The following are the core courses of the curriculum.

• Psychology 49.520T2 (PSY6201)
  Basics of Neuroscience
  A comprehensive neuroscience course from the membrane and the cellular levels through to the behavioural aspects of invertebrates and vertebrates. Lectures and tutorials will cover such aspects of neuroscience as neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, behavioural neuroscience and neuropharmacology.
  (Also offered as Biology 61.534)
• Biology 61.623F1
  Neuroscience Techniques I
  Completion of a research project carried out under the supervision of a neuroscience faculty member. Students may carry out their project in any department participating in the neuroscience specialization provided they have approval from the administrative head of their particular program. For example, students in the neuroscience specialization must obtain approval from the neuroscience committee. Students in the biopsychology concentration must obtain approval from the Department of Psychology. Credit will be granted for learning new research techniques.
  (Also offered as Psychology 49.624)
• Biology 61.624W1
  Neuroscience Techniques II
  Completion of a research project carried out under the supervision of a neuroscience faculty member. Students may carry out their project in any department participating in the neuroscience specialization provided they have approval from the administrative head of their particular program. For example, students in the neuroscience specialization must obtain approval from the neuroscience committee. Students in the biopsychology concentration must obtain approval from the Department of Psychology. Credit will be granted for learning new research techniques.
  (Also offered as Psychology 49.625)
• Psychology 49.620T2
  Advanced Seminar in Neuroscience
  A comprehensive proseminar covering specialized topics in neuroscience and biopsychology. The presentations will focus on the active research areas and interests of faculty members and will provide an in-depth coverage of research strategies, methods and results. Graduate student presentations of current research projects will be an integral part of the course.
  Prerequisite: Psychology 49.520
  (Also offered as Biology 61.633)