Neuroscience, PhD
The Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience at Delaware State University—the nation’s only neuroscience PhD program at an HBCU—is a distinctive, research-intensive program designed for curious, driven scholars who want to advance human understanding of the brain and nervous system.
DSU’s close-knit neuroscience doctoral program prioritizes mentorship, discovery-based learning and the success of every student. As a PhD candidate, you’ll explore topics spanning molecular neuroscience, cellular biophysics, neurophysiology and computational analysis while developing your own dissertation research in collaboration with expert faculty.
Through our full-time, on-campus PhD program, you’ll gain hands-on experience in DSU’s state-of-the-art imaging and electrophysiology core facilities, engage in funded research and contribute to the next generation of neuroscience discovery.
Hands-on learning is central to the DSU experience. As a PhD student, you’ll actively develop expertise in:
- Conducting advanced neuroscience research and data analysis
- Communicating scientific findings in written and oral form
- Teaching and mentoring graduate students
- Translating research into practical and commercial applications
Why Choose the Neuroscience PhD at DSU?
DSU’s PhD in Neuroscience was founded over 15 years ago on the bold vision of creating a world-class neuroscience program within an HBCU environment. We’ve realized that vision through talented faculty, exceptional research funding and a culture of scientific excellence. Students benefit from small class sizes, individualized advising and opportunities to collaborate with major research institutions such as Penn and Johns Hopkins.
You’ll work side-by-side with faculty who are advancing knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease, spinal muscular atrophy and epilepsy. Nearly all students receive scholarships or research funding within their first year, making DSU’s neuroscience doctoral program one of the most affordable and supportive in the nation.
Program Highlights:
- Learn from faculty with nationally funded research in neuroscience
- Conduct research using cutting-edge electrophysiology and imaging cores
- Participate in internships and translational research partnerships with Agilent and INBRE
- Develop professional and technical skills
- Join a tight-knit community committed to excellence, inclusion and innovation
What Can You Do With a PhD in Neuroscience?
DSU’s neuroscience PhD graduates apply their advanced research, analytical and communication skills to drive innovation across academia, industry and public research institutions. Alumni hold postdoctoral, faculty and scientific roles at Johns Hopkins University, Drexel University, DSU and within biotechnology and pharmaceutical organizations. Employers value the program’s focus on quantitative methods, problem-solving and independent research.
Career paths include:
- Postdoctoral or research scientist positions
- Academic faculty roles
- Clinical and translational neuroscience research
- Biotech and pharmaceutical data analysis
- K-12 and higher education instruction
Explore Courses in the Neuroscience PhD Program
The PhD program in neuroscience offers a blend of foundational and advanced coursework in neurobiology, physiology and cell signaling. Courses integrate experiential learning, student-led seminars and laboratory-based discovery.
Signature courses include:
- Cell Communication and Signaling
- Introduction to Neuroscience
- Physiology of Excitable Cells
Students also engage in neuroscience dissertation research guided by faculty, culminating in a contribution to the growing body of neuroscience knowledge.
Neuroscience PhD Admissions
There are a limited number of seats, so the Graduate Program Committee evaluates graduate admission applications [RW1] using the following criteria:
Personal Statement
The personal statement must demonstrate research experience, scientific writing capacity, scientific reasoning and critical thinking, and goal-oriented, progressive thinking that links previous experience to both short-term and long-term academic and professional goals.
Transcript
Minimum transcript criteria include a 3.0 overall GPA and a bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field. Pre-requisite courses include:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- General Biology
- General Chemistry
- General Physics
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Statistics
GREs
GRE scores for the General Test must reflect an overall percentile score of 100, with a minimum percentile score of 25 in each of the three content areas (Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing). Discipline-specific GREs (e.g., biology) are not considered for evaluation.
Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation that indicate the reviewer’s support of the applicant in terms of their academic strength, personal character and academic potential.
Financial Support
The department admits a limited number of students to the PhD program, supporting them with tuition scholarships and research stipends from grants. However, funding is not guaranteed upon admission. Admission without funding is usually not a viable option unless the student has a formal financial commitment letter from a faculty sponsor in the biology department.
In some cases, students will be partially supported by teaching assistantships. If you are financially supported through DSU, you cannot be employed elsewhere without permission from your advisor, GPC and department chair.
Neuroscience Faculty
Students are guided by accomplished faculty conducting neuroscience research across multiple departments. They are active scholars with projects supported by the NSF, the NIH and other national funding agencies.
Faculty provide doctoral students with hands-on experience in neuroscience research ranging from molecular biology and neurophysiology to disease modeling and electrophysiology.
Current DSU Biology Faculty with Research Related to Neuroscience:
- Dr. Michael Gitcho — Neurodegeneration and neuroprotection models of Alzheimer’s disease, Frontotemporal Dementia, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Dr. Melissa Harrington — Multielectrode physiology using invertebrate and mammalian cell culture model systems
- Dr. Hakeem Lawal — Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease models using Drosophila melanogaster
- Dr. Murali Temburni — Electrophysiology and epilepsy studies in an avian chick embryo model system
- Dr. Jianli Sun — Mouse models of Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Dr. Cameron Grover — Functional analysis of neuron activity during Spinal Muscular Atrophy pathology
Start Your Application
Join a community of scholars who are redefining what’s possible in brain science. At Delaware State University, you’ll have the mentorship, research access and funding support you need to excel.
Apply today and take the next step toward a future in advanced neuroscience research.