Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program

The interdisciplinary research programs of Yale neuroscience faculty are central to Yale's Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program (INP). This unique, broad-based training program is best described as a "department without walls," with the primary purpose of providing students with a maximum of diversity and depth in the most important areas of neuroscience research. The training program draws on the knowledge and expertise of more than 100 faculty members, representing 20+ departments in both the Faculty of Arts and Science and the School of Medicine, ranging from psychiatry to pharmacology, from cell biology to computer science. Although each faculty member has strong department affiliations, the INP Faculty functions as a cohesive and collaborative unit whose aim is to foster in graduate students an appreciation of and familiarity with the breadth of neuroscience and to create an environment in which students are encouraged to study problems from several perspectives.

The INP seeks to produce neuroscientists with both specialized knowledge and a broad-based understanding of the discipline. This is accomplished in part through a core curriculum which is designed to ensure a comprehensive understanding of modern neuroscience. Students complete at least two laboratory rotations in different areas of neuroscience. These basic requirements, in addition to bi-weekly journal clubs, a seminar series and an annual research retreat, expose students to the multi-disciplinary nature of the field in a highly interactive environment.