Roadmap for Obtaining a Ph.D. in Neuroscience

Goals for Years 1 and 2

• Set clear goals of what you wish to accomplish and discuss these goals with your mentor.
• Will the courses I have chosen benefit my literacy at a graduate level?
• Have I taken the courses which will give me a specialized background needed for my research?
• Do I know how to learn about new developments and emerging knowledge in my field?
• Have I learned the laboratory and/or computational skills I will need?
• What laboratory rotations will provide me with the experience I need to choose a thesis?
• Can I plan and execute, address scientific questions that would generate a conclusive answer from the results?
• Do I understand the standards of professional ethics and am I committed to upholding them?

Goals for Year 3

Year 3 should be dedicated entirely to research in the laboratory.

• Have I defined my specific interests and objectives for my Ph.D.? How am I assessing my progress?
• Have I developed a focused set of goals that will lead to publication of a paper and development of my thesis?
• Have I discussed these goals with my mentor/advisory committee?
• What knowledge do I need to broaden my scope or research?
• Am I spending enough time inside and outside the lab to accomplish my objectives?
• Am I thinking creatively, troubleshooting my own experiments, developing independence?
• Do I efficiently translate results into publication quality data?

Goals for Year 4

Focused on research, writing papers, communicating your findings.

• Is there a clear plan for completing my PhD thesis?
• Am I developing my original research proposal and do I understand the criteria for assessment? (See IDP Setting Goals: Research Projects)
• Am I thinking ahead about my next career stage? Am I discussing my timetable for completion and career plans with my mentor?
• Am I staying up with current literature in my field, asking important questions and willing to learn new techniques, etc.?
• Am I questioning my assumptions, my own data, and identifying important implications of my findings?
• Am I working with focus and intensity to drive discovery and complete my research objectives?
• Have I published a paper, or am I preparing manuscripts for publication?

Goals for Year 5

Focused on completing experimental work, writing research papers and thesis, scheduling your defense and making plans for a post-graduate position.

• Do I have a well-organized thesis plan? Is my committee in agreement? Do I have a plan for the next stage of my career?
• Can I defend my work and articulate how it contributes to the knowledge in my field?
• Have I reached a high level of proficiency and demonstrated the ability to?