Suggestions for neuroengineering programs?

[pterosaur]

I will be applying for PhD programs this fall and am trying to figure out exactly where to apply. I'm getting my degree in neuroscience (with a CS minor), but my research interests have gone more in the direction of bioengineering, specifically neuroengineering. I have been doing research on human motor learning/control but am interested in moving more in the direction of neuroprosthetics and/or human/robot coordination. (I will occasionally tell people that my goal is to create cyborgs, which actually isn't that far off the mark.) I have a 3.98 GPA, 4 years research experience (including 1.5 years full time on co-ops), Goldwater Scholarship, and got 164Q/166V on GRE practice test without any prep yet.

 

Here are some schools that I have started to look at, but I'd like any other suggestions, or what you think of these options!

MIT

Northwestern

Northeastern

USC

Johns Hopkins

Stanford

CMU/UPitt (joint program, not sure which I'd formally apply to)

Edited June 18, 2014 by pterosaur

[jeffleung1992]

You choices seem to have a nice mix. The only schools I would add to the list (or at least do some background research on) are:

Duke

Caltech

UC Berkeley/UC San Francisco joint

UC San Diego

Georgia Tech

Case Western

Each of these are very strong in neural engineering. You of course have to find a POI that you feel you can match with. The top of the list are much harder to get in than the bottom, but I think your credentials are good enough to at least warrant an interview at most of the schools on your list.

Have you considered applying to pure Neuroscience programs? For example, Stanford has a phenomenal Neuroscience PhD program, and you can likely do exactly what you want even if you're in the Neuroscience (and not the Engineering) program. Just some food for thought.

Best wishes!

Edited June 20, 2014 by jeffleung1992

[pterosaur]

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

Yeah, I've been looking at both. Most of the professors whose research interests me are connected to their universities' BME and neuroscience programs, but in most cases the course work related to the bioengineering programs looked more relevant/interesting than that in the neuroscience programs.

[bsharpe269]

Keep in mind that coursework will last 1-2 years at most and that the rest of your research career will be based off of the research you do for your phd. If you find professors in neuroscience then I would definitely not avoid the program just because you are more interested in the BME courses. I am in a similar situation... More interested in biochem than biophysics courses but will applying 100% based on research fit with professors, regardless of department. If the professors are connected to both then definitely apply through BME if you are more interested in it but if the professors are only affiliated with neuroscience then I would make sure you apply to neuroscience!