New Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology
To uncover the brain’s vast mysteries, a new era of technological advances must evolve to understand molecular, cellular, systems and cognitive neurosciences in ways never done before. This will require unique training approaches for a new workforce of highly skilled scientists who can lead neuroscience in this new era. The Ph.D. program in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (NSNT) at Georgia Tech will provide students with advanced levels of training in neuroscience in relation to the development of technological solutions to problems affecting human health.
Neuroscience is an inherently interdisciplinary field, and this program will connect fields of study across campus: engineering (mechanical, chemical, electrical, and biomedical), sciences (biological, psychology, physics, chemistry), and computing (AI, machine learning) . The core curriculum will integrate scientific, technical, and quantitative approaches in neurosciences and neurotechnology. This will be achieved by through a sequence of required courses that allow students to better understand the technical aspects of scientific discoveries and apply newly understood concepts to their own research programs, which will have the potential to transform human health and improve society.
Summary of Requirements & Curriculum
Sequence of requirements on the pathway to the degree:
- A program of study in neuroscience core and depth courses
- A series of seminar/journal club & professional development courses intended to prepare students for their qualifying exam and thesis defense
- A qualifying exam that includes the creation and oral defense of an NIH F31 style or similar proposal of the student's proposed thesis research topic
- At least one scientific paper in which the student played a central role, accepted for publication or indexed on a preprint server (e.g. bioRxiv)
- A written Ph.D. thesis and public defense of that thesis
The NSNT student's written thesis proposal satisfies Georgia Tech's requirement for a written qualifying exam. The NSNT student's oral defense of their thesis proposal satisfies Georgia Tech's requirement for an oral qualifying exam. Georgia Tech requires that all doctoral students maintain a 3.0 grade point average. There is no foreign language requirement.
| Courses | Credits | Description |
| Core Courses | 3 courses, 3 credits each |
Three courses providing core competencies in neuroscience to be taken in the first 2 years. Topics across all scales from cell and molecular to systems and behaviors. |
| Depth Electives | 2 courses (minimum) 3 credits each |
Courses designed to build the student’s expertise in the |
| Seminar & Journal Club | 2 credits per year (8 credits total) |
Students attend seminars and read papers as part |
| Professional Development Course | 3 courses, 1 credit each |
Students take 2 courses focused on neuroscience |
| Thesis Research | 21+ credits | NSNT students register for credit while conducting dissertation research |
Rotations & Funding
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Rotations are not required by students who establish a research advisor when entering the program. Otherwise students can pursue up to 3 rotations (fall, spring, & summer)
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Full-time Ph.D. students are supported with a tuition waiver and monthly stipend via Graduate Teaching Assistantships of Graduate Research assistantships. The annual Ph.D. stipdent for 2025-2026 is $37,500
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Additional information about Graduate Assistantships, fellowships, loans, and off-campus employment options is available on the Office of Graduate Studies site.
Apply Now
The interdisciplinary Neuroscience and Neurotechnology Ph.D. program at Georgia Institute of Technology welcomes applications from students with undergraduate training in a broad range of areas including psychology, biology, mathematics, engineering, and computing.
Prospective students apply through Georgia Tech's online graduate application. First, you should carefully review faculty research interests.
During the application process, you will be prompted to select one of the following two admissions pathways:
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PhD in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology in the School of Biological Sciences
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PhD in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology in School of Psychology
You should select the admissions pathway associated with the school/department of the research advisor you select as your first choice (the advisor’s home school/department is identified in the link provided above). If the school/department of your selected research advisor does not appear above, then please apply through the Biological Sciences pathway.
While providing a preliminary selection of advisor and school/department helps the admissions process, it does not restrict your selection of a different advisor or school/department at a later stage.
Now you are ready to apply! Click here to begin or continue your application to the Neuroscience and Neurotechnology Ph.D. program.
You are strongly encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible but no later than February 3, 2025.
A partial list of schools/departments in which students at Georgia Tech pursue research interests in neuroscience and neurotechnology