Program Information

The Best of Both Worlds

Students at the First-Year Student Retreat

The Brown-NIH Graduate Partnerships Program, dating to 2004, provides a unique graduate experience, allowing students to combine the strengths of two leading neuroscience institutions during their graduate career. During the first year, students complete the coursework requirements of the program and carry out lab rotations at Brown alongside their colleagues in the traditional Brown Neuroscience Graduate Program (NSGP). Then, they move to Bethesda, MD to carry out their thesis research. Students have the ability to pursue research with virtually any NIH investigator in the field of neuroscience, a list comprising many dozens of leading researchers across seven institutes working in every subdiscipline of neuroscience (for more information about the breadth and depth of neuroscience research at NIH, see Neuroscience@NIH). This unique graduate experience allows students to become a part of the neuroscience community at two very different institutions and take advantage of the best that both have to offer: the academic strength of Brown and the unparalleled breadth and depth of neuroscience research of the NIH.

Program Requirements

All students enrolled in the Brown-NIH GPP receive their PhD from Brown University after satisfying the program requirements and completing a significant body of original research. To earn the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience, students in both programs must pass all required coursework with a grade of “B” or higher, pass the Comprehensive Examinations, design and defend a thesis topic (Preliminary Exam), and complete and successfully defend a doctoral dissertation. There are no journal publication requirements.

Funding and Support

Students are guaranteed full financial support and health insurance for up to five years, provided by the NIH. More detailed information on NIH graduate student stipends, can be found on the NIH intramural trainee site.

Apply Now

Prospective students submit applications through the NIH, specifying the Brown-NIH Program. Once selected for interviews, interested applicants then submit an application to Brown University.  Only U.S. citizens and individuals with U.S. permanent resident status are eligible to apply for the GPP at this time.
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