Neuroscience
Choose electives that focus on Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience, or Molecular & Cellular Neuroscience, with a strong common foundation and exposure in the many techniques and sub-fields that make up the study of the brain & behavior.
Neuroscience
Introduction to the Program
Neuroscience is the study of the biological basis of behavior, cognition & other brain functions. Its application ranges from understanding complex disabilities to understanding the nature of consciousness.
The David O. Robbins Program in Neuroscience at OWU is one of the most cutting-edge found at a liberal arts college, integrating biology, chemistry, psychology, and computer modeling of neuronal and brain systems.
Program Features
- Engage in active research with Neuroscience faculty in a range of disciplines. Majors have attended scientific conferences, such as the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting.
- Dedicated Neuroscience courses designed for Neuroscience majors, ranging from molecular biology to learning & memory to computational modeling of the brain. See our Courses for more information.
- A highly interdisciplinary major that prepares students for a wide-range of careers in the health professions and/or for future research in graduate school.
Available Majors
Computational Neuroscience
How does the brain process and encode information? How can we decipher the "neural code" that neurons use in communicating and storing data? Computational neuroscientists combine computer modeling and biological processes of the brain to answer these questions. Ohio Wesleyan is the first liberal arts college to offer a major in this exciting field.
News & Updates
"Computational Neuroscience" approved as a new major at OWU!
Jan 25, 2016: The faculty have approved "Computational Neuroscience" as a new major at Ohio Wesleyan. To our knowledge, this makes OWU the ONLY LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE in the country with this major! We are thrilled for its approval, and look forward to its continued development.
Book Club for "NeuroTribes"; author Steve Silberman to speak on campus
Jan. 21, 2016: The OWU Neuroscience program is sponsoring a book club in preparation for the author Steve Silberman's campus visit on April 8, to discuss his new book, "NeuroTribes." The Neuroscience program will half the cost of the book for interested students, and will meet every Wednesday at lunch to discuss excerpts from the book. Please join us!
OWU Neuroscience Program awarded National Science Foundation grant for Undergrad Summer Research!
Jan. 21, 2016: Through the hard-work of Program Director, Jennifer Yates, OWU was awarded a prestigious NSF grant for undergraduate summer research for Neuroscience research! This unique grant groups research labs from several liberal arts colleges in Ohio & Indiana.
Jennifer R. Yates
Associate Professor of Psychology, Director of the Neuroscience Program
Professor Yates is the department’s neuroscientist, interested in neurotrauma. Specifically, she investigates the mechanisms of damage after spinal cord injury, and therapeutic intervention that may spare motor, sensory, and cognitive functions after neurotrauma.
Christian Fink
Assistant Professor of Physics-Astronomy and Neuroscience
Professor Fink teaches courses in computational neuroscience. He researches the role that neuronal synchronization plays in brain function and dysfunction. He is particularly interested in how sleep might contribute to memory consolidation, and in mathematically modeling the generation of epileptic seizures.
Suren Ambegaokar
David O. Robbins Assistant Professor of Neuroscience & Microbiology
Professor Ambegaokar studies neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease, infectious diseases of the nervous system, and the intersection of the two.
Kira Bailey
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Professor Bailey is interested in understanding how experience modifies the neural bases of cognitive control, affective information processing, and decision-making. Specifically, she studies the effects of video games on emotion and cognition, and how pathological video game use is related to impulsivity and decision making under risk.
Pamela Pyzza
Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science
Professor Pyzza studies dynamically changing network models, and develops mathematical models of biological systems such as insect olfactory systems, sleep-wake cycles and thermoregulation during sleep, and the spread of transmittable diseases.
Summer Science Research
In this is intensive, 10-week summer research program at OWU, you work with faculty and students from OWU and other universities on original research. You present your findings at the Patricia Belt Conrades Summer Science Research Symposium in the fall.
Program Contact Info
Location
Director: Jennifer Yates
Phillips Hall 52
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH 43015
Phillips Hall 52
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH 43015
P 740-368-3814
E jryates@owu.edu
E jryates@owu.edu