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
OWU Partners to Offer Early Admission to Medical School
OWU now offers a special partnership with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) where incoming OWU freshman may apply to the Early Acceptance Program to reserve a seat in the medical school after completion of their OWU degree. While only 5 students will be selected each year, “Early acceptance can help students avoid some of the stress and cost of applying to medical school. In addition, exceptionally well-qualified students could begin medical school before completing their OWU bachelor’s degrees.” - Dale J. Brugh, OWU’s associate dean for innovation.
Regional Neuroscience Symposium Held at OWU
OWU is proud to host the Midwest and Great Lakes Undergraduate Research Symposium in Neuroscience (mGLURs) in 2017 and 2018. mGluRs is the premier meeting in this region specifically for undergraduate neuroscience research.
Dates:
2017: Saturday, September 30
2018: Saturday, September 29
Dr. Chris Fink discusses consciousness in only 3 minutes!
Watch Dr. Fink's engaging talk about the nature of consciousness, as part of OWU's "i3" lecture series that challenges some of OWU's best professors to discuss a topic in 3 minutes or less.
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
Assistant Professor of Microbiology & Neuroscience
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 & Neuroscience
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 & Computer Science and Neuroscience
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: Chris Fink
Schimmel-Conrades Science Center 135
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH 43015
Schimmel-Conrades Science Center 135
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH 43015
P 740-368-3814
E cgfink@owu.edu
E cgfink@owu.edu