The pursuit to understand the human brain in all its intricacy is a fascinatingly complex challenge and neuroscience is one of the fastest-growing scientific fields worldwide. There is a wide range of career options open to those who wish to pursue a career in neuroscience, yet there are few resources that provide students with inside advice on how to go about it.
So You Want to Be a Neuroscientist? is a contemporary and engaging guide for aspiring neuroscientists of diverse backgrounds and interests. Fresh with the experience of having recently launched her own career, Ashley Juavinett provides a candid look at the field, offering practical guidance that explores everything from programming to personal stories.
Juavinett begins with a look at the field and its history, exploring our evolving understanding of how the brain works. She then tackles the nitty-gritty: how to apply to a PhD program, the daily life of a graduate student, the art of finding mentors and collaborators, and what to expect when working in a lab. Finally, she introduces readers to diverse young scientists whose career paths illustrate what you can do with a neuroscience degree. For anyone intrigued by the brain or seeking advice on how to further their ambitions of studying it, So You Want to Be a Neuroscientist? is a practical and timely overview of how to learn and thrive in this exciting field.
ISBN-13: 9780231190893
Media Type: Paperback
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Publication Date: 12-08-2020
Pages: 328
Product Dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.80(d)
Ashley Juavinett, PhD, is an assistant teaching professor of neurobiology at the University of California, San Diego. Her research and writing on education and careers in neuroscience aim to broaden the field and encourage underrepresented students.
Table of Contents
Part I. Why Should You Study the Nervous System?
1. Why Did You Pick up This Book?
2. This Isn’t Your Grandmother’s Neuroscience
3. Who Are All of the Neuroscientists?
4. Where Neuroscience Is Headed
Part II. Graduate School in Neuroscience
5. Why You Should (or Shouldn’t) Get a PhD in Neuroscience
6. What Is a Neuroscience Graduate Degree, Anyway?
7. Paths to Graduate School
8. Choosing a Graduate School and Advisor
9. Herding Cats, or Making the Most of Your Committee
10. The Beauty of Self-Care
11. The Dissertation
Part III. Research, Research, Research
12. Types of Neuroscience Research
13. Good Research Habits
14. You Can Learn How to Code (and You Probably Should)
15. No One Wants to Talk About Authorship
16. Communicating Your Science
17. Networking Is Not a Bad Word
18. Finding Good Mentors
Part IV. Where Do All the Neuroscientists Go?
19. General Tips for Getting a Job After Graduate School
20. Academia
21. Industry Research
22. Consulting
23. Data Science
24. Science Communication and Policy
25. A Cast of Neuroscience Characters
Acknowledgments
Glossary
Notes
Bibliography
Index
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