university of melbourne neuroscience phd

Melbourne Medical School

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Doctoral Research

Doctoral degrees at the University of Melbourne seek to develop students' academic leadership, increasing independence, creativity and innovation in their research.

Doctor of Philosophy - MDHS

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences) at the University of Melbourne marks a student’s admission to the community of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences scholars. It signifies that the holder has undertaken a substantial piece of original research which has been conducted and reported by the holder via thesis.

Doctor of Medical Science

The Doctor of Medical Science (DMedSc) at the University of Melbourne seeks to develop graduates who demonstrate academic leadership, increasing independence, creativity and innovation in their research work. In addition, professional doctoral studies provide advanced training designed to enhance professional knowledge in a specialist area, and encourage the acquisition of a wide range of advanced and transferable skills.

Combining a PhD with your MD may be an excellent option if you are already on your way to a career as a clinician-researcher. Discover the Melbourne MD-PhD pathway.

Thematic PhD Programs

By enrolling in a PhD in the Medical School you may be eligible to participate in one of the following thematic PhD Programs to further provide candidates with additional development and support.

Child and Adolescent Health PhD Program

The Child and Adolescent Health PhD Program complements your PhD studies. As a participant, you will join more than 200 graduate researchers at the Melbourne Children’s Campus.

Comprehensive Cancer PhD Program

The Comprehensive Cancer PhD Program provides specialist cancer research training and support for PhD candidates. It complements your core PhD activities.

Infection and Immunity PhD Program

This PhD Program is a supplementary learning opportunity that will enrich your PhD experience. As a participant, you will work with others who share a passion for discovering new knowledge about infection and immunity.

Medical Biology PhD Program

When you join our PhD Program, you will work with others who share a passion for research related to medical biology. You’ll connect with graduate researchers from other disciplines. And you’ll engage with relevant external organisations.

Melbourne Neuroscience PhD Program

This is a competitive program that complements your core PhD project. You will receive close mentoring from experts in the field of neuroscience. And you will benefit from a broad range of research initiatives.

Mental Health PhD Program

This Program brings together graduate researchers addressing mental health from diverse disciplinary perspectives - psychiatry, psychology, epidemiology and community mental health, history and philosophy of psychiatry, general practice, paediatrics, psychiatric nursing, social work, among others.

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Neuroscience

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Career outcomes

After completing the Neuroscience major, you’ll be well placed to move into the workforce, further study, or graduate research.

After completing this major you might pursue careers in basic research, drug evaluation, drug development, education, audiology, behavioural research and brain imaging.

You can find our graduates working for employers including Murdoch Children’s Research Institute , the Royal Melbourne Hospital , and the Florey Institute .

Further study

You can complete an honours year in Neuroscience as part of your bachelors degree, or you can immediately move into graduate studies.

GRADUATE DEGREES

If you wish to continue your studies at graduate level, this major is a great lead-in to many specialist science and health degrees. Graduate degrees you could consider include:

• Doctor of Dental Surgery
• Doctor of Medicine
• Doctor of Optometry
• Doctor of Physiotherapy
• Master of Biomedical Science
• Master of Clinical Audiology
• Master of Science (BioSciences) .

Depending on the subjects you take in your undergraduate degree, a range of other graduate degrees may be possible – in fields as diverse as science and technology, health sciences, teaching, law, business, humanities and more.

GRADUATE RESEARCH

If you complete an honours year or a masters course with a significant research component, you can go on to study a PhD ( Doctor of Philosophy ), or another graduate research program.

This will set you up for a rewarding career in research with a university, research institute, hospital or biotechnology company.

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Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health

The Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health is home to Australia’s largest cohort of researchers investigating more than 20 diseases and disorders of the brain.

The Florey is embedded in the growing Melbourne Biomedical Precinct, building relationships through international negotiations with a variety of government and scientific leaders. Our proximity to two tertiary hospitals – Austin Health and the Royal Melbourne Hospital - allows direct access to patients and clinical expertise.

Florey researchers collaborate across disciplines with 70 per cent devoted to basic science and 30 per cent to translational research.  Diseases investigated include epilepsy, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, motor neurone disease, traumatic brain and spinal cord injury as well as threats to mental health including depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and addiction.

World class research platforms available include imaging technology, histology, bioinformatics, statistics and decision-making analysis, a brain bank and clinical trials.

Associate Professor Jess Nithianantharajah is the Head of the Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health at the University of Melbourne. She is also Research Co-Lead of The Florey’s Mental Health Mission and heads the Synapse Biology and Cognition Group.

Research facilities are located at the Florey's three campuses – in Parkville, at Austin Health and at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

See here for further information on opportunities for students to study at the Florey and research at  The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health .

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• Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

Ben J Gu University of Melbourne | MSD  ·  Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

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Garron Dodd

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Department of Biomedical Engineering

• NeuroEngineering
• Computational neuroscience

The development of mathematical models and computational analyses of the neural systems.

Computational Neuroscience complements experimental neuroscience, by helping to integrate, and provide a deeper analysis of, different experimental results. For example, it is through mathematical modeling that we can better understand how learning takes place in different parts of the brain.

Research goals

Our research goals are to develop this understanding using a mathematical framework.

Our current research projects include modelling and analysing:

• The dynamic behaviour of the brain
• Learning in the brain
• Particular circuits within the brain.
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• Patients see light as first sign of restored vision from bionic eye prototype
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Decision Neuroscience Laboratory

We investigate the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying perceptual, reward-based, voluntary and change-of-mind decisions, as well as preference formation, decision confidence, health decisions, decision errors, and related cognitive processes.

Our lab is part of the  Cognitive Neuroscience Hub  at the  Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences. We are member of the  Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change and partner of the Centre for Brain, Mind and Markets . We also participate in the  Jülich - University of Melbourne Postgraduate Academy (JUMPA) .

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Research projects.

Learn about our key areas of research and ongoing projects

Find out more about our research program, approach and collaborations

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Get involved as an Honours, Masters or PhD student, or apply for a research internship

The Decision Neuroscience Lab is located at The University of Melbourne and part of:

• Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS)
• Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences (MSPS)
• Cognitive Neuroscience Hub (CNH)
• Jülich - University of Melbourne Postgraduate Academy (JUMPA)

• Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences

Cognitive Neuroscience and Computational Psychiatry Lab

Our research is theoretically driven by ideas of Predictive Coding, a computational framework that posits the brain is a predictive, efficient and adaptive machine. The main goal of the group is to understand how the brain’s circuitry implements these mechanisms, which enable us to make predictions about future events as well as learn about, and adapt to, the contingencies of a novel environment. Along with our work on typical cognition in healthy human individuals, our mission is to contribute to the understanding of mental illness, in particular to those conditions where predictive processes and brain circuitry are disrupted such as in schizophrenia and anxiety. To pursue this endeavour we use a combination of computational modelling, machine learning and brain imaging techniques such as magnetoencephalography (MEG), electroencephalography (EEG), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Marta Garrido | Laboratory Head

Professor Marta Garrido leads the Cognitive Neuroscience and Computational Psychiatry Laboratory and is the Director of the Cognitive Neuroscience Hub at the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences. Marta is also a Research Program Lead at the Graeme Clark Institute for Biomedical Engineering. Marta initially trained in Engineering Physics at the University of Lisbon, did a PhD in Neuroscience at University College London and has held positions at UCLA and the University of Queensland. Marta’s team uses a combination of brain imaging techniques and computational modelling to understand how the brains of typical individuals and people with psychiatric conditions learn from experience and make decisions.

The quality of Marta’s work has been recognised by prestigious awards, including the 2020 Paxinos-Watson Prize from the Australasian Neuroscience Society and the 2019 Aubrey Lewis Award from Biological Psychiatry Australia. Marta is a former DECRA Fellow, the past Chair of the Organisation for Human Brain Mapping, Australian Chapter, and an advocate for Open Science.

Research Profile

University of Melbourne Based

Morgan Kikkawa

I am currently completing a PhD that focuses on Predictive coding theory. My work will use EEG and machine learning to investigate how the visual system creates probabilistic expectations. This work will help test some of the claims of predictive coding and, hopefully, help us better understand how visual expectations are formed. Outside the lab, I enjoy mixed martial arts and bouldering.

Daniyal Rajput

I am a PhD student at the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne. My research interests revolve around investigating the impact of stress on the brains of healthy individuals by examining the behavioral, computational, and physiological mechanisms. Prior to pursuing my PhD, I completed my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from the Liaquat University of Medical Health Science, Pakistan, and my master's degree in Biomedical Engineering from the National Central University, Taiwan. During my master's degree, I worked as a research assistant at a Computational Neuroscience Lab, where I had the opportunity to hone my research skills. Outside of my academic life, I enjoy playing table tennis and snooker, experimenting with new recipes, and taking a relaxing stroll through the bustling streets of Melbourne's CBD and the scenic Yarra River Walk.

Josh Corbett

I am a Master of Philosophy student. I am interested in how the brain is able to perform complex computations based on limited and noisy sensory information. My project involves using 7T fMRI to examine how uncertainty is encoded in the cortical column, which will hopefully inform basic theories of how the brain works.

Arshiya Sangchooli

I am a MPhil student. Arshiya obtained his MD from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences and is currently an MPhil student at the Cognitive Neuroscience and Computational Psychiatry Lab. He develops probabilistic tractography workflows to investigate the development of subcortical amygdalar pathways during adolescence and their cognitive and behavioral correlates, using diffusion MRI and other data from large neuroimaging datasets. Broadly, he is interested in functional and structural neuroimaging and computational modelling to answer questions about how the brain functions in health and disease.

I am a post-doc in the lab. I am interested in how the brain identifies structures, acts and adapts, through the Predictive Coding framework, in a world with uncertainty. I use perceptual decision tasks, computational modelling and functional neuroimaging to study these questions. Outside the Lab, I sometimes conduct my real-life uncertainty ‘fieldwork’ at a local kickboxing club.

Kav Bandara

How does the brain generate consciousness? How does the physical matter of the brain produce the sensation of 'redness', the experience of smelling a rose, or the feeling of happiness? This question remains one of the most puzzling questions of modern science and my PhD project aims to investigate the neural basis of consciousness using visual experiments alongside neural recordings and computational modelling. Outside of the lab, you can find me cooking, exploring the restaurants of Melbourne, or playing guitar.

Isabella Goodwin

I am currently completing a PhD investigating the behavioural and neural correlates of psychotic-like experiences in the nonclinical continuum of psychosis. My project involves understanding how individual differences in perceptual decision-making along with alterations in white matter structure may result in confounding perceptual experiences. Outside the lab, you will most likely find me at a gig listening to live music!

I am a PhD student interested in understanding the brain circuitry underlying predictive coding. I am currently working on a project that investigates how the brain encodes the precision of visual expectations using 7T fMRI. Outside the lab, I just started cycling and swimming, and I really enjoy them!

Prabhakar AT

I am a PhD student at the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne. My research involves investigating the brain areas that process facial expressions and motion. I’m also a practicing neurologist at the Christian Medical College Vellore. I joined my PhD at Melbourne as part of the Health Leaders program initiated by the University of Melbourne. Back at Vellore, I’m actively involved in clinical teaching, and I head the cognitive neuroscience and clinical phenomenology lab at CMC Vellore. My areas of interest include clinical phenomenology, cognitive Neuroscience, decision neuroscience, and neuro-philosophy. Outside of my academic life, I enjoy trekking, bicycling and endurance running.

Yubing Zhang

I am a PhD student interested in affective neuroscience and developmental psychology. My current project aims to utilize brain imaging techniques (fMRI), decision-making tasks, and computational modeling to investigate how external and self-oriented safety information is processed in adolescents' brains. Outside the lab, I’m mostly staying at home – reading, playing video games, or pretending to be a mushroom🍄

Mengxue (Amy) Cai

I am currently completing an Honour degree of Psychology at University of Melbourne. My current project aims to use Electro-encephalography (EEG) to investigate the relationship between negative psychotic symptoms, such as reduced motivation and pleasure, and the brain's response to surprising sounds. Outside of the lab, I enjoy watching movies, reading novels, and exploring delicious cuisine.

Reine Jardine

I am a fourth year honours student investigating how psychotic experiences relate to brain responses of surprise. Specifically, I want to understand what sensory prediction errors can tell us about positive symptoms of first-episode psychosis among young people. I try to answer this question by recording and examining EEG data recorded during certain sensory processing and target detection tasks. This data could help us better understand the neurological mechanisms underlying the early stages of psychosis. Aside from my work in the lab, I spend much of my free time tending to my garden, playing video games, and playing with my cats 😺

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RESEARCH PAPERS

• K.M. Larsen, K. Thapaliya, M. Barth, H.R. Siebner, M.I. Garrido. Phase locking of auditory steady state responses is modulated by a predictive sensory context and linked to degree of myelination in the cerebellum. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.06.08.23291140v1.full.pdf+html
• I. Dzafic, C.D. Harris, L. Webber, M.I. Garrido. Greater belief instability but lower volatility attuning in psychosis. Invited submission for Neuroimage special issue)
• K. Garner, L. Leow, A. Uchida, CR Nolan, O Jensen, M.I. Garrido, P.E. Dux. (2024).Assessing the influence of dopamine and mindfulness on the formation of routines in visual search. Psychophysiology
• A.T. Prabhakar, G.A. Ninan, S. Kumar, K. Margabandu, J. Michel, D. Bal. P. Mannan, A.M. McKendrick, O. Carter, M.I. Garrido. (2024).Self-motion induced environmental kinetopsia and pop-out illusion – Insight from a single case phenomenology. Neuropsychologia
• S. Kalhan, P. Schwartenbeck, R. Hester, M.I. Garrido. (2024).People with a tobacco use disorder misattribute non-drug cues as worse predictors of positive outcomes compared to drug cues. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.03.27.534463v1
• CHS. Lin, T. Thuy Do, L. Unsworth, M.I. Garrido. (2024).Are we really Bayesian? Probabilistic inference shows sub-optimal knowledge transfer. PLOS Computational Biology https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.04.06.535669v1
• A. Renton, ….M.I.Garrido, ….S. Bollmann.(2024). Neurodesk: An accessible, flexible, and portable data analysis environment for reproducible neuroimaging. Nature Methods. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.12.23.521691v2
• A. Lacroix, S. Harquel, M. Mermillod, M. Garrido, L. Barbosa, L. Vercueil, D. Aleysson, F. Dutheil, K. Kovarski, M. Gomot. (2024). Neural specificity of autistic women during social stimuli predictions. Communications Biology https://psyarxiv.com/szqf8/ 2023
• I. Goodwin, J. Kugel, R. Hester, M.I. Garrido.(2023). Temporal Stability of Bayesian Belief Updating in perceptual decision making. Behavior Research methods. https://psyarxiv.com/wj8xh/
• E.G. Rowe, M.I. Garrido, N. Tsuchiya. (2023).Neural input patterns to the frontal of the brain contain information. About the current sensory stimulus regardless of awareness or report. Cortex. Registered Report https://psyarxiv.com/u36h8/
• I. Goodwin, J. Kugel, R. Hester, M.I. Garrido. (2023). Bayesian Accounts of Perceptual Decisions in the Nonclinical continuum of psychosis: Greater imprecision in both bottom-up and top-down processes. PLOS Computational Biology https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.10.24.513606v1
• S. Kalhan, M.I. Garrido, R. Hester, A.D. Redish. (2023).Reward prediction-errors weighted by cue salience produces addictive behaviors in simulations, with asymmetrical learning and steeper discounting. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.03.19.533364v1
• E. Rowe. Y. Zhang, M. Garrido.(2023). Evidence for adaptive myelination of subcortical shortcuts for visual motion perception in healthy adults. Human Brain Mapping https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.01.11.523655v1
• E.G. Rowe*, C.D. Harris*, I. Dzafic, M.I. Garrido. (2023).Anxiety attenuates the behavioural and neuronal learning advantages conferred by statistical stability. Human Brain Mapping
• R. Randeniya, I. Vilares. J.B. Mattingley. M.I. Garrido. (2023).Increased functional activity, reduced adaptation and stronger top-down effective connectivity during visual learning in autism. Neuroimage: Clinical (accepted 13/12/22.)
• A. Putica, K.L. Felmingham, Garrido, M.I. , M.L. O’Donnell, N.T. Van Dam. (2022) A Predictive Coding Account of Value-Based Learning in PTSD: Implications for Precision Treatments. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews.
• R. Randeniya, J.B. Mattingley. Garrido, M.I. . (2022) Increased context adjustment is associated with auditory sensitivities but not with autistic traits. Autism Research
• S. Kalhan, J. McFadyen, N. Tsuchiya, Garrido, M.I. .(2022) Neural and computational processes of accelerated perceptual awareness and decisions: A 7T fMRI Study. Human Brain Mapping.
• J. McFadyen, C. Smout, N. Tsuchiya, J.B. Mattingley, Garrido, M.I. .(2022) Surprising threats accelerate conscious perception. Frontiers in Behavioural Neuroscience, Emotion Regulation and Processing.
• S.C.H. Lin, Garrido, M.I. .(2022) Towards a cross-level understanding of Bayesian inference in the brain. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews.
• R. Auksztulewicz, Garrido, M.I. , M.S. Malmierca, A. Tavano, J. Todd, I. Winkler (2022) Editorial: Sensing the world through predictions and errors. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience.
• S. Kalhan, E. Chen, Garrido, M.I. *, R. Hester* (2022) People with tobacco use disorder exhibit more prefrontal activity during preparatory control but reduced anterior cingulate activity during reactive control. Addiction Biology 27:e13159. 2021
• R. Randeniya, I. Vilares. J.B. Mattingley. Garrido, M.I. . (2021) Reduced context updating but intact priors in autism. Computational Psychiatry 5(1), pp. 140–158.
• M.S. Boord, D.D. Davis, P.J. Psaltis, S. Coussens, D. Feuerrieguel, Garrido, M.I. , A. Bourke, H.A.D. Keage (2021) The DelIrium VULnerability in Geriatrics (DIVULGUE) Study: Protocol for a prospective observational study of electroencephalogram associations with incident delirium. BMJ Neurol Open 3(2):e000199.
• A. Lacroix, L. Nalborczyk, F. Dutheil, Klara Kovarski, S. Chokron, Garrido, M.I. , M. Gomot, M. Mermillod (2021) High spatial frequency information in primes hastens happy faces categorization in autistic adults. Brain and Cognition 155:105811.
• Garrido, M.I. , L.Y. Deouell (2021) Unilateral Neglect within the predictive processing framework. Brain Communications (commentary) 3(3)fcab193
• J.A. Taylor, K.M. Larsen, I. Dzafic, Garrido, M.I. . (2021) Predicting sub-clinical psychotic-like experiences on a continuum using machine learning. Neuroimage 241:118329.
• Kalhan S., Redish, D., Hester R., Garrido. M.I. (2021) A Salience Misattribution Model for Addictive-Like Behaviours. Neuroscience and Behavioral Reviews 125:466-477.
• Dzafic I., Larsen M., Carter O., Sundram S., Garrido M.I. (2021) Stronger top-down and weaker bottomup frontotemporal connections during sensory learning are associated with severity of psychotic phenomena. Schizophrenia Bulletin 47:1039-1047.
• M.J. Dietz, J.F. Nielsen, A. Roepstorff, Garrido, M.I. . (2021). Reduced effective connectivity between right parietal and inferior frontal cortex during audiospatial perception in neglect patients with a right-hemisphere lesion. Hearing Research 399:108052.
• P.A. Pincheira, E. Martinez-Valdes, R. Martinez-Valdes, R. Guzman-Venegas, D. Falla, Garrido, M.I. , A.G. Cresswell, G.A. Lichtwark. (2021) Regional changes in muscle activity do not underlie the repeated bout effect in the human gastrocnemius muscle. Scandinavian Journa of Medicine & Science in Sports 31:799- 812. 2020
• E.G. Rowe, N. Tsuchiya*, Garrido, M.I. * (2020). Detecting (un)seen change: The neural underpinnings of (un)conscious prediction errors. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience 14:541670.
• F. Dark, E. Newman, V. Gore-Jones, V. de Monte, M.I Garrido, I. Dzafic (2020). Randomised controlled trial of Compensatory Cognitive Training and a Computerised Cognitive Remediation programme. Trials 21:810.
• A. Taylor, K.M. Larsen, Garrido, M.I. (2020). Multidimension predictions of psychotic symptoms via machine learning. Human Brain Mapping 41:5151-5163.
• I. Dzafic, R. Randeniya, C.D. Harris, M. Bammel, Garrido, M.I. (2020). Statistical learning and inference is impaired in the non-clinical continuum of psychosis. The Journal of Neuroscience 40:6759-6769.
• C. Pernet, Garrido, M.I. , …, A. Puce (2020) Issues and recommendations from the OHBM COBIDAS MEEG committee for reproducible EEG and MEG research. Nature Neuroscience 23: 1473-1483 (see also Best Practices in Data Analysis and Sharing in Neuroimaging using MEEG. https://osf.io/a8dhx/) Top 10% most cited worldwide
• K. Garner, Garrido, M.I. *, P.E. Dux* (2020). Cognitive capacity limits are remediated by pratice-induced plasticity in a striatal-cortical network. eNeuro 7: ENEURO.0139-20.2020. Ranking it in the top 5% of all research outputs scored by Altmetric
• K.M. Larsen, I. Dzafic, H. Darke, H. Pertile, O. Carter, S. Sundram, M.I Garrido. (2020) Aberrant connectivity in auditory precision encoding in schizophrenia spectrum disorder and across the continuum pf psychotic-like experiences. Schizophrenia Research 222:185-194.
• C.A. Smout. Garrido, M.I. , J.B. Mattingley. (2020) Global Effects of Feature-based Attention Depend on Surprise. Neuroimage.215:116785.
• J. McFadyen. R.J. Dolan, Garrido, M.I. . (2020) The influence of subcortical shortcuts on disordered sensory and cognitive processing. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 21: 264-276.
• J.A. Taylor, Garrido, M.I. (2020) Porthole and Stormcloud: Tools for visualisation of spatiotemporal M/EEG statistics. NeuroInformatics doi: 10.1007/s12021-019-09447-6
• K. Garner, Garrido, M.I. *, P.E. Dux*. Cognitive capacity limits are remediated by practice-induced plasticity in a striatal-cortical network.  https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/564450v1
• C. Pernet, Garrido, M.I. , A Gramfort, .... A. Puce. Best Practices in Data Analysis and Sharing in Neuroimaging using MEEG.  https://osf.io/a8dhx/
• Taylor, J., Garrido, M.I. (2019). Porthole and Stormcloud: Tools for visualisation of spatiotemporal M/EEG statistics.  bioRxiv doi:org/10.1101/534784
• McFadyen, J., Smout, C., Tsuchiya, N., Mattingley, J.,  Garrido, M.I.  (2019). Surprising threats accelerate evidence accumulation for conscious perception.  bioRxiv dio.org/10.1101/525519
• Dietz, M., Nielsen, J., Roepstorff, A.,  Garrido, M.I.  (2017). Dysconnection of right parietal and frontal cortex in neglect syndrome.  bioRxiv doi: 10.1101/192583
• Dzafic, I., Randeniya, R.,  Garrido, M.I.  (2018). Reduced top-down connectivity as an underlying mechanism for psychotic experiences in healthy people. bioRxiv doi: 10.1101/296988
• J.A. Taylor, K.M. Larsen, I. Dzafic, Garrido, M.I. . Predicting Individual Psychotic Experiences on a Continuum using machine learning.  https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/07/30/380162
• L.K.L. Oestreich*, R. Randeniya*, Garrido, M.I. . Auditory prediction errors and auditory white matter microstructure predict psychotic experiences in the healthy population. Brain Structure and Function
• L.K.L Oestreich, R. Randenya, Garrido, M.I. . (2019) Structural connectivity facilitates functional connectivity of auditory prediction error generation within a fronto-temporal network.  NeuroImage 195:454-462.  Best paper of the month awarded by University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research.
• Larsen, K.M., Morup, M., Birknow, M.R., Fischer, E., Olsen, L., Didriksen, M., Baare, W.F.C., Werge, T.M.,Garrido, M.I*., Siebner, H.R*. Individuals with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome show intact prediction but reduced adaptation in responses to repeated sounds: evidence from Bayesian mapping. Neuroimage: Clinical *equal contribution
• Smout, C., Tang, M.,  Garrido, M.I. , Mattingley, M. (2019). Attention Promotes the Neural Encoding of Prediction Errors. PLOS Biology
• McFadyen, J., Mattingley, J., Garrido, M.I.  (2019). An afferent white matter pathway from the pulvinar to the amygdala facilitates fear recognition.  eLife 8:e40766
• Harris, C.D., Rowe, E.G.,Randeniya, R.,  Garrido, M.I. (2018). Bayesian Model Selection Maps for group studies using M/EEG data. Frontiers in Neuroscience . 12: Article 598
• Oestreich, L.K.L., Randenya, R., Garrido, M.I. (2018). White matter connectivity distruptions in the pre-clinical continuum of psychosis: A connectome study.  Hum Brain Mapp . 40(2): 529-537
• van Heusden, E., Harris, A., Garrido, M., Hogendoorn, H.(2019).Predictive coding of visual motion in both monocular and binocular visual processing.  Journal of Vision . 19 (1):3, 1-12
• Larsen, K.M., Dzafic, I., Siebner, H.R.,  Garrido, M.  (2018). Alteration of functional brain architecture in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome - Insights into susceptibility for psychosis.  NeuroImage  197: 328-336
• Oestreich, L., Whitford, T.,   Garrido, M.I.  (2018). Prediction of speech sounds is facilitated by a functional fronto-temporal network.  frontiers in Neural Circuits. 12:43
• Larsen, K.M., Morup, M., Birknow, M., Fischer, E., Hulme, O., Vangkilde, A., Schmock., H., Baare, W.F.C., Didriksen, M., Olsen, L., Werge, T., Siebner, H.R.,  Garrido, M.I.  (2018). Altered auditory processing and effective connectivity in 22q 11.2 deletion syndrome.  Schizophrenia Research. 197: 328-336
• Dzafic, I., Burianova, H., Periyasamy, S., Mowry, B. (2018). Association between schizophrenia polygenic risk and neural correlates of emotional perception.  Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging. 276:33-40
• Cornwell, B.,  Garrido, M.I.  Overstreet, C., Pine, D., Grillon, C.(2017). The un-predictive brain under threat: a neuro-computational account of anxious hypervigilance.  Biological Psychiatry. 82: 447-454
• Randeniya, R., Oestreich, L.,  Garrido, M.I.  (2018). Sensory prediction errors in the continuum of psychosis.  Schizophrenia Research 191: 109-122
• Garrido, M.I.,  Rowe, E., Halasz, V., Mattingley, J. (2017). Bayesian mapping reveals that attention boosts neural responses to predicted and unpredicted stimuli.  Cerebral Cortex. 1-12
• McFayden, J., Mermillod, M., Mattingley, J., Halasz. V.,  Garrido, M.I.  (2017). A rapid subcortical amygdala route for faces irrespective of spatial frequency and emotion.  J. Neurosci 37 (14) 3864-3874
• Oestreich, L., Lyall, A., Pasternak, O., Kikinis, Z., Newell., Savadjiev, P., Bouix, S., Shenton, M., Kubicki, M. (2017). Characterizing white matter changes in chronic schizophrenia: A free-water imaging multi-site study.  Schizophrenia Research, 189pp:153-161
• Taylor, J.A., Matthews, N., Michie, P.T., Rosa, M.J.,  Garrido, M.I.  (2017). Auditory prediction errors as individual biomarkers of schizophrenia.  Neuroimage: Clinical. 15:264-273
• Sherwell, C.,  Garrido, M.I.  , Cunnington, R. (2016). Timing in predictive coding: The role of task relevance and global probability.  Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. 29 (5): 780-792
• Oestreich,L.K.L. , Pasternak,O., Shenton, M.E., Kubicki, M., Gong, X., Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank, McCarthy-Jones, S., Whitford, T.J. (2016). Abnormal white matter microstructure and increased extracellular free-water in the cingulul bundle associated with delusions in chronic schizophrenia.  NeuroImage: Clinical, 12, pp: 405-414
• Roberts, G.,  Lord, A. ,Frankland, A., Wright, A., Lau, P., Levy, F., Lenroot, R.K., Mitchell, P.B., Breakspear, M. (2016). Functional dysconnection of the inferior frontal gyrus in young people with bipolar disorder or at genetic high risk.  Biological Psychiatry.
• Kaunitz, L.N.,  Rowe, E.G. , Tsuchiya, N. (2016). Large Capacity of Conscious Access for Incidental Memories in Natural Scenes.  PsychSci, 27(9) 1266-1277
• Garrido, M.I. , Teng, C.L.J.,  Taylor, J. ,  Rowe, E.G. and Mattingley. J.B. (2016). Surprise responses in the human brain demonstrate statistical learning under high concurrent cognitive demand.  npj Science of Learning. 1, 16006
• Roberts, J.A., Perry, A.,  Lord, A.R. , Roberts, G., Mitchell, P.B., Smith, R.E., Calamante, F. and Breakspear, M. (2016). The contribution of geometry to the human connectome.  NeuroImage, 124, pp: 379-393 .
• Zavitz, E., Yu, H.H.,  Rowe, E.G. , Rosa, M.G. and Price, N.S. (2016). Rapid Adaptation Induces Persistent Biases in Population Codes for Visual Motion.  The Journal of Neuroscience, 36(16), pp: 4579-4590.
• Cooray.G.,  Garrido, M.I.,  Brismar, T., Hyllienmark, L. (2016). The maturation of mismatch negativity networks in normal adolescence.  Clinical Neurophysiology 127(1) pp: 520-529
• Dürschmid, S., Zaehle, T., Hinrichs, H., Heinze, H., Voges, J.,  Garrido, M.I. Dolan, R.J., Knight, R. (2016). Sensory deviancy detection measured directly within the Human Nucleus Accumbens.  Cerebral Cortex 26 pp: 1168-1175
• Litvak, V.,  Garrido, M.I.,  Zeidman, P., Friston, K. (2015). Empirical Bayes for Group (DCM) Studies: A Reproducibility Study.  Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
• Garrido, M.I. Barnes, G.R., Kumaran, D., Maguire, E.A., Dolan, R.J. (2015). Ventromedial prefrontal cortex drives hippocampal theta oscillations induced by mismatch computations.  NeuroImage 120 pp: 362-370.
• Poch, C.,  Garrido, M.I. Igoa, J.M., Belinchon, M., Morales-Morales,I., Campo, P. (2015).Time-varying effective connectivity during visual object naming as a function of semantic demands.  Journal of Neuroscience 35(23) pp: 8768-8776
• He, W.,  Garrido, M.I. Sowman, P.F, Brock, J., Johnson, B.W. (2015). Development of effective connectivity in the core network for face perception.  Hum. Brain Mapp., 36 pp: 2161–2173
• Rosa, M.J., Portugal, L., Hahn, T., Fallgatter, A.J.,  Garrido, M.I. Shawe-Taylor, J., Mourao-Miranda, J. (2015). Sparse network-based models for patient classification using fMRI.  Neuroimage 105 pp: 493 506.
• Dietz, M.J., Friston, J.B., Mattingley, J.B., Roepstorff, A.,  Garrido, M.I. (2014). Effective connectivity reveals right-hemisphere dominance in audiospatial perception: Implications for models of spatial neglect.  The Journal of Neuroscience 34 pp: 5003 - 5011.  Selected by  Australian Life Scientist as some of the best Australian research published in May/June 2014.
• Cooray, G.K.,  Garrido, M.I. Hyllienmark, L., Brismar, T. (2014). A mechaistic model of mismatch negativity in the aging brain.  Clinical Neurophysiology 125 (9) pp: 1774 - 1782.
• Garvert, M.M., Friston, K.J., Dolan R.J.,  Garrido, M.I. (2014). Subcortical amygdala pathways enable rapid face processing.  Neuroimage 102 Pt 2 pp: 309 -316.
• Lieder, F., Stephan, K.E., Daunizeau, J.,  Garrido, M.I. Friston. (2013). A neurocomputational model of the mismatch negativity. PLoS Computational Biology 9 (11):e1003288.
• Garrido, M.I. Sahani, M., Dolan, R.J. (2013). Outlier responses reflect sensitivity to statistical structure in the human brain.  PLoS Computational Biology 9 (3) e1002999
• Lieder, F., Daunizeau, J.,  Garrido, M.I. Friston, K.J., Stephan, K.E. (2013). Modelling trial-by-trial changes in the mismatch negativity.  PLoS Computational Biology 9(2): e1002911
• Campo, P.,  Garrido, M.I. Moran, R.J., Garcia-Morales, I., Poch, C., Toledano, R., Gil-Nagel, A., Dolan, R., Friston, K. (2013). Network configuration and working memory impairment in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.  NeuroImage 72 pp:48-54
• Boly, M., Massimini, M.,  Garrido, M.I. Gosseries, O., Noirhomme, Q., Laureys, S., Soddu, A. (2012). Brain connectivity in disorders of consciousness.  Brain Connectivity 2 pp: 1 - 10.
• Garrido, M.I. Barnes,G., Sahani, M., Dolan, R. (2012). Functional evidence for a dual route to amygdala.  Current Biology 22 pp: 129 - 134.
• Garrido, M.I. Brain connectivity: the feeling of blindsight.  Current Biology 22: R599 - R600. Invited Dispatch.
• Murta, T., Leal, A.,  Garrido, M.I. Figueiredo, P. (2012). Dynamic causal modelling of epileptic seizure propagation pathways: a combined EEG-fMRI study.  NeuroImage 62 pp: 1634 - 1642.  Awarded 2nd prize, "Liga Portuguesa contra a Epilepsia" 2013.
• Campo, P.,  Garrido, M.I. Moran, R., Maestu, F., Garcia-Morales, I., Gil-Nagel., A., del Pozo, F., Dolan, R., Friston, K. (2012) Remote effects of hippocampal sclerosis on effective connectivity during working memory encoding: a case of connectional diaschisis?  Cerebral Cortex 22 pp: 1225 -1235.
• Garrido, M.I. Dolan, R., Sahani, M. (2011). Surprise leads to noiser perceptual decisions.  iPerception 2 pp: 112 - 120.
• Boly, M.,  Garrido, M.I. Gosseries, O., Bruno, M.A., Schnakers, C., Massimini, M., Litvak, V., Laureys, S., Friston, K. (2011). Preserved feedforward but impaired top-down processes in the vegetative state.  Science 332 pp: 858 - 862. (Recommended in Faculty of 1000, article factor of 8 (must read) and 6 (recommended)). (see also: G. Miller (2011) Feedback From Frontal Cortex May Be a Signature of Consciousness. Science 332:779; J.R.King, T. Bekinschtein, S.M.Dehaene (2011) Comment on "Preserved feedforward but impaired top-down processesin the vegetative state". Science 334: 1203; L. Welberg (2011). Auditory processing: sounding out consciousness. Nat Rev Neurosci 12: 369)
• Garrido, M.I. Kilner, J.M., Kiebel, S.J., Friston, K.J. (2009). Dynamic causal modelling of the response to frequency deviants.  Journal of Neurophysiology 101 pp: 2620- 2631.
• Garrido, M.I. Kilner, J.M., Stephan, K.E., Friston, K.J. (2009). The mismatch negativity: a review of the underlying mechanisms. Invited review.  Clinical Neurophysiology 120 pp: 453 - 463. Issue cover.
• Kiebel, S.J.,  Garrido, M.I. Moran, R.J., Chen, C.C., Friston, K.J. (2009). Dynamic causal modelling for EEG and MEG. Review.  Human Brain Mapping 30 pp: 1866 - 1876.
• Garrido, M.I. Kilner, J.M., Kiebel, S.J., Stephan, K.E., Baldeweg, T., Friston, K.J. (2009). Repetition suppression and cortico-cortical plasticity in the human brain.  NeuroImage 48 pp: 269 - 279.
• Garrido, M.I. Friston, K.J, Kiebel, S.J., Stephan, K.E., Baldeweg, T., Kilner, J.M. (2008). The functional anatomy of the MMN: A DCM study of the roving paradigm.  NeuroImage 42 pp: 936 - 944.
• Kiebel, S.J.,  Garrido, M.I. Moran, R.J., Friston, K.J. (2008). Dynamic causal modelling for EEG and MEG. Cogn Neurodyn 2 pp: 121 - 136.
• Garrido, M.I. Kilner, J.M., Kiebel, S.J., Friston, K.J. (2007). Evoked brain responses are generated by feedback loops.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 104 pp: 20961 - 20966.
• Garrido, M.I. Kilner, J.M., Kiebel, S.J., Stephan, K.E., Friston, K.J. (2007). Dynamic causal modelling of evoked potentials: A reproducibility study.  NeuroImage 36 pp: 571 - 580.
• Kiebel, S.J.,  Garrido, M.I. Friston, K.J. (2007). Dynamic causal modelling of evoked responses: The role of intrinsic connections. NeuroImage 36 pp: 332 -345.

Book chapters

• Kiebel, S.J.,  Garrido, M.I. Friston, K.J. (2010). Analysing functional and effective connectivity with EEG and MEG. In: Simultaneous EEG and fMRI: Recording, Analysis and Application. Markus Ullsperger & Stefan Deneber. Oxford University Press. Chapter 3.8 pp: 235 - 249.
• Kiebel, S.J.,  Garrido, M.I. Friston, K.J. (2009). Dynamic causal modelling for evoked responses. In: Brain signal analysis: Advances in neurelectric and neuromagnetic methods. Todd Handy, The MIT Press. Chapter 6 pp: 141 - 169.
• Friston, K., Kiebel, S.,  Garrido, M.I. David, O. (2007). Dynamic casual models for EEG. In: Statistical Parametric Mapping 2007. Eds: K. Friston, J. Ashburner, S. Kiebel, T. Nichols, W. Penny. Academic Press. Chapter 42 pp: 561 - 576

We welcome your interest in our lab. If you want to know more or explore opportunities for collaboration, please get in touch by clicking the link below.

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• Bachelor of Science
• Majors, Minors and Specialisations

Neuroscience

Bachelor of Science Major Year: 2021

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Contact information

Coordinator.

Dr Peter Kitchener

Email: pkitc@unimelb.edu.au

It is expected that students completing this Major will understand the fundamental organisational and functional principles of the nervous system: from the biology of nerve cells and neural circuits through to neural systems and ultimately to complex behaviours like thought and emotion. From the two core subjects students will gain an overview of the breath of modern neuroscience to see how a spectrum of science disciplines (such as Cell and Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Zoology and Anatomy) contribute to our understanding of nervous system function. This will also reveal how Neuroscience overlaps with related areas of study, such as Cognitive Science, Psychology and Medicine. Areas of study include how perceptual and motor systems are organised, the crucial role of the nervous system in the regulation of the internal environment of the body, how the nervous system develops, how it has evolved, and the effects of injury, disease and abuse.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this major, students should be able to demonstrate:

• A foundation of fundamental knowledge of neuronal and nervous system organisation and function, and a critical engagement with the neuroscientific literature; this should empower students to see the connections between the detailed discipline knowledge and broader questions within and beyond neuroscience.
• Appreciation of how numerous Science disciplines have increased our understanding of nervous system function, and how Neuroscience overlaps with other areas of related study
• Capacity to be self-directed learners and independent thinkers, to critically evaluate claims and ideas, and to see connections between ideas, hypothesis, experiments and interpretation of information
• Awareness of the scope, limits and power of measurement techniques, and the role of the methods of measurement and the paths to discovery that may involve different approaches to understanding complex problems
• Ability to critically read and analyse scientific papers and communicate scientific ideas in an essay task that is intended to help integrate and critically evaluate interpretation of data and provide an insight into the process of scientific peer review.

Last updated: 3 May 2024

39 Best universities for Neuroscience in Australia

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in Australia ranked based on their research performance in Neuroscience. A graph of 7.93M citations received by 264K academic papers made by 39 universities in Australia was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Melbourne

For Neuroscience

2. University of Sydney

3. University of New South Wales

4. University of Queensland

5. Monash University

6. University of Western Australia

7. Australian National University

8. University of Adelaide

9. Macquarie University

10. Flinders University

11. La Trobe University

12. Queensland University of Technology

13. Griffith University

14. University of Newcastle

15. Deakin University

16. University of Wollongong

17. University of South Australia

18. Curtin University

19. University of Tasmania

20. Western Sydney University

21. Swinburne University of Technology

22. University of Technology Sydney

23. RMIT University

24. James Cook University

25. Edith Cowan University

26. University of New England, Australia

27. Murdoch University

28. Australian Catholic University

29. Charles Sturt University

30. Victoria University

31. University of Canberra

32. Central Queensland University

33. University of Southern Queensland

34. Bond University

35. University of the Sunshine Coast

36. Southern Cross University

37. Federation University Australia

38. University of Notre Dame Australia

39. Charles Darwin University

The best cities to study Neuroscience in Australia based on the number of universities and their ranks are Melbourne , Sydney , St Lucia , and Clayton .

Biology subfields in Australia

Bristol Neuroscience Research Network

Openfest 2024 research symposium.

10 September 2024, 10.00 AM

Keynote speaker: Simine Vazire (Professor of Psychology, University of Melbourne)

Day 1 in person at the University of Sheffield and online, Day 2 is online

Co-delivered by the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University, OpenFest is a flagship celebration and exploration of open research , providing an opportunity to explore current issues, share experiences, and consider how open research can be applied in your discipline.  

• Open Research @ Sheffield Day 1 - talks and presentations at the University of Sheffield, 10.00-15.00, i n person with hybrid capability

This event includes a series of talks and presentations that explore current practice and/or areas of development or potential in open research, from sharing the outputs of practice-based research to developing training around reproducible research software.   

• OpenFest Online Symposium - Towards an Open Research Culture: Establishing, Embedding and Facilitating the Culture/s and Practice/s of Open Research Day 2 - 10.00-16.00, online

To what extent, and in what ways, is the future of research culture open? What practices are and will be central in establishing and embedding a culture of research openness? What factors impede efforts to achieve an open research culture, and how best can researchers and other professionals address these? Our online symposium aims to create space for colleagues across the UK and internationally to explore these and related ideas.

Including sessions on 'Open research: Geographies, Disparities, In/equalities'; 'Progress towards Openness: Contexts & Conflicts', 'Towards a Culture of Open Research Dissemination' and 'Open Research, Academic Labour and Equity - panel discussion'.

• Research degrees
• Your research options

Supplementary PhD Programs

Give yourself an edge. Join a multidisciplinary PhD Program to enrich your graduate research experience. These programs are supplementary learning opportunities in addition to your core PhD studies. They provide the chance to work with others who share a passion for discovering new knowledge in your area of interest.

We currently offer a wide range of multidisciplinary programs with the details below. Each has a different focus, such as mental health, cancer, or infection and immunity. The programs feature a series of activities to enhance your learning experience. You can attend masterclasses, workshops and seminars, delivered by experts in your field. You will keep up to date with research findings and breakthrough discoveries. And you may have opportunities for mentoring and internships.

When you join a PhD Program, you’ll connect with graduate researchers from other disciplines. And you’ll engage with relevant external organisations. By participating, you’ll broaden your networks and improve your career prospects.

Please note, these programs run in addition to your PhD research . If you are looking for information about possible topics for your core PhD research, please explore the breadth of PhD research themes available.

Why join a PhD Program?

By joining a PhD Program, you will set yourself up for success. You'll have extra support and opportunities throughout your research degree. This will enable you to:

• Access a breadth of expertise from across the University
• Consider your research from the perspective of other disciplines
• Place your research in a broader multidisciplinary context
• Build multidisciplinary networks that lead to postdoctoral pathways
• Develop professional skills to enhance your career prospects
• Improve your research and communication skills to become an accomplished graduate researcher.

Are you eligible?

• To take part, you must be enrolled in a PhD at the University of Melbourne. Your thesis topic must relate to the PhD Program theme.
• When you join a PhD Program, you will remain enrolled in your current department.
• You can join a PhD Program at any time during your candidature. You will remain part of the program until you complete your doctoral studies.

Explore the individual PhD Programs

The Biomedical Engineering Innovation PhD Program is a multidisciplinary research training initiative. It is a supplementary learning opportunity that enriches the graduate research experience.

The program brings together people who work on research related to biomedical engineering, including:

• PhD students, supervisors and alumni from across the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct
• Industry and clinical partners.

The program is facilitated by:

• The Graeme Clark Institute
• The Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Melbourne.

Find out more

The Child and Adolescent Health PhD Program complements your PhD studies. As a participant, you will join more than 200 graduate researchers at the Melbourne Children’s Campus . This campus is a fully integrated paediatric teaching hospital, University department and research institute. Our research streams include:

• Cell biology
• Clinical sciences
• Population health
• Infection and immunity.

We undertake multidisciplinary research in the following areas:

• Clinical trials
• Stem cell medicine
• Global health
• Life-course (longitudinal population) studies
• Health services research
• Digital health
• Data science.

The Comprehensive Cancer PhD Program provides specialist cancer research training and support for PhD candidates. It complements your core PhD activities.

The program provides a unique opportunity for PhD candidates researching cancer-related topics to work together. It attracts PhD candidates from a range of disciplines.

To be eligible, you must be enrolled as a PhD student in a partner organisation. Together, these organisations form the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) alliance . Through this program, you will experience clinical and research activities across the alliance.

Upon completion, you will be ready to conduct world-class cancer research. The program will also prepare you for a wide range of career options. It does this by broadening the scope of your research knowledge. And by providing professional development and career training programs.

The Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Program in Indigenous Settler Relations enhances the experience of Masters and PhD students by creating an enriching cohort experience. The program develops an intellectual community and facilitates opportunities for you to deepen your academic knowledge and skills.

The program is open to graduate researchers in any faculty. You must be undertaking graduate research related to Indigenous settler relations in Australia and the world.

As a participant, you will work with others who share a passion for discovering new knowledge about infection and immunity. In this program, you will:

• Learn from global leaders in infection and immunity
• Access high-calibre scientists and facilities
• Work in an environment where discovery research meets diagnosis and surveillance
• Work with experts in infectious diseases, epidemiology, genomics and more.

The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity delivers this PhD Program. The institute is a joint venture between the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital. You may join this program if you are:

• A graduate researcher at the Doherty Institute
• Enrolled in a PhD at the University of Melbourne.

The Doherty Institute is home to high-quality discovery research. It has large diagnostic operations in virology and bacteriology. So, the institute can provide vast research training opportunities in many areas, including:

• Epidemiology
• Clinical and translational research
• Infectious diseases surveillance
• Outbreak investigations.

As a program participant, you will access first-class research training in your primary discipline. And you can supplement this with extra workshops, seminars and potential internships. Our key partners in biopharmaceutical-linked industries provide these extra training opportunities. These connections will assist with future employment opportunities, beyond the pure research environment.

When you join the Medical Biology PhD Program, you will work with others who share a passion for research related to medical biology.

You will learn more about:

• Medical biology
• Research management
• Commercialisation of research
• Clinical translation.

The Medical Biology PhD Program is delivered by the Department of Medical Biology at the University of Melbourne. When you join, you will undertake research training at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI).

When you join the Mental Health PhD Program, you’ll feel part of a community. You will work with others who share a passion for discovering new knowledge about mental health. All graduate students from the University of Melbourne working in a mental Health related field are welcome to join any time. We have graduate researchers from a wide range of disciplines spread across at least 15 schools or departments at the University of Melbourne, including:

• Epidemiology and community mental health
• History and philosophy of psychiatry
• Psychiatric nursing
• Social work
• Linguistics

This interdisciplinary PhD program offers PhD candidates in mental health a unified research training experience. It is a joint initiative of the following schools and departments:

• School of Psychological Sciences
• Melbourne School for Population and Global Health,  Centre for Mental Health
• Department of Psychiatry
• The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

The Migration, Statelessness and Refugee Studies PhD Program is delivered by the Melbourne Social Equity Institute at the University of Melbourne.

You will work with others who share a passion for discovering new knowledge in this area. You will engage with researchers from other disciplines across the University. And you will connect with relevant external organisations.

These connections will allow you to:

• Consider your research from the perspective of others
• Develop your research in reference to current real-world challenges
• Enhance your career prospects.

During the program, you will attend masterclasses, workshops and seminars. There will be a focus on ethics and research methods. And you will learn how to communicate your research to diverse audiences.

The Melbourne Neuroscience PhD Program brings together graduate researchers from across disciplines. These researchers share a passion for discovering knowledge in the area of neuroscience. When you join, you will access the best in neuroscience research from across the university.   This is a competitive program that complements your core PhD project. You will receive close mentoring from experts in the field of neuroscience. And you will benefit from a broad range of research initiatives.

The Melbourne Neuroscience PhD Program will help you to:

• Connect with other researchers from across the University
• Build relationships with relevant external organisations
• Develop your career path after graduation
• Consider your research topic from different perspectives
• Contribute to the discovery of new knowledge
• Expand your professional and personal networks
• Learn how to engage with industry.

All graduate students from the University of Melbourne working in a Neuroscience related field are welcome to join any time, even if it is not their primary discipline. We have graduate researchers from a wide range of disciplines spread over 20+ schools/departments at the University of Melbourne, including:

• Anatomy and Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Medicine and Radiology
• School of Population and Global Health
• Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
• Royal Melbourne hospital

The Population and Global Health Graduate Research Program provides an engaging and practical skills-based training environment and cohort experience for graduate researchers.

The program enables you to maximise the value of your graduate research experience. It also helps you to make informed choices about your future career path.

It will focus on:

• Public health
• Health policy
• Epidemiology and biostatistics.

First published on 22 February 2022.

Keep reading

Where your research can take you.

Your degree will prepare you for an academic career in research, but it can also lead to roles in the private sector, small business, government or not-for-profit organisations.

Explore research areas

Discover your graduate research options at the University of Melbourne.

International PhD opportunities

Discover the fully funded Joint PhD opportunities that are currently available with universities and research institutions around the world.

Get in touch to learn more about collaborating with the University of Melbourne.

Neuroscience

Combating neurological disease through research.

Neuroscience Program Guide

The Neuroscience Program brings together faculty whose research interests range from molecular to systems analysis, working to understand the form and function of the nervous system, with a particular emphasis on the synapse and glia-neuron interactions.

The Neuroscience program participates fully in the MS in Biomedical Research .

We maintain an open, interactive, and intellectually stimulating learning environment, with a strong emphasis on individualized training plans and one-on-one mentoring.

We participate in Neuro at JAX , which allows our students to train with faculty at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine.

Faculty & Research

The training faculty of the interdepartmental Neuroscience Program is drawn from the Departments of Neuroscience, Immunology, Medicine, Ophthalmology, Developmental, Chemical & Molecular Biology  at Tufts University School of Medicine, the departments of Biology and Psychology at the College of Arts and Sciences and from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

Our Neuro at JAX faculty are based at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine. 

Students seeking to enter the Neuroscience program apply to Graduate School of Biomedical Science using the online application system.

Students seeking admission to the Neuroscience Program must meet all GSBS requirements. Our program recommends a strong background in cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry, and cellular neuroscience.

Neuro at JAX

Neuro at JAX is a collaborative training effort that engages neuroscientists at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine in our Neuroscience program.

Students applying to Neuro at JAX apply through the GSBS online admissions system and designate Neuro at JAX on their application.

Trainees entering Neuro at JAX carry out their training in Bar Harbor at JAX and complete all requirements for a GSBS PhD in Neuroscience.

Our curriculum includes components specifically designed to help students incorporate cutting-edge experimental approaches in their biomedical thesis projects, develop in-depth critical reasoning, hone written and oral communication skills, work effectively in teams, and quantitatively evaluate and analyze data.

We also have a robust seminar program  that includes outside speakers, postdoctoral and student presentations and career exploration opportunities.

Mastering research techniques is facilitated by the Center for Neuroscience Research . A techniques course specifically designed for Neuroscience students helps our trainees master specialized techniques early in training.

DEI in Neuro

We committed to fostering a diverse scientific community and aim to improve our core values by promoting inclusivity, diversity, and antiracism. Students enrolled in our program participate fully in the DEI activities held in the Neuroscience department.

Neuroscience Retreat

Our program, in collaboration with the Neuroscience Department holds an annual retreat.

Equipment & Room Reservations

Use of specialized equipment and department rooms requires a reservation.

Meet Our Students

Our students come from across the US and the world and are pursuing a wide range of thesis projects.

Neuroscience Students

Student Publications

Publication of research is a key part of training and our students publish their work in excellent journals.

Neuroscience Student Publications

Program Outcomes

Over 90% of our students complete an advanced degree and go on to pursue a wide range of careers.

Neuroscience Graduation Stats & Career Outcomes

Contact Information

Leon Reijmers , PhD Program Director

Rob Jackson , PhD Admissions Director

Shelley Scheier Program Coordinator