The Neuroscience (NSC) program is committed to advancing knowledge of the nervous system.  

Our mission is to foster scientific curiosity, technical excellence, and graduate training across the full spectrum of neuroscience research. Whether building on prior experience or entering the field of NSC research for the first time, students pursue computational, fundamental, preclinical, or clinical research within our state-of-the-art laboratories and core facilities.  

Through education and mentorship from exceptional faculty, as well as strong partnerships with local research institutes and hospitals, we cultivate an environment where impactful discovery thrive, students are empowered to share their passion for NSC, achieve their full potential and reach their goals. 

• Gain Immersive NSC Research Experience: 

  Performing cutting-edge NSC research and delve into how the brain and central nervous system develop, function and repair themselves under the supervisor of a NSC professor

• Access Cutting-Edge Facilities and Advanced Research Technologies for NSC Research:  

  Benefit from access to state-of-the-art dry-lab, wet-lab and/or clinical based labs in affiliated hospitals, as well as support from over 26 university core facilities

• Integration with affiliated hospitals and research institutes: 

  Our affiliated network help to create productive relationships with medical research communities across Ottawa and around the world, that allow trainees be engage with relevant scientists and clinicians, including opportunities to directly interact with visiting researchers through our weekly NSC seminar series.  

• Welcoming and Supportive Training Environment:  

  The community of approximately 80 trainees provides a collegial, diverse, and collaborative network that foster connections, confidence, and a sense of belonging, where students thrive academically, professionally, and personally.  

• Funding Available for Trainees in Thesis Stream: 

  All trainees in the NSC thesis streams are provided with guaranteed funding through stipend. Additionally, our trainees are highly competitive in obtaining scholarship, bursary and awards, with over 90% of our current graduate students were awarded an admission scholarship, and  over 35% awarded an external scholarship (CIHR, NSERC, OGS or QEII).  

 Graduates from the neuroscience program are well prepared for a diverse range of rewarding career opportunities. As a graduate, you can pursue roles in:

Academics, biotechnology, consulting, dentistry, education, healthcare, health science, government, laboratory or medical technician, law, medicine, pharmaceuticals, policy development, regulatory affairs, science communication, veterinarian.  

• Biomedical cellular and molecular neuroscience
• Brain and heart research
• Brain injury and repair (Stroke, Concussion, Traumatic Brain Injury)
• Clinical neuroimaging
• Clinical psychiatry and mental health disorders
• Computational neuroscience  
• Development  
• Neural dynamic and artificial intelligence
• Neuromuscular disease
• Neurodegenerative Disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s/Alzheimer’s/Huntington’s Disease)
• Neural stem cells and regenerative medicine
• Systems neuroscience
• Vision 

The neuroscience programs are  part of the University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute (uOBMRI).

The uOBMRI is Ottawa’s largest collection of basic researchers and clinician scientists that are focused on brain and mind related health. The uOBMRI helps orchestrate research in a collaborative and innovative fashion by overcoming the barriers that exist between research at the basic and clinical levels. It does so by helping to coordinate research efforts of its research members at the various uOttawa faculties, resident hospitals, affiliated networks and local research institutes such as the:

• Centre for Neural Dynamics (CND)
• Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI)
• University of Ottawa Heart Institutes at the Ottawa Hospital
• Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR) at the Royal Ottawa Hospital
• Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute (CHEORI)
• Elizabeth Bruyere Hospital
• National Research Council

Start your journey with the essential information and resources to help you plan your academic path and achieve your goals.