neuroscience research

About

Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. It is an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics, medicine and allied disciplines, philosophy, physics, and psychology.

The Department of Neuroscience is committed to providing excellence in research, education, and public service. The Department of Neuroscience is part of the University of Minnesota's Medical School. The Medical School and related healthcare professional schools are grouped under the Academic Health Center.

The Mission of the Department of Neuroscience

  1. Conduct outstanding neuroscience research.
  2. Be an educational resource to the Medical School and the University by providing neuroscience education to undergraduate, medical, dental, graduate, and post-graduate students.
  3. Provide leadership and be a focal point for the strengthening of neuroscience across the University by enhancing research, educational, and funding opportunities.
  4. Intentionally improve inclusivity by valuing diverse perspectives and actively supporting historically marginalized researchers, students, and neuroscience community members.
  5. Provide a bridge for the transfer of advances in basic neuroscience into clinical practice with the goal of improving the health of the people of Minnesota.
  6. Enhance the understanding and appreciation of neuroscience by the people of Minnesota.  

Our Faculty and Research

Neuroscience faculty have a wide range of interests and expertise and receive over $12,000,000 in external funding annually. The department head is Paul Mermelstein, Ph.D. Faculty have offices and laboratories located in Jackson Hall, Nils Hasselmo Hall, Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) building, Lions Research Building (LRB), Wallin Medical Biosciences Building (WMBB),  Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR) and Minneapolis VA Medical Center.

Research investigations range from molecular to systems neuroscience and are detailed in the faculty section of this website. Each faculty member is profiled, with a summary of research interests, publications, and contact information.