Neuroscience
Study the least-understood organ in the human body: the brain. Learn how the brain develops, how it drives our ability to learn, and how abnormalities in brain development result in disorders.
Neuroscience Programs
Major
Admission Deadline
Early Decision: November 15
Early Action: November 15
Early Action II: December 15
Regular Decision: March 15 (Preferred status deadline)
Degrees Offered
B.A., B.S.
School
D'Amour College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department
Michele Lemons, Ph.D
An Ideal Place to Learn
Program Curriculum
Faculty
Experiential Learning
Hands-On Research:
Students have the opportunity to work one-on-one with Assumption faculty on research projects. Students can earn academic credit for research completed during the academic year and may apply for paid summer research fellowships. Assumption also enjoys an internship pipeline with the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), just minutes from campus.
Lecture Series:
Featuring nationally recognized neuroscientists, the lecture series gives students the opportunity to learn more about the field and network with experts.
Community Outreach Opportunities:
The Center provides students opportunities to give back to the local community, through activities such as visits to local elementary schools and generating awareness of brain-related diseases by participating in community 5k runs/walks.
Abroad Opportunities:
Students are encouraged to expand their world view by pursuing study abroad opportunities. The Center for Neuroscience looks for ways to connect students interested in neuroscience with related abroad programs, such as the Neuroscience Seminar in Germany.
Assumption’s Center for Neuroscience
The Center provides a vibrant, interdisciplinary community of students and faculty with the opportunity to explore current brain-centric research findings in a variety of ways.
The Center aims to increase opportunities for student research, enable students to present their research at national conferences, offer neuroscience-focused career-building events on campus, host a neuroscience-centric lecture series featuring nationally recognized neuroscientists, provide opportunities for networking, and engage in community outreach.
Career Paths
Abbott Bioresearch Center
Aventis Pharmaceuticals
Biogen Idec
Eli Lilly and Company
Genzyme
Hasbro Children’s Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Mosaic Technologies
Pfizer
Waters Corporation
Medical Programs
Physician Assistant Programs
Physical Therapy Programs
Ph.D. Programs
Occupational Therapy Programs
Shining Their Light
Neuroscience 2020
Undergraduate Research Intern, UMass Medical School Neurobiology Department
At my internship, I experienced what it’s like to work in a medical research lab.
I worked with Professor Lemons researching genes involved with neuronal development in c. elegans. The labs I had to take for many classes helped me gain hands-on experience with the techniques I would later need for my internship.
Neuroscience 2020
Intern, University of Massachusetts Medical School
My classes and coursework thoroughly prepared me for my internship.
I had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with a team at UMMS and work on data collection to publish a paper for a journal. My Assumption education prepared me to succeed in my internship and has shaped the way I think critically.
Neuroscience 2020
Neurobiology Research Intern, UMass Medical School Neurobiology Research Department
Assumption prepared me for my internship by building my foundational science knowledge.
I was then able to make real discoveries alongside graduate students and other impressive individuals. Due to my involvement, I am fortunate to be a published author on a paper as an undergraduate student, which can be quite rare.
Biology 2017
Pursuing a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree, Ross School of Veterinary Medicine
Assumption provided me with a well-balanced liberal arts education that pushed me to grow.
Through the connections I made at Assumption, I was able to spend three years volunteering in the Anesthesia Department at Tufts Veterinary Hospital. This opportunity provided me with experience I needed to be accepted into veterinary school.
Biology 2014
Fourth Year PhD Candidate in the Neurobiology Department, UMass Medical School
The best tools you have for getting the career you want are Assumption’s professors.
As an undergraduate, I was exposed to the inner workings of a graduate school laboratory which helped me realize that I wanted to continue conducting neuroscience research and eventually go on to get my Ph.D. The faculty are such knowledgeable and wonderful resources.
Neuroscience 2022
The fellowship at BU truly allowed me to develop myself as both a scholar and research professional.
I had the opportunity to work with incredible people in a lab where we conducted research that will be used to develop resources to help Schizophrenic individuals. I fully intend on continuing to do more with my research in the future.
First-rate Academics in a Catholic University Setting
Assumption University awakens in students a sense of wonder, discovery, and purpose, forming graduates known for their intellectual seriousness, thoughtful citizenship, and devotion to the common good. Students are provided an education that shapes their souls, forms them intellectually, and prepares them for meaningful careers. Enlivened by the harmony of faith and reason, here, students’ minds and hearts are transformed.
Our MissionAssumption is dedicated to providing a clear understanding of what your education will cost
We’ll help cut through the complexity of financing your education, ensuring you understand what you need, how to apply for aid, and what’s expected of you. You will be assigned a personal financial aid advisor who will guide you through the process and answer all of your financial aid-related questions.
NSF-sponsored Research
In January 2019, Assumption University Associate Professor of Neurobiology and Director of the Center for Neuroscience Michele Lemons, Ph.D., secured a highly competitive $245,710 four-year research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for neurodevelopment research. This grant is distinctive for the emphasis it places upon research at undergraduate institutions, in particular, training undergraduates. Read more about the opportunities the grant provides Assumption students.
UMASS Partnership
Assumption University enjoys a close partnership and an internship pipeline with the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMASS). In addition to numerous collaborations between faculty at both institutions, many of our students complete research internships in the Department of Neurobiology and with psychiatry faculty at UMASS, as well as a number of other research institutions.
Center for Neuroscience Provides Career Networking, Lecture Series, and Community Service Opportunities
“The Assumption program and this Center, true to an institution committed to the liberal arts, with a concern for and a focus on the human person, offers an authentic interdisciplinary approach, from the areas of biology, or chemistry, psychology and philosophy” -Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D., president of Assumption University.
The Center for Neuroscience Events
The Center for Neuroscience specializes in events ranging from research symposiums showcasing student and faculty work, to lecture series featuring Harvard University professors, to the annual Multiple Sclerosis Walk where students recently raised up to $2,600 for MS research.
Stressed to Death: The Role of Stress in Neurodegenerative Disease
How does stress impact neurogenerative diseases? University of Massachusetts Medical School’s Daryl Bosco, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Neurology, will explore this question during a lecture sponsored by Assumption’s Center for Neuroscience on Thursday, February 27 at 11:30 a.m. in Ballroom B of the Tsotsis Family Academic Center, 500 Salisbury St., Worcester.
Programs Related to Neuroscience
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