Doctoral School in Neuroscience

University of Turin

Head: prof. Aldo Fasolo

February 2009

Neuroscience at the edge of contemporary research

The brain represents last frontier of research in an aging world, where people want to live better and in health. Neuroscience offers the hope to fulfill this goal as well as to tackle and answer basic questions as what we are, what is mind and its relations with brain, what are the sources of our feelings, desires, motivations…and else.

Neuroscience is the field of biological complexity and the multidisciplinary playground for researchers spanning from biology to medicine to physics to informatics to engineering to philosophy and over.

Imagine a World

Imagine a World In which Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Lou Gehrig’s (ALS) diseases and retinitis

pigmentosa and other causes of blindness are commonly detected in their early stages, and are swiftly treated by medications that stop deterioration before significant damage occurs.

In which spinal cord injury doesn’t mean a lifetime of paralysis because the nervous system can be programmed to rewire neural circuits and re-establish muscle movement.

In which drug addiction and alcoholism no longer hold people’s lives hostage because easily available treatments can interrupt the changes in neural pathways that cause withdrawal from, and drive the craving for, addictive substances.

In which the genetic pathways and environmental triggers that predispose people to mental illness are understood so that accurate diagnostic tests and targeted therapies—including medications, counseling, and preventive interventions—are widely available and fully employed.

In which new knowledge about brain development is used to enhance the benefits of the crucial early learning years and combat diseases associated with aging.

In which people’s daily lives are not compromised by attacks of depression or anxiety because better medications are developed to treat these conditions.

From the Dana Sourcebook of Immunology

and why not, imagine a world …

… in wich it could be possible encrease skills and learning abilities

… in wich human interfaces works and enjoy the life together to the men

… where we can find new approaches to ancient question like “where are we from? Why are we here?”

Although such a vision may seem unrealistic and utopian, we are at an such a vision may seem unrealistic and utopian, we are at anextraordinarily exciting time in the history of neuroscience. extraordinarily exciting time in the history of neuroscience.

The advances in research during the past decade have taken us further than The advances in research during the past decade have taken us further than we had imagined. We have expanded our understanding of the basic mechanisms we had imagined. We have expanded our understanding of the basic mechanisms of how the brain works, and are at a point where we can harness the healingof how the brain works, and are at a point where we can harness the healingpotential of that knowledge. We have already begun to devise strategies, new potential of that knowledge. We have already begun to devise strategies, new technologies, and treatments to combat a range of neurological diseases and technologies, and treatments to combat a range of neurological diseases and disorders. By setting therapeutic goals, and applying what we know, we will disorders. By setting therapeutic goals, and applying what we know, we will develop effective treatments— and, in some instances, cures.develop effective treatments— and, in some instances, cures.

For all that has been learned in neuroscience recently, we are learning how much For all that has been learned in neuroscience recently, we are learning how much we do not know. That creates the urgency to continue basic research that looks at we do not know. That creates the urgency to continue basic research that looks at the broader questions of how living things work. This will help to formulate the broader questions of how living things work. This will help to formulate the complex questions that lead to scientific discovery.the complex questions that lead to scientific discovery.

Why choose Neuroscience?

I like studies about brain function and cognition

I want to work in curiosity-driven research

I want to be involved in researches devoted to enhance quality of life

I want to live research experience out of Italy

PhD Programme in Neuroscience

Specializations: Experimental Neuroscience Cognitive Sciences Clinical Neuroscience Psychiatry

The PhD programme is 4 year long 10-15 students are enrolled each year among the different courses

A master degree is required for admission. Admission procedure consists of a written essay on a general neuroscience topic and an interview.

Students carry out their own thesis projects in the supervisor laboratory and participate to common training and teaching activities, including practical courses, theoretical lectures held by faculty members, ad hoc seminars held by external invited speakers. Faculty includes about 50 members from the University of Turin plus several foreign members from outside institutions.

Additional information is available at the programme website: http://dott-neuroscienze.campusnet.unito.it/cgi-bin/home.pl

University of Turin

What is a Ph.D. student?

A young researcher, under trainingA young researcher, under training A specialist endowed with method and visionA specialist endowed with method and vision A person driven by intellectual curiosityA person driven by intellectual curiosity A person with an advanced literacy in scienceA person with an advanced literacy in science An innovator/ a creative/ an exploiterAn innovator/ a creative/ an exploiter A person able to work with his brain, his hands, his heartA person able to work with his brain, his hands, his heart An individualist able to work in teamAn individualist able to work in team A person relying on himself, but eager to accept advice and A person relying on himself, but eager to accept advice and

senior/peer reviewsenior/peer review A person knowing/applying responsability and ethical rules in A person knowing/applying responsability and ethical rules in

scientific conduct and personal lifescientific conduct and personal life

HOW ?

Lab Seminars, schools, formal lessons Tutorship Books, articles, internet Science in the city/science and society Experience in teaching and undergraduate

training

PhD Programme in Neuroscience University of Turin

Division of Phd students of the School

Sperimental neuroscience 57%

Psychiatry 17%

Cognitive science

15%

Clinical neuroscience 11%

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