Eligibility: This program is available only to graduates of the University of Massachusetts Amherst who have worked as undergraduates in the lab of an NSB faculty member. Participating students will normally identify a faculty advisor in their junior year and become actively engaged in research throughout their senior year. The research should lead to a well-defined project suitable for a graduate-level Major Research Project in the Neuroscience and Behavior Program. The NSB Program does not provide or guarantee stipend support for students working towards this terminal Master's Degree. However, in some cases, individual faculty advisors may have research assistantship funds available. Teaching assistantships also may be available.

Graduate School Admission: Students may apply for graduate admission in their senior year and must comply with all Graduate School regulations and requirements for admission. Applications are due on January 2, 2008 for Fall 2008 admission. The Neuroscience and Behavior Admissions Committee will evaluate all applications and make recommendations for graduate admission to the NSB Director and Graduate School. Educational Testing Service under policies determined by the Graduate Record Examinations Board administers the Graduate Record Examinations. Please refer to their website for information on test dates: www.gre.org

Appoint Master's Committee: At the beginning of graduate study the student will select a Thesis Committee consisting of an advisor and two NSB faculty members.

Course Requirements:
Descriptions are available on the NSB Courses Website

a. NeuroS&B 792A, NSB Proseminar (1 credit) offered during the fall semester, pass/fail course.

b. Two Core Courses
NeuroS&B 692C: Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Neuroscience
NeuroS&B 692D: Neuroanatomy, Physiology & Behavior

c. Two Electives (6 credits). One may be 500-level and the other must be 600 or above.

d. Quantitative Requirement (3 credits) research methodology (a variety of options are available including statistics courses, methods courses and research practica).

NOTE: Students must earn a B or better in each of the courses listed under b-d. In rare cases, a student who has earned a B- in an elective or statistics course may petition the GOC for permission to use this course to fulfill Master's degree requirements. In deciding whether to grant the exception, the GOC will take the entire student's record into account. In no case can a grade of B- or lower be accepted in a core course.

e. Optional: Independent Study credits in NeuroS&B 696 or NeuroS&B 796. A maximum of six independent study credits can be counted towards the MS degree. Note: Six (6) hours of course credit not used/needed to fulfill the B.S. degree requirements can be applied to the Master's degree course requirement.

Thirty (30) credit hours are required for a Master of Science degree.

Master's Thesis:
a. Register for a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 10 master's thesis credits NeuroS&B 699.

b. The candidate's thesis proposal/outline must be approved and signed by all members of the thesis committee and on file in the Graduate School (Goodell Building) at least four months before the Final Oral Examination ("defense") can be scheduled. All members must attend the defense.

c. Thesis public defense scheduled and passed before graduation deadline date.

d. There are now two methods for submitting the master's thesis. The Graduate School recommends electronic submission through the UMass Amherst Scholarworks site at this website and two signature pages with original signatures.

If that is not possible, the student can use the traditional paper submission process which includes two unbound copies of thesis, printed on acid free paper. Both copies must include original signatures on the committee members signature page. Please review the Graduate School website for detailed instructions on thesis formatting. The thesis must be submitted along with the Master's Degree Eligibility Form to the Graduate School Office of Degree Requirements, 534 Goodell Bldg. by the deadline for the appropriate degree granting period. The deadlines are absolute and no exceptions will be made by the UMass Graduate School.

May 2008 Degree - thesis/forms due last working day of April (usually Apr 30)
September 2008 Degree - thesis/forms due August 29, 2008
February 2009 Degree - thesis/forms due by January 15, 2009

Note: A non-thesis option is also available in which the major research project is presented as described above, but is not formally submitted to the Graduate School as an official Master's Thesis.

Duration of Degree Track: It is anticipated that qualified students should be able to complete the B.S./M.S. program within 5 years, including two summers. Students may choose to pursue one or more summer internships, for which some academic credit may be arranged.

Career Opportunities: Biotechnology/pharmaceutical companies, medical school, veterinary school, science journalism, law school (i.e. intellectual-property and corporate law), government agencies, academic research laboratories, etc.

Currently Enrolled Fast Track Master's Students and
Their Research Interests

Jamie L. Berkowitz

B.S. Biology, minor Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst (May 2005)

Thesis Project: Sexually Differentiated Object Preference in Rhesus Monkeys

Advisor: Dr. Melinda Novak
E-Mail: jberkowi[at]psych.umass.edu

Andrew J. Oliver

B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and B.S. Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst (May 2003)

Thesis Project: Mechanisms Regulating MDMA Induced Tolerance
Advisor: Dr. Jerrold Meyer
E-Mail: ajoliver57[at]gmail.com

Kathryn Flanagan

B.S. Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst (1998)

M.S. Neuroscience & Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst (Sept 1999)

Thesis Title: Sensory Axon Growth During Drosophila Metamorphosis
Thesis Chair: Dr. Rod Murphey

Positions: Sept 1999-Sept 2000 Teacher, The Lincoln School, Math and Science, Providence, Rhode Island
Sept 2000-2004 Teacher (Biology & Sailing) Tabor Academy, Marion, Mass.

Maria Peroulakis

B.S. Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst (May 1999)

M.S. Neuroscience & Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst (Feb 2001)

Thesis Title: Characterization of Perineal Muscles and Motoneurons in the Naked Mole-Rat (Heterocephalus Glaber)
Thesis Chair: Dr. Nancy Forger

Position: Sept 2000-Jan 2004 Neuroendocrine Toxicologist, Investigative Toxicology Department
Feb 2004-present Clinical Development Associate, US Exploratory Implementation, Eli Lilly & Company, Indianapolis, Indiana
E-Mail: mariaep[at]lilly.com

John Ribadeneyra

B.S. Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst (1999)

M.S. Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst (Feb 2001)

Thesis Title: Effects of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin on Estradiol Induction of Progesterone Receptor Gene Expression in the Hypothalamus and Preoptic Area of the Rat Brain
Thesis Chair: Sandra Petersen

Position: 2001-Feb 1, 2003 Cell Biology Dept. (Lab of Dr. Gary Stein), UMass Medical School, Worcester

Ernie Pedapati

B.S. Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst (May 2000)

M.S. Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst (Feb 2002)

Thesis Title: The Effect of Endogenous Neurotrophic Factors on the Development of the Rat Perineal Muscles
Thesis Chair: Dr. Nancy Forger
Position: April 2002-?, Research Associate III, UCB Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts. (Mentor: Michael Carr, Senior Scientist)

Current Status: UMass Medical School Worcester
E-Mail: Ernie.Pedapati[at]ucb-group.com

Peter S. Wu

Shaun Gaipo

B.S. Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst (Dec. 1996)

M.S. Neuroscience & Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst (Sept. 2002)

Christina M. Veino

B.S. Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst (May 2001)

M.S. Neuroscience & Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst (May 2003)

Thesis Title: A Systematic Exploration of Tool Use in Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta)
Thesis Chair: Dr. Melinda Novak

Patricia L. Seymour

Mohammed Reza

B.S. Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst (May 2002)

M.S. Neuroscience & Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst (Sept 2003)

Thesis Title: Role of Cell Death in Respect to Sexual Differentiation of the Vasopressin Neurotransmitter System
Thesis Chair: Dr. Geert De Vries
Current Status: Sept 2004-Aug 2005 Post baccalaureate, UMass Medical School, Worcester
Sept. 2005-present Medical student at SABA University of Medicine

Brian J. Kelly

B.S. Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst (May 2003)

M.S. Neuroscience & Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst (May 2006)

Thesis Title: Comprehension of a Scale-Model Task by Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta)
Thesis Chair: Dr. Melinda Novak
Current Status: September 1, 2005-present Pursuing doctoral degree in Neuroscience & Behavior, UMass Amherst
E-Mail: bkelly[at]nsm.umass.edu

Arthur W. Seelig

B.S. Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst (May 2002)

M.S. Neuroscience & Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst (Sept 2006)

Thesis Title: Neurochemical Identity of c-Fos Expressing Neurons in the Dorsal Raphe Nucleus
Thesis Chair: Dr. Katherine Fite
Current Status: September 1, 2005-present Pursuing doctoral degree in Neuroscience & Behavior, UMass Amherst
E-Mail: arthur[at]cas.umass.edu

Scott Baver

B.S. Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst (May 2004)

M.S. Neuroscience & Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst (Sept 2006)

Thesis Title: Melanopsin-Immunoreactive Retinal Ganglion Cells in the Mongolian Gerbil Retina
Thesis Chair: Dr. Katherine Fite
Current Status: September 1, 2006-present Pursuing doctoral degree in Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
E-Mail: sbaver[at]simla.colostate.edu

Lauren M. Gasbarro

B.S. Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst (May 2005)

M.S. Neuroscience & Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst (Feb 2007)

Thesis Title: Female Sexual Receptivity: The Effect of Stress at Puberty on Sexual Receptivity in Female Mice
Thesis Chair: Dr. Jeffrey Blaustein
E-Mail: laurengasbarro[at]gmail.com

Maria Furman

B.S. Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst (May 2005)

M.S. Neuroscience & Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst (Sept 2006)

Thesis Title: The Role of Ghrelin in Estrous Behavior: Interactions with Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
Thesis Chair: Dr. George Wade
Position: Sept 2006-present Research Technician, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension Division (Lab of Dr. Ursula Kaiser), Brigham and Women's Hospital
E-Mail: maria.furman[at]gmail.com

Lauren R. Ditzian

B.S. Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst (May 2005)

M.S. Neuroscience & Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst (Feb 2007)

Thesis Title: The Time-Course of Developmental Cell Death in the Spinal Nucleus of the Bulbocavernosus of Mice
Thesis Chair: Dr. Nancy Forger
Employment: April 2007-present  Intern, Planned Parenthood International, Santiago, Chile
E-Mail: lditzian[at]yahoo.com

B.S. Biochemistry & Psychology University of Massachusetts Amherst (Feb 2004)

M.S. Neuroscience & Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst (Feb 2007)

Thesis Title: What Mediates the Interaction Between Semaphorin and Rac at the Developing Synapse?
Advisor: Dr. Rodney Murphey
Current Status: August 28, 2006-present First year student in the M.D. degree program, Tufts University School of Medicine
E-Mail: david.whitehead[at]tufts.edu

Christine A. Major

B.S. Animal Science (minor Psychology), University of Massachusetts Amherst (May 2005)

M.S. Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst (September 2007)

Thesis Title: Seeing and Knowing Ability of Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca Mulatta)
Advisor: Dr. Melinda Novak

Employment: October 22, 2007-present Harvard Medical School's New England Regional Primate Research Center, Southborough, Mass.
E-Mail: major.christine[at]gmail.com