Neuroscience: Now What?

Neuroscience…NOW WHAT?

[Found on the Occupational Outlook Handbook]

About The Field of Neuroscience

Neuroscience is a field of study that integrates psychology, biology, engineering and chemistry to investigate the nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Scientists from these disciplines all work to understand the structure, development, and function of the nervous system. Neuroscientists use an ever-increasing range of tools, including fMRI, MEG, EEG, computers, and microscopes to explore molecules, DNA, nerve cells, networks, brain systems, and behavior.  The brain controls every aspect of the body, from emotion and memory to basic bodily activities such as movement, breathing, and controlling the heartbeat. Neuroscience is largely about the study of behavior—why do we do what we do, and how does the brain carry out these tasks? It is also concerned with the causes and treatment of nervous system disorders. 

Neuroscience students will learn in a research-rich environment that supports a curriculum steeped in scientific investigation.  Students work with faculty in all stages of research, including project design, data collection, and results reporting. Students earning the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Neuroscience often find work in the research field, advancing our knowledge of human nature.  They often start as research coordinators, doing the work of finding and qualifying human subjects, administering surveys or cognitive tests, and managing the paperwork that goes along with a professional research project.  Those who wish to propose and run research projects of their own will need to attend graduate school. Others may teach in the faculty at medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing or veterinary schools, or hospitals, medical centers, and universities. In addition, neuroscientists also work in government regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, or in industrial organizations that work with these agencies. Entry level positions as technicians requiring an undergraduate degree in neuroscience can be found in biomedical research laboratories, in pharmaceutical or health product companies or public health programs. Students who receive an undergraduate degree in Neuroscience typically continue their studies at the master's or doctoral level while others may choose to pursue advanced degrees in a variety of medical professions (M.D., D.D.O., D.D.S., V.D.M., O.D.).

What Can You Do with a Bachelor’s Degree in Neuroscience?

Here’s a quick sample of varied jobs that Neuroscience undergrads might find:

• Research Assistant: Assists in the collection and analysis of data for major investigations. Positions are usually available only in large hospitals, businesses, and government.
• Laboratory Assistant: Laboratory work within various fields of research. Preferred skills working with animal behavior research, especially primate laboratories.
• Regulatory Affairs Specialist: Assist to navigate products through regulatory agencies such as FDA or EMA.
• Neurologist: treat diseases related to the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.
• Health Educator: gives public information about health and disease.
• Psychological Technician: administers routine tests, helps patients under supervision of a psychologist.
• Technical Writer: researches and writes material dealing with social or medical science for magazines, newspapers, and journals.
• Sales Representative: Biotech & Pharma companies seek out undergraduates with Neuroscience majors to advertise & sell their products
• Scientific Instrument Salesperson: Opportunities in sales and development for companies specializing in products & medication for brain ailments.
• Neuropsychologist: Specializes in evaluating and treating cognitive, emotional, and behavioral problems associated with brain dysfunction or injury.
• Psychiatrist: Diagnoses, treats, and manages mental disorders, often including pharmacological interventions and psychotherapy.
• Speech Language Pathologist: Experts in communication who work with individuals experiencing a variety of speech and language challenges

Here are some more occupations in some of the broad field categories that seek Neuroscience undergrads:

Selection of Employers for recent (Class of 2023 - 2025) UMass Amherst Neuroscience alumni:

• Action Ambulance Service Inc.
• Adams Clinical
• Atrius Health
• Arbour Counseling Services
• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
• Boston University School of Medicine
• Brigham and Women's Hospital
• Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital
• Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
• Butterfly Effects
• Caron Family Chiropractic
• Beauport Ambulance Service
• Boston Children’s Hospital
• Carlisle, MA (Town of)
• Cataldo Ambulance Service
• Cell Signaling Technology, Inc.
• Coastal Medical Transport Service
• Consulting Cardiologists
• Cooley – Dickinson Healthcare
• Crisis Text Line
• Dartmouth – Hitchcock
• Disc Medicine
• Easterseals
• Epic
• Faustman Immunobiology Lab
• Gastro Health
• Griswold Home Care
• Hartford Healthcare
• Heywood Healthcare
• Loyola Medicine
• LifeStance Health
• Loyola Medicine
• Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
• Massachusetts General Hospital
• McLean Hospital
• Melmark New England
• Morristown Medical Center
• Orthopaedics Northeast PC
• Quintara Biosciences
• Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
• STC Biologics Inc.
• Target
• The Women’s Care Source
• The Zoo in Forest Park and Education Center
• TriNetX, Inc.
• Tufts Medical Center
• Tufts Medicine
• UMass Medical Center
• UMass Memorial Health
• Uncommon Schools
• University of Massachusetts Amherst
• University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
• University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
• Vayu Global Health Initiatives
• VA Boston Healthcare System
• Vertex Pharmaceuticals
• Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs
• William James College
• Xplore Sports Pvt Ltd
• Yale Child Study Center
• Yale School of Medicine

Selection of  Graduate Schools for recent (Class of 2023 - 2025) UMass Neuroscience Alumni: 

• Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Bastyr university
• Boston University
• Brown University
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Endicott College
• Johns Hopkins University
• King’s College London
• Massachusetts General Hospital – Institute of Health Professions
• MCPHS
• New England College of Optometry
• Tufts University
• UMass Chan Medical School
• University of Chicago
• University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Western New England University
• William James College

Professional Associations

These contain important insider knowledge and vocabulary used in the field, as well as some job search links and other important information that may be helpful to pursue a career in Neuroscience.

Society for Neuroscience                                                          www.sfn.org 

American Psychological Association                                      www.apa.org 

Neurosciences on the Internet                                                www.neuroguide.com/bestbets.html 

Neuropsychology Central                                                         www.neuropsychologycentral.com 

Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition                               www.cnbc.cmu.edu 

American Academy of Neurology                                           www.aan.com 

National Science Foundation                                                   www.nsf.gov  

Annual Reviews of Neuroscience                                            www.annualreviews.org/journal/neuro 

American Neurological Association                                        https://myana.org    

American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology                     www.abpn.com  

Brain Connection                                                                        https://brainconnection.brainhq.com/ 

IMPULSE- Journal for Neuroscience                                       https://impulse.pubhub.org    

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke   www.ninds.nih.gov 

British Neuroscience Association                                            www.bna.org.uk 

Neuroscience Resource Guide      https://psychologydegreeguide.org/resources/neuroscience-resource-guide//    

Cognitive Neuroscience Society                                              www.cogneurosociety.org

National Institute of Mental Health                                       https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ 

National Association of Social Workers                                 www.socialworkers.org                

Association for Psychological Science                                    www.psychologicalscience.org 

BrainMind                                                                                   https://brainmind.org/ 

Planning Resources & Websites

UMass Amherst CNS Career Center               cns.umass.edu/careers

UMass Amherst Career Fairs Calendar           https://app.joinhandshake.com/edu/career_fairs 

Resources by Major                                             https://www.umass.edu/natural-sciences/advising/careers/job-internship-and-co-op-searching/career-resources  

Clinical Graduate Programs                             https://clinicalpsychgradschool.org/ 

O-Net Online – Assessment Tool                    https://www.onetonline.org/find/ 

State Dept and Foreign Service Careers          https://careers.state.gov/career-paths/

Careers with the FBI                                        https://www.fbijobs.gov/career-paths 

Careers with the CIA                                        https://www.cia.gov/careers/jobs?page=1 

Mass Career Info System                                 http://www.masscis.intocareers.org/

 (Login as Mass Resident, Adult, and Amherst 01003)

 Finding Jobs, Internships & Graduate Schools in Neuroscience

UMass Handshake Database                            https://umass.joinhandshake.com/stu/postings 

CNS Completed Internships Database             https://secure.cns.umass.edu/webforms/internships

Psych Dept Research                                        https://www.umass.edu/psychological-brain-sciences/research

Psych Dept Internship Info.                            http://www.umass.edu/pbs/undergraduate/internships 

American Psychological Association (APA)     https://www.apa.org/education-career/job-search

APA Research Opportunities                           http://www.apa.org/education/undergrad 

Summer Internship Program at NIH                https://www.training.nih.gov/trainees/summer_interns 

Neuroscience NewScientistJobs                     www.newscientistjobs.com 

Neurojobs – Society for Neuroscience              www.sfn.org/neurojobs 

Neuroscience News Job Board                           www.neurosciencenews.com/neuroscience-jobs-board 

Summer Neuroscience Research Experiences http://www.pathwaystoscience.org/Discipline.aspx

Princeton Neuroscience Summer Internship   https://pni.princeton.edu/ 

Research Experiences for Undergrads. (REU)  https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jsp 

Neuroscience Graduate Schools                        www.gradschools.com/programs/neuroscience 

Entry Level Undergrad Jobs                            https://www.wayup.com/s/entry-level-jobs/all/

Federal Pathways to Govt Jobs                       http://gogovernment.org/government_careers/students

AmeriCorps and Community Service              https://www.americorps.gov/ 

Jobs with the Federal Government               http://www.usajobs.gov/ 

Bandopadhayay lab @ Dana Farber                 https://bandolab.org/ 

Counseling Psychology                                        https://www.counselingpsychology.org/ 

International Development Opportunities

Fulbright Opportunities                                  http://us.fulbrightonline.org/

Volunteer Abroad                                          https://www.goabroad.com/volunteer-abroad/ 

Intern Abroad                                                 https://www.goabroad.com/intern-abroad 

Jobs in Development                                       https://www.devex.com/jobs

Peace Corps                                                    www.peacecorps.gov

Important Qualities & Skills to Include in Your Resume

• Analytical skills - Neuroscientists must examine the information they collect and draw logical conclusions.
• Communication skills (verbal & oral) - Neuroscientists must have strong communication skills because they spend time interacting with research subjects or patients & describing their research/findings.
• Integrity - Neuroscientists must keep patients’ or research subject’s information in confidence, and patients/subjects must be able to trust their expertise in addressing sensitive problems.
• Interpersonal skills - Neuroscientists study and help individuals, so they must be able to work well with clients, patients, and other professionals.
• Observational skills - Neuroscientists study the Brain, Central Nervous System & behavior. They must understand the possible meanings of facial expressions, body positions, actions, interactions and medical observations depending on the area of study.
• Patience - Neuroscientists must demonstrate patience, because conducting research or treating patients may take a long time.
• Problem-solving skills - Neuroscientists need problem-solving skills to collect information, design research, evaluate programs, and find treatments or solutions to mental and behavioral problems.
• Collaboration Skills – Neuroscientists will work as part of a team either as part of a patient’s care team or as part of a research team.
• Critical thinking skills – Neuroscientists must analyze data from research or from a patient’s reporting & determine next steps & best possible outcomes.
• Attention to Detail – Neuroscientists must be mindful of details when supporting patients or conducting research.

What Do Employers Look For? (NACE 2025 Job Outlook for Students) 

Top 10 Skills Employers Seek on a Candidate’s Resume:

Problem Solving, Teamwork, Written Communication, Taking Initiative, Strong Work Ethic, Technical Skills, Verbal Communication, Flexibility/Adaptability, Analytical/Quantitative, Detail-Oriented

Factors Considered by Employers When Screening Candidates:

Academic Major, Has completed an internship in the industry, Industry experience, Has demonstrated proficiency in competencies, Has completed an internship with the organization, Has held a leadership position, Has been involved in leadership/extracurricular activities, Has held part-time jobs in college to finance education, Has done volunteer work