The long history of neuroscience scholarship and research at UMass Amherst has just reached a significant milestone with the addition of a new neuroscience major. The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and the Department of Biology are jointly offering a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. This interdisciplinary major will provide students with the core scientific concepts and frameworks that underlie the nervous system, elective courses, and hands-on laboratory experiences.
The opportunity for undergraduate students to enroll in a neuroscience-specific curriculum began with the neuroscience track within the Psychology major. Early on, PBS faculty member Jerry Meyer met with Biology’s Gordon Wyse to create a set of courses that blended psychological science with biology fundamentals. They wanted to give students the chance to focus on the cutting-edge field of neuroscience and allow their fascination with science to propel their careers.
The neuroscience track grew steadily in the past two decades to eventually include over 350 students, reflecting the growth of the field and increasing student interest. Over time, the need for an interdepartmental major that reflects the cross-cutting multidisciplinary nature of neuroscience became clear. Faculty in PBS and Biology worked collaboratively to develop a curriculum that explores the nervous system from molecular, cellular, behavioral, cognitive, and clinical perspectives, drawing on the research and teaching strengths of both departments.
Current and former students have long advocated for an official neuroscience major; they are passionate about the field and take a rigorous interdisciplinary science curriculum. Faculty member Amanda Hamel had this to say about the outstanding students that make up her courses: “The neuroscience students here at UMass are truly exceptional. They are eager, motivated learners whose enthusiasm and academic rigor elevate our discussions and drive courses forward.” Now their degrees will reflect their hard work and dedication to this discipline. In addition, prospective undergraduate students will recognize UMass Amherst as the premier destination for neuroscience scholarship that it is.
A highlight of the thriving neuroscience community at UMass Amherst is the variety of student-driven clubs. The UMass Neuroscience Club and the Western Massachusetts chapter of the Nu Rho Psi national honor society have existed for decades. More recently, students formed NeuroArt to provide art therapy to individuals with neurodegenerative diseases. The UMass chapter of Synapse, a national organization that promotes education and support for individuals recovering from traumatic brain injury, has also been established.
This past year, the UMass Neuroscience Club has been full of engaging opportunities for students to explore the brain, connect across disciplines, and learn about cutting-edge research. The club hosted a wide range of guest speakers, including Professor Luke Remage-Healey, who shared his work on forebrain estrogen signaling in songbirds; Professor Rebecca Spencer, who discussed her research in the Somneuro Lab on various aspects of sleep and memory; Michael Hanau, a psychiatrist who led an engaging career Q&A; and sports neurologist Alex Bodroghy, who shared information about brain health in athletes.
Members also had the chance to attend tours of the Human Magnetic Resonance Center and the Somneuro Lab’s sleep monitoring facility—both right on campus. These events gave students firsthand insight into the diverse career paths and research opportunities available in neuroscience. Additionally, the club hosted numerous social events, held collaborative meetings with other student organizations, volunteered at a local nursing home, and attended the annual NEURON conference at Quinnipiac University’s medical school in Connecticut. At the conference, students networked and learned about some of the latest advances in subjects like connectomics, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM), and leveraging AI in psychological science.
“As we look ahead, the Neuroscience Club remains committed to creating a vibrant, inclusive space for students interested in the brain, whether they’re pursuing a career in neuroscience or just curious about how the mind works,” says Tara Shirname, club president.
Students involved in neuroscience at UMass also contribute to the university in a broad sense, engaging in academic and extracurricular activities that have a significant impact on their fellow students. Take Neve Modlin, who won a raffle from among nearly 200 students eager to declare the new major to be the first-ever UMass neuroscience major. Neve is currently working as the lab manager of the Language, Intersensory Perception, and Speech (LIPS) Lab, directed by Associate Professor Alexandra Jesse. Her lab experience has taught her about the importance of task delegation, practicing clear communication, and building community within a team.
Neve has also worked as a peer advisor and a teaching assistant for Psych 330: Introduction to Neuroscience, taught by faculty member Lori Astheimer. She grasped how to view course content not only from a “learning” lens but also from a “teaching” perspective. “As a TA, I learned the best way to break down topics to teach them later in discussion, as well as how to adapt to different learning styles to best convey course material that students needed more clarification on.”
Faculty in the Behavioral Neuroscience Program in PBS work alongside their colleagues in Biology to provide classroom teaching and practical research experiences in their labs for neuroscience majors. Their research spans from molecular to behavioral, with an eye for improving mental and physical health for all.
For instance, Mariana Pereira explores the neural mechanisms underlying parenting—particularly how maternal motivation, cognition, and affect shape caregiving decisions and behavior—with a focus on maternal neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and addiction. David Moorman’s lab studies how neural circuits regulate motivation, learning, decisionmaking, and cognitive control, with applications to understanding disorders such as addiction, depression, ADHD, and schizophrenia. Ilia Karatsoreos’s group investigates how the biological clock works to keep the brain and body functioning smoothly, and the consequences—from obesity to neuroinflammation to neurodegenerative disease—of disrupted clocks that arise from our modern 24/7 society. This is just a sample of a few of the labs that are at the forefront of neuroscience and behavior research in PBS.
In addition to independent studies in faculty-led labs, the new major provides all students with hands-on research experience through several laboratory courses. Amanda Hamel explains, “In the Neuroscience Laboratory course, students explore hands-on techniques, such as fMRI, fluorescence microscopy, and enzyme immunoassays, to deepen their understanding of research methods and foundational concepts within the field, which they then apply to the study of a particular disorder or topic. Throughout their studies, neuroscience students are not only mastering content, but they are also grappling with real and meaningful issues and working toward solutions with curiosity and critical thinking.”
Overall, our PBS community is thrilled with the arrival of the long-awaited neuroscience major, which will provide new academic pathways and exciting career prospects for our talented students. The neuroscience major will help to build new connections for young neuroscientists: within their own brains, across the UMass campus, and beyond.