Welcome to the Department of Neurobiology

Founded in 1981, Northwestern University's Department of Neurobiology was one of the first in the country to grant an undergraduate concentration in Neurobiology. Since then our research and teaching activities have grown dramatically. Our department is credited with major innovative educational programs within the University, educational outreach programs in the community, and widely acclaimed scientific advances, particularly at the interface between molecular biology, physiology, and behavior. Our scientific contributions, to name just a few, include:

• Discovery of inhibin, a new class of reproductive hormones and their receptors (Neena Schwartz)
• Development of the first in vivo patch-clamp recording method (David Ferster)
• Discovery of the clock gene, the first mammalian gene to be identified using forward genetics, an approach that traces altered behavior back to candidate genes (Joe Takahashi)
• Discovery of estrogen's effect on the synaptic complexity of a key brain region involved in memory and learning (Catherine Woolley)
• Discovery of the important role of dendritically initiated spikes in the induction of synaptic plasticity (Nelson Spruston)
• Discovery of the effects of progesterone hormone receptors on paternal behavior - one of the few demonstrations of a single gene's dramatic effect on complex behavior (Jon Levine)
• Discovery of prestin, a class of motor proteins critical to inner ear functioning (Peter Dallos)
• Discovery of gop, a receptor for the neuropeptide pdf, which regulates circadian rhythms in Drosophila (Ravi Allada)
• Discovery that insulin can protect against the toxicity of proteins contributing to Alzheimer’s disease (Bill Klein)

New discoveries will continue to emerge from the department, as our faculty continues to maintain exceptionally strong research programs. In fact, we are one of the best-funded neuroscience departments in the country. Along with funding, a reputation for a collegial interactions and collaborations within the department and with other departments in the university create an exciting environment – one of the preeminent places to learn and do research in neuroscience and physiology. We carefully select our faculty, staff, students, and postdocs, evaluating their potential for participation in both educational and research endeavors.

The Department of Neurobiology takes part in the PhD programs of the Northwestern University Interdepartmental program in Neuroscience (NUIN) and the Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program (IBiS). The department itself also offers a master's degree program for students who seek additional classroom and research experience in biology before entering PhD programs, medical school, or industry. Our graduates at all levels have gone on to distinguished careers in the life sciences.

As our department continues to develop, we add interests, advanced technology, and facilities. For instance, we intend to take a leading role in work on how genes affect whole-animal functioning and behavior, studies made possible by the advent of genome sequences for mice and humans. This is just one of the many exciting frontiers our faculty, postdocs, and students are exploring together. We invite you to join our endeavor.

David Ferster
Professor and Chair
Department of Neurobiology
Northwestern University