About the Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology

The Graduate Program in Neuroscience includes faculty members from several departments representing neuroscience, cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and psychology, psychiatry, genetics, neurology, and animal sciences.  The recently formed Brain Health Institute coordinates Neuroscience activities and seminars throughout the university.  Areas of specialization include production and analysis of mutant mouse activity; regulation of neural and glial gene expression; developmental neurobiology; autism; gliogenesis; neurogenesis; spinal cord injury; stem cell biology; synaptic plasticity; mechanisms and regulatory controls of learning and memory.

The program selects students on the basis of their academic records, references, and research experience.  A student must have an undergraduate cumulative grade-point average of at least B to be considered for admission.  Prerequisite courses normally include biology, general and organic chemistry, calculus, and physics.  Financial aid is provided to highly qualified students, and typically includes a stipend to cover living expenses and remission of tuition fees.  The classes of direct support include: fellowships, graduate assistantships provided through research grants held by individual professors, NIH training grant, and teaching assistantships associated with individual teaching units of the program.

Neuroscience Graduate Program

Tenure-Track Faculty Position in Neuroscience and Cell Biology

The three basic science departments at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School seek outstanding candidates for tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor to fill multiple new faculty positions. We are seeking creative and promising scientists to join the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, or the Department of Pharmacology.

The medical school is home to a large group of interactive and collegial faculty with federally funded research programs in broad areas of biomedical science. The basic science departments are well integrated into a large, highly collaborative research community across the schools and departments of Rutgers University with multiple centers of excellence. Medical School faculty have access to interdisciplinary, PhD-level graduate training programs and outstanding core facilities including genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, genome editing, confocal microscopy, human neuroimaging, and cryo-EM, among others. Rutgers is also affiliated with the largest university-spinoff biorepository and is home to the Protein Data Bank.

The Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology is looking for exceptional candidates with expertise and interests in any of a broad range of disciplines. Our research includes the molecular, cellular and circuit bases of neurodevelopment, neurodegeneration, and the roles of neurons and glia in the healthy and diseased brain. Interest exists in both basic and translational research. Approaches include state of the art imaging and electrophysiology, ‘omics, behavioral analyses, and computational modeling.

Qualified candidates must have a PhD, MD, MD/PhD or equivalent graduate degree, postdoctoral experience, a demonstrated record of significant research achievement, the potential to make substantial contributions as an independent investigator, and a commitment to teaching graduate and medical students on topics in the Biomedical Sciences. Junior candidates with independent funding or grants under review are preferred. Mid-level candidates are expected to have a successful history of funding. Salary and academic rank are commensurate with experience; excellent benefits and highly competitive startup packages are offered.

Applicants should submit:

1. a letter of interest directed to the Faculty Search Committee;
2. a curriculum vitae;
3. a one-page summary of important contributions to science;
4. a two-page description of future research plans;
5. a statement describing their approach to inclusive teaching and integrating diversity in pursuit of academic excellence; and
6. full contact information for at least three references.

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment screenings.

Review of applications will begin on November 15, 2023 and continue until the positions are filled. Timely submission of all materials, including confidential letters submitted directly by three referees, is highly recommended for full consideration.

Candidates should apply to their individual department(s) of interest through the ROCS portal:

Application Link

For questions related to recruitment, please specify the department(s) of interest in the subject line and contact rwjmsbasicscience@rwjms.rutgers.edu.

Life at Rutgers

Rutgers is located at the center of the Northeast corridor, with access to New York City, Philadelphia, and the New Jersey shore within an hour. The region is home to world-class universities, numerous pharmaceutical and biotech research facilities, and corporate headquarters. Piscataway and the surrounding areas in Central New Jersey offer vibrant and diverse cultural activities, excellent public and private schools, and opportunities to live in urban, suburban, or small-town settings within a short distance of campus.

Rutgers is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are deeply committed to increasing diversity and especially encourage applications from persons with disabilities, women, veterans, and minority scholars.

Explore Life at Rutgers

The Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Anatomical Association Body Program (“Anatomical Association”) is a whole body donor program in which individuals can donate their body for medical science after death. In depth study of the human body is an essential part of medical education that is made possible by generous people who give the ultimate gift of donating their bodies for medical education. Countless individuals enjoy fullness of health in part through their well-educated physicians.  These physicians are always mindful of the gift of the human body and acknowledge their indebtedness to their anonymous donors.

Trust

Generous residents of New Jersey honor us each year by registering as donors. Currently, over 14,000 people have registered with the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Anatomical Association and placed their trust in us to honor and carry out their final wishes. Our pledge to these remarkable individuals and their families is that we will ensure the appropriate use of their remains toward the advancement of medical education.

The Ultimate Gift

In depth study of the human body is a very important part of medical education that is possible because conscientious people donate their bodies for medical education. Countless individuals enjoy fullness of health in part through their well educated physicians. These physicians are always mindful of the gift of the human body and acknowledge their indebtedness to their anonymous donors.

Integrity and Respect for the Remains

The Anatomical Association (formerly Rutgers Pathological and Anatomical Association) has been in existence for over 40 years. In complete compliance with state and federal regulations. The Anatomical Association does not and will never engage in profiteering from the use of human remains. All donated remains are handled and treated in accordance with the highest ethical standards. The donor’s survivors may derive comfort in the knowledge that all people involved in medical education hold the life process in reverence and respect the remains in our care and protection at all times. We responsibly carry out the final wishes of the donor and of the family.

• Grace Pinhal-Enfield, PhD, Director
• Rebeca Santiago, Program Support Specialist
• Cheryl L. Schroeder, Practitioner of Mortuary Science (N.J. Lic. No. 3526)
• Nikola Zaturoski, Practitioner of Mortuary Science (N.J. Lic. No. 5051)
• Diandra Dwyer, Research Assistant
• Alysa Santana, Office Assistant

Our Location

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Anatomical Association
675 Hoes Lane West, Room R327
Piscataway, NJ 08854-5635
Phone: 1-800-443-8211
Fax: (732) 235-3249
e-mail: santanre@rwjms.rutgers.edu

If you would like additional information about the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Anatomical Association Whole Body Donor Program, you may call 1-800 443-8211 or email your name and address to santanre@rwjms.rutgers.edu.

Make A Monetary Donation

We gratefully accept monetary gifts in memory/in honor of a loved one.

Make a Monetary Donation

Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Neuroscience (NeuroSURP)

The primary purpose of our program, established in 1996, is to provide 12 students with a closely-mentored, hands-on graduate level basic research experience in an active neuroscience laboratory on the Piscatway or New Brunswick campus of Rutgers University.

A second important goal, and one that distinguishes us from most other SURPs, is to provide students with career development and educational activities. These occur throughout the program, and are intended to increase knowledge and interest in pursuing careers in research.

Our program is primarily funded by an R25 Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/NINDS.  We will be proudly entering our 14th year of support from the NIH in 2025.

Information for 2025:

• Application link opened on January 2^nd, 2025 and closed on February 17^th, 2025.
• The 2025 session will take place between May 27^th, 2025 and August 1^st, 2025.
• Students are expected to be in the laboratory during regular weekday working hours and in addition attend weekly group lunch meetings. Click here to see sample schedule from 2024.
• 12 students will be admitted to the program from the current applicant pool.
• All SURP students attending the session will receive a $4000 stipend.

Admission:

• All are welcome to apply and those who have not had access to research opportunities are especially encouraged to apply.
• Prior research experience is not required.

Applicants:

• Must be United States citizens or permanent residents.

• Must have completed at least one year of college prior to the start of the program. Applicants who will have received their undergraduate degree prior to the start of the program are NOT eligible.

• Should be in good academic standing and have had some coursework in biology.

• Should clearly articulate an interest in neuroscience and in pursuing a career in neuroscience related research.

• Will NOT be considered if they are already admitted to graduate or professional programs (e.g., BA/MD).

• Must be prepared to start the program on May 27, 2025 (limited accommodations can be made if this is not possible).

All students in the program receive a $4000 stipend and free housing in a secure building on the College Avenue Campus of Rutgers University.

Campus-wide shuttle bus access is available throughout the summer for transport between student housing and research labs.

Student housing is located in a lively area of New Brunswick within walking distance to numerous restaurants, shops, and public transportation (NJ Transit) to New York City (~40 minutes) and Philadelphia (~1 hour).

All students are strongly encouraged to live in the dorm with their SURP peers during the program.  The personal bonds that form under these conditions will last a lifetime.

The program will cover travel expenses related to transportation to and from the students' permanent residence at the beginning and end of the program.

Admitted applicants will receive detailed information on these and other important program related topics in late April and May prior to the start of the program.

We gratefully acknowledge ongoing program support from the following sources:

• NINDS "Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Neuroscience" (Award #2R25NS105143)

• The Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

• School of Graduate Studies

Please direct inquiries about the program to Ms. Joan Mordes or to the co-directors: Dr. Janet Alder, Dr. Huaye Zhang, or Dr.  Aaron Milstein.

Program Administrator full contact information:

Ms. Joan Mordes
SURP Program Administrative Coordinator
Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
683 Hoes Lane West, Research Building 363
Piscataway, NJ 08854
Phone: 732-235-5390