The First-Year Writing Seminar is about introducing concepts in neuroscience and behavior and writing extensively about them. Topics vary by section.

Full details for BIONB 1220 - FWS: Special Topics in Neurobiology and Behavior

General introduction to the field of animal behavior. Topics include evolution and behavior, behavioral ecology, sociobiology, chemical ecology, communication, orientation and navigation.

Full details for BIONB 2210 - Neurobiology and Behavior I: Introduction to Behavior

This course is designed to provide an introduction to experimental research on the neural basis of behavior and cognition in animals. Topics will include basic neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, neural and hormonal control of behavior, and learning and memory. Students will gain extensive hands on experience with a variety of laboratory techniques, and animal species, and behaviors.

Full details for BIONB 3240 - Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory

We are in an AI revolution, yet these systems still can't match the brain's remarkable ability to build deep understanding of the world and use it flexibly for reasoning, planning, and adapting to new situations. This course examines neural information processing across multiple scales - from single neurons to brain systems - and their parallels in AI architectures. The course emphasizes how neuroscience insights drive AI innovation, from memory systems and neural dynamics to predictive processing and world models. For students with AI/CS/Math backgrounds, it provides deep insights into brain computation principles for developing neuroinspired algorithms. For neuroscience students, it introduces modern AI frameworks for understanding neural systems. Through topics spanning biological/artificial neural networks, hippocampal-cortical interactions, world models, and emerging neuroinspired architectures, students will explore how understanding the brain's computational principles can lead to more robust and general AI systems.

Full details for BIONB 3500 - NeuroAI: Bridging Brains and AI

Introduction to neuropharmacology, with an emphasis on the neural mechanisms of psychoactive drugs. Topics include a brief introduction to neuropharmacology and a discussion of the major neurotransmitter families. The rest of the course covers the major psychoactive drugs, including cocaine, heroin, psychedelics, marijuana, and alcohol, as well as pharmaceuticals for the treatment of anxiety, schizophrenia, and depression. Includes a term paper in the form of a grant proposal to study a current problem in neuropharmacology.

Full details for BIONB 3920 - Drugs and the Brain

Focuses on how different molecular and genetic approaches have led to major advances in neuroscience. Lectures, student presentations, and discussions examine original research articles. Topics include: ligand-gated channels, potassium channels, seven membrane spanning receptors, olfaction, pain and cold receptors, neurotransmitter release, neural networks, epilepsy, optogenetics, and circadian rhythms.

Full details for BIONB 3950 - Molecular and Genetic Approaches to Neuroscience

Courses on selected topics in neurobiology and behavior; can include lecture and seminar courses.

Full details for BIONB 4200 - Topics in Neurobiology and Behavior

Designed to give qualified undergraduate students teaching experience through actual involvement in planning and assisting in biology courses. This experience may include supervised participation in a discussion group, assisting in a biology laboratory, assisting in field biology, or tutoring.

Full details for BIONB 4980 - Teaching Experience

A weekly journal club-style discussion. Graduate students may be expected to present a summary of their research or a summary of research in the literature related to their thesis once per year.

Full details for BIONB 7201 - Research Design in the Study of Animal Social Behavior

Designed to assist students in mapping their graduate careers and in choosing and pursuing transformative and tractable thesis topics. The core of the course will be open-ended discussions directed by paired neurobiology and behavioral ecology faculty on novel research frontiers in the study of mechanisms and the evolution of behavior (including in the zone of their conceptual intersection). Occasional laboratory experiences may also be included. Professional development topics will include how to: navigate graduate school, allocate time between reading, thinking creatively, and investing in research, design experiments, write grant proposals, give talks, and publish peer-reviewed papers.

Full details for BIONB 7210 - Introductory Graduate Survey in Neurobiology and Behavior

Group intensive study of current research in plant-insect interactions. Topics vary from semester to semester but include chemical defense, coevolution, insect community structure, population regulation, biocontrol, tritrophic interactions, and mutualism.

Full details for BIONB 7640 - Plant-Insect Interactions Seminar