PhD in Neuroscience Admissions Information

GRADUATE EDUCATION ADMISSIONS

PhD in Neuroscience

The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai welcomes your application to the PhD in Neuroscience program. We attract candidates who are passionate about pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery using innovative tools and approaches to drive therapeutic development.

Applicants looking to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience should have a strong academic background in any of the following: biological or computational science, psychology, mathematics, engineering, chemistry, or physics. Applicants must also demonstrate a commitment to research and have significant research experience in either an academic or industry environment.

Application Requirements

To apply to our Program, please submit the following:

A completed online application
Transcripts from post-secondary institution(s) attended. We can accept copies* for the admissions process; you can upload them to the online application. Alternatively, registrars may send official transcripts, in a sealed institutional envelope, directly to:

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Admissions Office
1 Gustave Levy Place, Box 1002
New York, NY 10029

*Please note that official transcripts will be required for admitted applicants that decide to enroll at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Payment of the application fee ($80) is part of the online application. You will be prompted on how to pay, which can be made by credit card, check, or money order.
Contact information for three individuals who will provide letters of recommendation. We are particularly interested in hearing from individuals who have interacted with you in a research setting. Please have their email addresses available so you can submit the information when prompted. These references will receive an email from "admissions@mssm.edu" with information guiding them through the recommendation process.
Please note that the GRE test is neither required nor accepted.

Even if you are missing a particular undergraduate course requirement, we take into account all your submitted materials. We consider each applicant on an individual basis.

Application Deadlines and Decisions

All application materials are due by December 1 and the review begins in December. We encourage you to submit your application early. During review, you will hear from us regarding interviews. We make decisions within three weeks of your interview.

International Applicants

We encourage applications from qualified individuals, regardless of country of origin or where you received your academic and research training. We require international applicants to have foreign transcripts translated into English and to have a General Analysis evaluation completed by a certified credential evaluation service that is a member of NACES, (i.e., World Education Services, SpanTran, Educational Credential Evaluators). If your school provides an official conversion of grades to the U.S.-based 0.0-4.0 scale, please include this information. If you are unable to access this conversion, we will do it for you.

SpanTran created a custom application for the Icahn School of Medicine so you can request a General Analysis evaluation, at a discounted rate. You can access their application here: SpanTran Application - Icahn School of Medicine

Our goal is to assess your potential to successfully complete the required graduate coursework. If English is your second language, we require the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Lauren Dierdorff, PhD Candidate

I can’t imagine studying neuroscience anywhere other than Mount Sinai. The coursework spans basic neurobiology to techniques and approaches that are being used throughout the labs in the department. What makes the program even more unique is the direct access to the clinical population and data. Research at Mount Sinai is truly translational and impactful, and the neuroscience faculty are world-class investigators in the field. More importantly, the faculty are lifelong mentors who continue to help me grow as a woman in science.

Learn More About Lauren

Lauren Dierdorff, PhD Candidate

Learn More About Lauren

Denise Cai, PhD, Associate Professor

I’m proud to be a member of the neuroscience community at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. We are conducting groundbreaking research in areas such as learning and memory, computational neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, development, behavior, and more. As a PhD student, you will have the opportunity to be involved in these exciting fields and leverage cutting-edge approaches to unravel the mysteries of the brain. The neuroscience program provides students with the resources they need to become successful researchers and leaders–in the lab and beyond.

Learn More About Dr. Cai

Lauren Dierdorff, PhD Candidate

Learn More About Lauren

Denise Cai, PhD, Associate Professor

Learn More About Dr. Cai

Nick Upright, PhD, Class of 2022

It’s surreal having spent six years in a PhD program. There were definitely some lowlights, such as failed experiments and imposter syndrome. But there were just as many highlights. I’ve never had as much excitement defending my thesis, and I’ll always remember that—and the support my friends, faculty mentors, and family gave me at every step of the way. All the help I received throughout my PhD truly allowed me to become the best researcher I could be.

Peter Rudebeck, PhD, Associate Professor

When I was deciding where to start my laboratory, I was drawn to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai because of the strong commitment to both basic and clinical research. What really excited me and convinced me to join, however, was the strong focus on fostering cross-talk between these two areas of research to improve human health. That is really quite unique.

Learn More About Dr. Rudebeck

Ayan Hussein, PhD, Class of 2022

This is a monumental day for me and my family. The vibrant, robust scientific culture at Mount Sinai was influential in shaping and steering me through my research. Even though conducting research during the pandemic was challenging, it helped me cope and escape from the harshness of the pandemic.

Ivan Soler, PhD Candidate

When I first stepped foot on campus, I instinctively felt at home in a vibrant environment that seemed like it valued me as a scientist and person. I’m so glad I listened to my instincts because that feeling has not gone away since. The quality of the training program is second to none and is reflected in the success of the faculty and state-of-the-art facilities that are easily accessible. The lasting connections I’ve made with other faculty and students have truly been the highlight of my experience. If I had to go through the graduate school process again, I would pick Mount Sinai every time.

Learn More About Ivan