PNP + Biochem, a few questions

xiv21
Sun, 17 May 2009 04:20:56 +0000

There is also a biochemistry track via the biology department, the requirements for which I was able to finish in 3 years, leaving plenty of time to take other courses that just interest me. Actually, I think it has gotten easier by dropping the requirement to take pchem. Since I’m primarily a biologist, this was the best route for me. However, I have many friends who did the biochemistry major through the chemistry department and finished all the requirements with plenty of time to spare. Either way, biochem is very demanding with difficult and rigorous required coursework.

I would also wonder whether the PNP program is a good fit for you if you are strongly interested in neuroscience. PNP is interdisciplinary and truly a liberal arts program that draws from the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. I have had friends who ended up disliking the PNP major because they wanted to do neuroscience but found the philosophy courses to be a drag. If neuroscience is your primary interest, then the neuroscience track in the biology department is a better option. Neurophysiology lab, one of the best neuroscience courses at WashU, more or less only enrolls students that are in the bio neurosci track. Note, however, that the neurosci track requires an application and is very selective (only 28 students per year).

As for research, you can find opportunities regardless of your major. For example, I briefly worked in a neuropathology lab even before having taken any neuroscience courses whatsoever. While it is possible that PIs affiliated with PNP might preferentially fill lab spots with PNP majors, I’ll just point out that the vast majority of neuroscience PIs are not PNP-affiliated.

So if neuroscience is your thing, don’t think that PNP is the only/best option.