Applying to the NBL training program

• This is a multi-year training program that leads to a Graduate Certificate in Neurobiology of Language. It requires trainees to take 4 required Foundations courses (as well as 1 prerequisite) and a 1-credit Outreach Seminar. Trainees are also expected to attend regular meetings (Talk Shop, Mondays at 12:20PM during Fall and Spring semesters) and occasional additional events, meetings, and retreats. Trainees are also expected to engage in interdisciplinary research as part of their training.

Trainees receive full funding for 5 years at normal departmental levels through typical teaching assistantships and research assistantships. They have access to a UConn-funded innovation incentive fund. We do not currently have NBL-specific funding, though we hope to in the near future. There is no citizenship or residency requirement to be an NBL trainee; international students are eligible. 

How to apply

For people applying to UConn

1. First, check out the participating Ph.D. programs:
   • Psychology (general application information)
     • Behavioral Neuroscience
     • Clinical
     • Developmental
     • Perception-Action-Cognition (Language & Cognition)
   • Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
   • Linguistics
   • Physiology and Neurobiology [students with interests in this area may find the language curriculum required under the NBL difficult to accommodate; discuss carefully with your potential advisor]
2. The next step is to get in contact with potential advisors to discuss the possibility of applying to the Ph.D. program and to the NBL training program. Faculty typically nominate applicants by April 1st (the spring before you would start the PhD program) so that we can notify you about NBL when you are admitted to your Ph.D. program.

For Ph.D. students already matriculated at UConn

1. You must be nominated by an NBL-affiliated faculty member. Contact a potential NBL advisor to discuss the possibility. The latest we recommend applying is in Year 2.

Nomination and admissions procedures for faculty