Neuroscience Survival Manual
Revised: August 2008
Originally prepared by NSP Graduate Student Council and NSP student mentor
Dr. Cynthia Jordan (jordancy@msu.edu, 355-1722)
Edited for the web by Adriana Feldpausch, NSP Graduate Student Affairs Administrator, and Molly Ryan, NSP webmaster
Things to do immediately | Advice from Faculty | Advice about Rotations | Advice from Students | Health Insurance | How to Survive Classes | Where to buy materials | How to find sources of funding | Links | Coming Soon | Contact Info
Things to do immediately:
This will allow you computer access campuswide. Find out how to access your pilot account from campus and home, dialup service is free. If you are computer shy, register for a free class at the library. (If access to computers/printers is difficult in your lab, then find the computer labs located at various sites on campus (http://computerlabs.msu.edu); there are also computers/printers available in the libraries (main library and new Biomedical and Physical Sciences branch library)
- As a first year student, you must be approved by AUCAUC for your project before collecting data for vertebrate animals. If your project involves more than one grant then you need approval from AUCAUC for all grants you are using.
- See Adriana to fill in forms and get on the payroll. (feldpa15@msu.edu, 108 Giltner Hall)
- Get parking pass. Take appointment papers with you to Dept. of Public Safety (SW corner of wilson rd. & red cedar rd.), along with your MSU ID, and check or cash; about $80/semester)
- Establish a bank account (MSU federal credit union is popular). Arrange to have direct deposit of your paycheck.
- Obtain a MI driver's license(.pdf) The Secretary of State is located under the hamster run (Habitrail), the colorful parking structure in "downtown" East Lansing, 400 Albert St.
- Register to vote while you're at it. You have to reside at the address on your license to vote.
- A campus map (a paper copy is essential, carry it with you until it disintegrates)
- Familiarize yourself with the NSP website (lots of cool and relevant information posted. Feel free to comment here)
- Renter's insurance. A few bucks a month covers things like dropped laptops, bikes, CDs, books, etc
- Car insurance? You will get severely hassled without it.
- It's a big campus, get a junker bike for transportation. (30 bucks gets you a bike, lock, registration) check MSU surplus. Even if you drive, keeping a bike on campus can make life easy. (don't forget to lube the chain with some WD-40 every now and then)
- Schedule of classes and locations. Be there!
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Good advice from the faculty:
- Know what is in your Graduate Student Handbook This means reading the table of contents (pp 1-2). Information that is immediately relevant to you as “first years” are Course Requirements (p 3) and First Year Evaluations (p 7). This manual is loaded with lots of useful information and is a good resource for answering many questions you may have.
- Sometime during the fall, become a member of the Society for Neuroscience if you are not already. (You must be a member to submit an abstract; abstract deadlines are usually in April.) Application forms and lots of other relevant information can be found on their web site.
- For those of you interested in gonadal hormones and SEX (who isn’t??), you may also want to check out the web site for the Society of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology and consider becoming a member. This is a very graduate student-friendly society and its web site offers many useful links.
- Ask your rotation supervisor or other grad students about other relevant organizations.
- Get to know your fellow NSP graduate students (they are often the experts!!)
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Advice about rotations:
A few things to find out from your rotation supervisor:
- What he/she expects (e.g., expected time spent in the lab? completion of a project? write up expected? etc.)
- What her/his policies are regarding use of lab resources such as phone, computers, printers, etc., and anything else that you might want to use in the lab that is not strictly related to your rotation project.
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Good advice from the Students:
Read!!
Listen!!
Ask!! |
Lab publications. Student references. Anything that will get you "in the loop"
People will be trying to assist you, let them.
Everyone wants you to do well, we've all been there. |
- Go to the Society for Neuroscience meeting in November.
- Stay current: Read your email, especially emails from Dr. Sisk (a.k.a. Cheryl) and Adriana.
- Get a planner, or some means of keeping up with your schedule.
- Borrow notes, old exams, books from other students.
- Get organized. Bind/recopy notes, make lists, whatever it takes for you.
- Start writing now and get in the habit; people always want to know what you're up to.
- The Essential, Must Have, Better Read it-Web site for MSU graduate students: GRAD STUDENT RESOURCE
- Spartan Life: a 141 pg resource document for MSU students (2MB file) If you want to know what clubs, sports, organizations, events, and other student services/activities
- ORCBS training. You’ll need to enroll for these courses to work in the lab. Chemical and Radiation safety training.
- Student Life provides a variety of services for MSU students, including job opportunities, resources for student leaders, and more.
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Info about health insurance:
- Grad students are automatically enrolled
- Dental plan $34.50 for 12 months (800 544 6374 ask for an RLI MSU student application) MSU/Midwestern Dental Center (7 MI locations, work must be done there. Free exams, X rays, cleanings)
- No coverage for pre-existing conditions for the first 6 months
- Information about insurance coverage for students and health services at Olin Health Center
ALSO, READ THE NSP GRAD STUDENT HANDBOOK!
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How to survive classes:
- Good class notes are essential for passing your comprehensives.
- Worthy reference material:
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Where to buy class materials:
How to find possible sources of funding:
- MSU Office for the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies maintains a web site that links you to sources of intramural and extramural funds, including a link to the Community of Science (COS), a worldwide network of scientists that you can join at no cost to you because MSU pays the fee. You can probably learn about virtually every possible source of funding for neuroscientists at the COS website. Register now!
- MSU Funding guide which will link you to things like:
- The National Science Foundation (NSF) is for first and second year students only!!! Get on it. Deadlines are in the fall.
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Links:
- Nerdy Neuro web links: here you’ll find links to sites for neuroanatomy quizzes, study guides, techniques, methods, etc.
- Local Links:
- Professional Societies
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Things to do around Lansing
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Contact Info:
Feel free to contact any of the following graduate students if you have questions about anything, seriously!
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