The anatomy and physiology of the brain are studied by neurology researchers. Chemical activity, brain development, evolutionary issues, neurological disorders, and drug reactions could all be investigated by researchers. A person must typically obtain a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from an accredited university or college, as well as an internship or fellowship at a research institution, to get started in neurology research.
When a student is still in high school, he or she can begin preparing for a career in neurology research. A student who excels in a variety of advanced science courses stands the best chance of being accepted into a university undergraduate program. High school guidance counselors can assist aspiring researchers in locating schools that are a good fit for them, obtaining scholarships or grant money, and preparing application materials.
Psychology or one of the major biological sciences, such as chemistry or biology, are the most common majors among undergraduates. In order to learn about different research techniques and equipment, as well as how to manipulate data and write scientific papers, a person preparing for neurology research typically takes several statistics and laboratory courses. A student may choose to work as an intern or assistant in a university research program, gaining valuable firsthand experience in the field.
Working as a research assistant in private research facilities and university laboratories often requires only a bachelor’s degree. Setting up experiments, interviewing participants in clinical trials, monitoring tests, entering data, and analyzing results are all tasks that research assistants perform. An assistant may also help with clerical and janitorial tasks at a facility, such as answering phones, scheduling participant appointments, setting up testing equipment, and cleaning up after an experiment.
Master’s or doctoral degrees are typically pursued by those seeking more prestigious positions in neurology research institutes. Students gain expert knowledge about a specific area of neurology research during post-baccalaureate studies, which include extensive classroom and laboratory work. In order to write a thesis or dissertation and earn a degree, most schools require students to conduct independent research.
Many neurology schools assist graduates in obtaining postgraduate or postdoctoral fellowships with research organizations. In order to gain a thorough understanding of neurology research, a fellow usually works alongside experienced scientists. He or she may be involved in grant writing, clinical trial facilitation, and scientific paper publication. A new researcher may be given the opportunity to conduct independent research and experiments after a period of one to two years.