Resources
Center for Neuroscience
The Center for Neuroscience is UC Davis' hub for studying the entire scope of neuroscience, ranging from cellular and molecular neurobiology, through systems and developmental neuroscience, to studies of human perception, memory, language, and the nature of consciousness. Using cutting-edge technology and pioneering research techniques, the Center's experts conduct discovery-driven science, leading to a better understanding of how the brain works and the development of new therapies to prevent, treat and potentially cure neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Neuroscience Graduate Program
The Neuroscience Graduate Program, one of the premier training programs in the United States is located in the Center for Neuroscience, providing students with unparalleled opportunities for research at the cutting edge of neuroscience. The UC Davis Center for Neuroscience draws from a wide variety of resources to conduct its teaching and research programs. Contributing to its interdisciplinary approach are Center faculty members, students, and collaborators who represent 13 academic departments and sections on the main campus and a number of other sites. These sites include the California Regional Primate Research Center, UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, the Veterans Administration Health Care System Outpatient Clinic in Martinez, other hospitals in northern California, and other universities worldwide. Visiting faculty members from throughout the world bring additional outstanding talent to the Center's programs.
Psychology Graduate Program
The Psychology Department at the University of California, Davis has a top-ranked Ph.D. program oriented toward training qualified students to pursue careers in the areas of research and teaching. Students work closely with one or two faculty members to develop research programs that result in published work in the top journals. The program requirements include minimal coursework, and emphasize engagement in research from the start of the program.
Imaging Research Center in Davis
The new MRI Facility houses a new Siemens 64-channel 3 Tesla "Skyra" MRI System (Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany). The Siemens 64-channel 3T Skyra system is fully equipped for advanced neuroimaging. This system has a fast gradient system that provides high-speed spatial encoding, a 64-channel data acquisition system with digital wireless technology to improve SNR and temporal stability, and a dual-channel RF transmitter system for reduction of dielectric effects, and more flexible RF pulse design. The gradient rise time (200 mT/m/ms), peak gradient strength (45 mT/m per axis), and duty cycle (100% using full gradient strength on all three axes) are the highest specifications in the industry for whole-body systems. Also, the gradients have a balanced geometric design that results in less acoustic noise generation. Every hardware and software option that Siemens offers for neuroimaging is installed on this MRI system. Parallel imaging capabilities in one and two-dimensions enable EPI acquisitions at higher temporal resolution and with less geometric distortion. In addition, the IRC maintains an active Master Research Agreement with Siemens Healthcare that makes available advanced "works-in-progress" pulse sequences for EPI and structural neuroimaging to deal with specific technical challenges.
