How To Become a Neuroscientist?

May 15, 2025 in [ Medical Studies & Sciences ]

students at a table learning about neuroscience

Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system, including the brain. Neuroscientists explore the biological and chemical processes that occur in the brain. These professionals are usually medical scientists who may study everything from brain development to the treatment of brain tumors to the diagnosis of dementia. Some neuroscientists are also medical doctors who work directly with patients.

If you have a passion for science and an analytical mind, you might consider pursuing a career in neuroscience. From identifying key proteins for athletic performance to enabling paralyzed individuals to control computers with brain implants, neuroscientists help to advance human well-being.

Learn More About:

What Is a Neuroscientist?
What Does a Neuroscientist Do?
Are Neuroscientists Needed?
Where Do Neuroscientists Work?
What Subfields of Neuroscience Are There?
Do You Need a License To Become a Neuroscientist?
When Do Future Neuroscientists Need to Go to Medical School?

What Is a Neuroscientist?

A neuroscientist is a medical research scientist who studies the nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. Neuroscientists may study a wide range of neurological disorders and diseases — ranging from Alzheimer’s disease to insomnia and beyond

What Does a Neuroscientist Do?

A neuroscientist is a lifelong learner who continually strives to understand how the nervous system works in order to create new treatments for neurological disease and disorders.

The daily tasks of a neuroscientist depend on the work setting and employer. In general, however, these scientists may do any of the following in their quest to learn more about the nervous system:

Design scientific experiments and develop hypotheses
Prepare cell and tissue samples
Use advanced lab equipment to analyze samples and monitor brain activity
Use sophisticated computer software to create models and simulations of the nervous system

A neuroscientist may also spend much of their time finding funding opportunities and writing grant proposals to keep their lab funded. Neuroscientists stay on top of the latest developments and research in their field by reading scientific journals and research papers. They also publish their own research in scientific journals.

Are Neuroscientists Needed?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the estimated job growth rate for all types of medical research scientists is 11% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than average. This indicates a need for about 16,800 new professionals during this time.¹ The BLS states that the median annual salary of all types of medical scientists was $100,590 as of May 2024.²

Where Do Neuroscientists Work?

Neuroscientists and other medical scientists can work across a wide variety of settings. Some of the most common employers include:³

Hospitals
Research and development labs
Universities
Medical and diagnostic labs
Pharmaceuticals manufacturing

What Subfields of Neuroscience Are There?

There are numerous subfields within neuroscience, including cognitive neuroscience. This subfield focuses on the biological processes that support or facilitate cognition. In particular, cognitive neuroscientists study the relationships between the structures of the brain and their activity or cognitive functions.

In addition to cognitive neuroscience, the following are common specialties:

Developmental neuroscience – Focuses on how the brain forms, develops and changes
Molecular and cellular neuroscience – Explores the molecules (proteins, genes, etc.) that dictate the function of neurons and other brain cells
Clinical neuroscience – Explores the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders and injuries (e.g., brain tumors)
Neurogenetics – Focuses on inherited diseases that affect neurons, such as Huntington’s disease
Neurophysiology – Studies the nervous system and its functions
Sensory neuroscience – Evaluates the body’s sensory systems, including how the nervous system processes sensory information

As you can see, there are many subfields in which to consider specializing when you choose a career in neuroscience. However, you don’t need to choose a subfield right away. You might not know exactly where your interests lie until you begin pursuing your graduate education.

Do You Need a License To Become a Neuroscientist?

Not all neuroscientists need a license. If you don’t wish to work directly with patients and prefer instead to focus on research, then you won’t need a medical license. If you want to become a clinical neuroscientist who works with patients, then you’ll need a medical license.⁴

To become a neuroscientist, you’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree, followed by a master’s degree and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). If you intend on working with patients, you will need to earn a degree from medical school and a physician’s license.⁴

What Is a Neuroscientist's Ideal Bachelor's Degree Program?

Some future neuroscientists may major in neuroscience, while others major in biology.⁴ If you think you might like to go to medical school, choose a Bachelor of Science in Biology with an Emphasis in Pre-Medicine.

You can also choose a pre-med concentration even if you’re not quite sure yet whether you want to go into clinical or cognitive neuroscience; there is no obligation to go to medical school simply because you chose a pre-med degree.

The types of classes you’ll take will depend on the specific degree you’ve chosen. In general, however, you can expect to study topics such as the following:

Biological concepts, structures and functions, including cell components and life cycles
Fundamentals of chemistry, including chemical bonding and chemical structures
Medical terminology to facilitate professional communication
Biochemical principles, such as chemical reactivity, kinetics, thermodynamics and membrane structure
Psychopharmacology, which explores the effects of drugs on a person’s behavior and mind
Psychology, behavior and cognition

After graduating with your Bachelor of Science degree (BS), your next step is to earn a graduate degree — either a master’s degree or jumping ahead directly to your PhD.⁴ Your graduate degree program should be more tightly focused on your intended career.

A PhD program in neuroscience will be an in-depth exploration of advanced topics in the field, ranging from neurotoxicology to phase plane neural oscillator analysis. A typical PhD program begins with coursework followed by a major exam before you get to work on your dissertation. Completing your dissertation will involve designing and conducting your own original research. After earning your doctoral degree, you’ll complete one or more postdoctoral programs. These are research-intensive positions that sometimes also involve teaching.

Alternatively, you may elect to go to medical school instead of earning a PhD. You’ll need to pass the medical licensing exam and complete clinical experience hours to become a medical doctor.⁴

When Do Future Neuroscientists Need to Go to Medical School?

You will need a medical doctor (MD) degree if you intend on working with patients as a clinical neuroscientist. If you desire advanced research training alongside your medical education, you may opt for a combined degree program. Some schools offer joint MD/PhD programs.

In addition to your PhD coursework and dissertation, you will need to take medical school classes and complete clinical rotations at a teaching hospital. You’ll also need to pass your physician licensing exams and complete a residency.

You can begin working toward a rewarding career in neuroscience when you enroll at Grand Canyon University. GCU offers a number of modern science degrees, including the Bachelor of Science in Biology with an Emphasis in Pre-Medicine. This degree is designed to prepare graduates to pursue graduate-level education in neuroscience or apply for entry to medical school.

Additionally, the College of Natural Sciences hosts the Canyon Neuroscience Group for those looking to dive deeper into investigative research. Fill out the form on this page to speak with a university counselor about your options at GCU.

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Prepare to pursue graduate education and an exciting career in neuroscience. Apply online at GCU today!

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¹ COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2024, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical Scientists, retrieved on May 13, 2025.

² The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Medical Scientists as of May 2024, retrieved on March 20, 2025. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2024 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as medical scientists, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.

³ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Dec. 4). Medical Scientists: Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved March 20, 2025.

⁴ Indeed Editorial Team. (2025, March 3). How To Become a Neuroscientist. Indeed. Retrieved March 20, 2025.

Approved and verified accurate by the associate dean of the College of Natural Sciences on May 2, 2025.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.