Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (NACS)
Graduate Degree Program
College: Behavioral and Social Sciences
Abstract
The NACS program offers a wide range of research and training opportunities for students who are interested in pursuing doctoral-level research in a variety of areas within neuroscience and cognitive science. Faculty research interests center around seven main areas: Cellular & Molecular, Sensory & Motor Systems, Computational Modeling & Theory, Language & Speech, Cognition & Emotion, Development & Aging, and Disorders & Treatment. Research approaches include both the theoretical and experimental, with several laboratories doing both. Research and training activities of NACS take place within the laboratories of faculty in 20 participating departments and units: Aerospace Engineering, Animal and Avian Sciences, Biology, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, English, Entomology, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Hearing and Speech Sciences, Human Development, Kinesiology, Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology, and Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership, as well as the Center for Advanced Study of Language, the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, the Institute for Systems Research, the Maryland Neuroimaging Center, and the Second Language Acquisition program. The NACS program requires the completion of two required core courses and three out of five core courses, including introduction to neurosciences, cognitive neuroscience, computational neuroscience, cellular and molecular neuroscience, and cognitive science. The goal of the Program is to bring together the diverse perspectives and strengths of all the included disciplines in order to understand the working of the nervous system, the mind, and behavior. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.nacs.umd.edu.
Financial Assistance
Fellowships are available on a competitive basis to both entering and continuing students, while qualified students may also receive teaching assistantships. In addition, some faculty have research assistantships for their students.
Contact
Matthew Roesch
Program Director
Department of Psychology
2123G Biology-Psychology Building
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.2274
Email: mroesch@umd.edu
Nan Bernstein Ratner
Graduate Director
Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences
0141G LeFrak Hall
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.4217
Email: nratner@umd.edu
Pam Komarek
Assistant Director
0219 Cole Student Activities Building
4095 Union Drive
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.8910
Email: pkomarek@umd.edu
Jared Novick
Admissions Director
Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences
0125 LeFrak Hall
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.1288
Email: jnovick1@umd.edu
Website: http://www.nacs.umd.edu
Courses: NACS
General Requirements
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcript(s)
- TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (international graduate students)
Program-Specific Requirements
- Letters of Recommendation (3)
- Writing Sample
- CV/Resume
For more admissions information or to apply to the program, please visit our Graduate School website: www.gradschool.umd.edu/admissions
Application Deadlines
| Type of Applicant | Fall Deadline |
|---|---|
| Domestic Applicants | |
| US Citizens and Permanent Residents | December 2, 2025 |
| International Applicants | |
| F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visas; A,E,G,H,I and L visas and immigrants | December 2, 2025 |
Other Deadlines: Please visit the program website at http://www.nacs.umd.edu
The Program, by virtue of its breadth, has access to the facilities of all the departments, institutes, and centers of its faculty members. These include the Institute for Systems Research, the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, the Center for Advanced Study of Language, the Maryland Neuroimaging Center, and the various well-equipped research laboratories and department facilities of the faculty. Animal facilities are available where necessary. NACS has developed close collaborations with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC), and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC). NACS students can conduct research in laboratories with NACS adjunct faculty at these institutions. Thus, these relationships extend research and training opportunities for students while they get their degrees from the NACS program.
| Last Name | First/Middle Name | Graduate Faculty Status | Academic Credentials | Positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abshire | Pamela | Full Member | B.S., California Institute of Technology, 1992; M.S., The Johns Hopkins University, 1997; Ph.D., The Johns Hopkins University, 2001. | Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Associate Professor, Systems Engineering |
| Aloimonos | John | Full Member | B.S., University of Athens-Greece,1981; M.S., University of Rochester, 1984; Ph.D., 1987. | Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Computer Science |
| Anderson | Samira | Full Member | B.A., Indiana University, 1979; M.A., Indiana University, 1981; Au.D, University of Florida, 2000; Ph.D. Northwestern University, 2012 | Associate Chair, Clinical Audiology Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Clinical Audiology Assistant Professor, Hearing and Speech Sciences |
| Angueyra | Juan | Full Member | Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science | |
| Araneda | Ricardo | Full Member | B.S., University of Concepcion, 1986; M.S., Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1992; Ph.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1997. | Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Biological Sciences |
| Babadi | Behtash | Full Member | B.Sc. Sharif University of Technology, 2006;M.Sc. Harvard, 2008; Ph.D. Harvard, 2011 | Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Associate Professor, Applied Mathematics & Statistics, and Scientific Computation Associate Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science |
| Ball | Gregory | Full Member | B.A., Columbia University, 1977; Ph.D., Rutgers University, 1983 | Vice President, Psychology Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Psychology |
| Bernat | Edward | Full Member | B.A., University of Arizona, 1989; M.A., University of Michigan, 1993; Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1997. | Associate Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Associate Professor, Psychology |
| Bolger | Donald J. | Full Member | B.A., University of Massachusetts, 1998; M.S., University of Pittsburgh, 2002; Ph.D., 2006. | Associate Professor, Human Development Associate Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science |
| Butler | Lucas | Full Member | A.B., Harvard University, 2005; M.A., Stanford University, 2009; Ph.D., Stanford University, 2012 | Associate Professor, Human Development Associate Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science |
| Butts | Daniel | Full Member | n/a, Electrical and Computer Engineering Associate Professor, Applied Mathematics & Statistics, and Scientific Computation Associate Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Associate Professor, Biological Sciences Associate Professor, Biophysics | |
| Caras | Melissa | Full Member | B.S., Brandeis University, 2007; Ph.D., University of Washington, 2013 | Associate Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science |
| Carr | Catherine E. | Full Member | B.Sc, University of Capetown, 1976; M.A.,State University of New York-Buffalo, 1977; Ph.D., University of California-San Diego, 1984. | Distinguished University Professor, Biological Sciences Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Biological Sciences |
| Carruthers | Peter | Full Member | B.A., University of Leeds, 1975; M.Phil., University of Leeds, 1977; D.Phil., University of Oxford, 1979 | Distinguished University Professor, Philosophy Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Affiliate Professor, Second Language Acquisition |
| Cassidy | Jude | Full Member | B.A., Duke University, 1973; M.A.,University of Virginia, 1983; Ph.D., 1986. | Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Psychology |
| Charpentier | Caroline | Full Member | Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Assistant Professor, Psychology | |
| Dougherty | Lea | Full Member | B.A., University of Delaware, 2001; Ph.D., Stony Brook University, 2008 | Professor, Psychology Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science |
| Dougherty | Michael | Full Member | B.S., Kansas State University, 1993; M.S., University of Oklahoma, 1996; Ph.D., 1999 | Chair, Psychology Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Psychology |
| Dunbar | Kevin | Full Member | B.A., University College Dublin, Ireland, 1977; M.A., University College Dublin, Ireland, 1979; Ph.D., University of Toronto, 1985 | Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science |
| Duraiswami | Ramani | Full Member | Professor, Applied Mathematics & Statistics, and Scientific Computation Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Computer Science Affiliate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering | |
| Feldman | Naomi | Full Member | B.A., University of Chicago, 2003; Ph.D., Brown University, 2011 | Professor, Linguistics Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Affiliate Associate Professor, Computer Science |
| Fox | Nathan A. | Full Member | A.B., Williams College, 1970; Ph.D., Harvard University, 1975. | Distinguished University Professor, Human Development Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science |
| Francis | Nikolas | Full Member | Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science | |
| Gard | Arianna | Full Member | Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Assistant Professor, Psychology | |
| Gentili | Rodolphe | Full Member | Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science | |
| Goupell | Matthew | Full Member | B.S., Hope College, 2001; M.S., Michigan State University, 2003; Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2005. | Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Clinical Audiology Associate Professor, Hearing and Speech Sciences |
| Hart | Evan | Full Member | Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Assistant Professor, Psychology | |
| Hatfield | Bradley D. | Full Member | B.P.E., University of New Brunswick-Fredericton, 1974; B.A.,1975; M.S., Pennsylvania State University, 1976; M.S.A., Ohio University, 1982; Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, 1982. | Chair, Kinesiology Professor, Kinesiology Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Physical Activity |
| Herberholz | Jens | Full Member | B.S., Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany; M.S., Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany; Ph.D., Tehnical University, Munich, Germany | Associate Chair, Psychology Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Psychology |
| Hoover | Eric | Full Member | B.A., University of California, San Diego, 2002; Ph.D., Northwestern University, 2015 | Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Assistant Professor, Clinical Audiology |
| Horiuchi | Timothy | Full Member | B.S., California Institute of Technology, 1989 Ph.D., 1997. | Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Associate Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Associate Professor, Systems Engineering |
| Hu | Ming | Full Member | Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science | |
| Huang | Yi-Ting | Full Member | B.A., Northwestern University, 2003; M.A., Harvard University, 2005; Ph.D., Harvard University, 2009 | Associate Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Assistant Professor, Hearing and Speech Sciences Assistant Professor, Speech Language Pathology |
| Idsardi | William | Full Member | B.A., University of Toronto, 1988; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1992 | Professor, Linguistics Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Affiliate Professor, Second Language Acquisition |
| Israel | Michael | Full Member | B.A., U.C. Berkeley, 1989 Ph.D., U.C. San Diego, 1998 | Associate Professor, English Language and Literature Associate Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science |
| Jiang | Nan | Full Member | B.A., Nanjiang Normal University, China, 1984; M.A. East China Normal University, 1987; Ph.D. University of Arizona, 1998. | Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Associate Professor, Second Language Acquisition Associate Professor, Second Language Acquisition |
| Juntti | Scott | Full Member | Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences | |
| Kane | Stacey | Full Member | B.A., Washington State, 2012; Au.D., Washington University School of Medicine, 2014; Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2024. | n/a, Clinical Audiology Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science |
| Killen | Melanie A. | Full Member | B.A., Clark University, 1978; M.A., University of California-Berkeley, 1981; Ph.D.,1985. | Professor, Human Development Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science |
| Krishnaprasad | P.S. | Full | Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science | |
| Lau | Ellen | Full Member | B.S., Michigan State University, 2003; Ph.D., University of Maryland, 2009 | Associate Professor, Linguistics Associate Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science |
| Li | Xuan "Anna" | Full Member | B.S., Ocean University of China, 2005; Ph.D., Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 2012 | Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Assistant Professor, Psychology |
| Lidz | Jeffrey | Full Member | B.S., Northwestern University, 1990; M.A., University of Delaware, 1992; Ph.D., University of Delaware, 1996 | Chair, Linguistics Distinguished Scholar-Teacher, Linguistics Professor, Linguistics Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Affiliate Professor, Second Language Acquisition |
| Lin | Huang "Frederick" | Full Member | Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science | |
| MacSwan | Jeff | Full Member | B.A., California State University-Long Beach, 1985; M.A., California State University-Long Beach, 1987; Ph.D., University of California-Los Angeles, 1997 | Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership Professor, Curriculum and Instruction |
| Miller | Ross H. | Full Member | B.S., Iowa State University, 2003; M.S., Iowa State University, 2005; M.S., Iowa State University, 2006; Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2010. | Associate Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Assistant Professor, Kinesiology Assistant Professor, Physical Activity |
| Newman | Rochelle | Full Member | B.S., Northwestern University, 1991; M.A., State University of New York at Buffalo, 1995; Ph.D., State University of New York at Buffalo, 1997. | Chair, Hearing and Speech Sciences Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Speech Language Pathology Affiliate Associate Professor, Second Language Acquisition |
| Novick | Jared | Full Member | B.A., University of Rochester, 1998; A.M., University of Pennsylvania, 2001; Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 2005 | Associate Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Assistant Professor, Hearing and Speech Sciences Assistant Professor, Speech Language Pathology |
| Payne-Sturges | Devon | Full Member | Associate Professor, Environmental Health Sciences Associate Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science | |
| Pessoa | Luiz | Full Member | Position: Professor CV: B.S., Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 1989; M.S., Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 1990; Ph.D., Boston University, 1995 | Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Psychology |
| Phillips | Colin | Full Member | B.A., Oxford University, 1990; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1996 | Distinguished Scholar-Teacher, Linguistics Professor, Linguistics Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Affiliate Professor, Second Language Acquisition |
| Powell | Danielle | Full Member | B.S. Northwestern University; Au.D. University of North Carolina; Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University | Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Assistant Professor, Clinical Audiology |
| Prather | Richard | Full Member | S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2002; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2009 | Associate Professor, Human Development Associate Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science |
| Ratner | Nan Bernstein | Full Member | B.A.,Jackson College-Tufts University, 1974; M.A., Temple University, 1976; Ed.D.,Boston University, 1982. | Professor, Hearing and Speech Sciences Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Speech Language Pathology Affiliate Professor, Second Language Acquisition |
| Redcay | Elizabeth | Full Member | B.A., Duke University, 2001; M.A., University of California-San Diego, 2003; Ph.D., University of California-San Diego, 2008. | Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Associate Professor, Psychology |
| Resnik | Philip S. | Full Member | A.B., Harvard University, 1987; M.S.E., University of Pennsylvania, 1990; Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1993 | Professor, Linguistics Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Affiliate Professor, Computer Science |
| Riggins | Tracy | Full Member | B.S. University of California - San Diego, 2000 Ph.D. University of Minnesota, 2005 | Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Psychology |
| Roesch | Matthew | Full Member | B.S., University of Pittsburgh, 1997; Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, 2004. | Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Psychology |
| Romeo | Rachel | Full Member | Assistant Professor, Human Development Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science | |
| Saetti | Umberto | Full Member | B.S., Polytechnic University of Milan, 2014; M.S. Electrical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 2019; M.S. Aerospace Engineering, 2016; Ph.D., 2019. | Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering |
| Shackman | Alexander | Full Member | B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1997; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2008 | Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Associate Professor, Psychology |
| Shah | Yasmeen | Full Member | B.S., All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, 1995; M.S., All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, 1997; Ph.D., Northwestern University, 2004. | Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Associate Professor, Hearing and Speech Sciences |
| Shamma | Shihab | Full Member | B.S., Imperial College, 1976; M.S.,Stanford University, 1977; M.A., 1980; Ph.D., 1980. | Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor, Applied Mathematics & Statistics, and Scientific Computation Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Systems Engineering |
| Shim | Jae Kun | Full Member | B.A., Kyunghee University-Seoul, 1999; M.S., Ball State University, 2002; Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, 2005 | Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Associate Professor, Kinesiology Affiliate Professor, Bioengineering |
| Simon | Jonathan | Full Member | BA: Princeton University, 1985; MS: University of California, Santa Barbara, 1987; Ph.D.: University of California, Santa Barbara, 1990 | Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Biological Sciences |
| Simon | Madlen | Full | Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science | |
| Singer | Joshua | Full Member | B.S., Brown University, 1993; Ph.D., University of Washington, 1998 | Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Biological Sciences |
| Slevc | Robert | Full Member | B.A., University of Colorado-Boulder, 1999; Ph.D., University of California-San Diego, 2008. | Associate Chair, Psychology Associate Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Assistant Professor, Psychology |
| Smith | Carson J. | Full Member | B.S., Arizona State University, 1993; Ph.D., University of Georgia, 2000 | Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science |
| Speer | Colenso | Full Member | Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences Assistant Professor, Biophysics | |
| Taneyhill | Lisa | Full Member | B.A., Western Maryland College McDaniel College 1995; M.S., Princeton University, 1997; Ph.D., Princeton University, 2000. | Professor, Animal Sciences Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences |
| Uriagereka | Juan | Full Member | M.A., University of Connecticut, 1986; Ph.D., University of Connecticut, 1988 | Professor, Linguistics Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Professor, Spanish Language and Literature |
| Wang | Jian | Full Member | BS, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1984; MS, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1988; PhD, Shanghai Institute of Entomology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1998 | Associate Professor, Entomology Associate Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Associate Professor, Biological Sciences |
| Xie | Weizhan "Zane" | Full Member | Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science | |
| Xu | Nan | Full Member | Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science |