Students can choose any laboratory in the program, or, where appropriate, in the University, for rotation. Choice of rotation laboratories is informed by student and faculty talks in the Fall course, Experimental Approaches in the Neural Sciences and at the biannual Neurobiology Retreat, and by consultation with the advisor. The rotations are initiated by the students according to their individual interests and typically last one semester, though the duration can be either shorter or longer as determined by consultation between the student, the rotation supervisor and the advisor. Although students are strongly encouraged to do three rotations, the third rotation is occasionally waived for individuals with extensive research experience in college or in industry; a fourth rotation may be included under exceptional circumstances.

The goal of a laboratory rotation is to ensure that the student not only learns technical skills, but also is made aware - through reading, participation in lab meetings and mentoring - of the larger theoretical issues that are addressed by the research program. At the end of each rotation the faculty member fills out a written evaluation providing a grade and comments about the student’s performance. Students provide written evaluations of the rotation experience to the Program’s advisors prior to their annual advisory meetings.