Center for Structural and Functional Neuroscience

The mission of the Center for Structural and Functional Neuroscience (CSFN) is to support and sustain a vibrant and collaborative environment that fosters multidisciplinary research and training aimed at advancing our understanding of the brain and diseases of the nervous system.

Originally established in 2000 as an NIH-funded Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE), and recognized by the Montana Board of Regents in 2002, the Center continues to maintain a strong focus on basic neuroscience research at the chemical, biophysical, molecular, and cellular levels. With the continued growth of Neuroscience at the University of Montana, the focus of the CSFN has similarly evolved to now include exciting basic and translational projects in behavioral, cognitive, and computational neuroscience. Faculty affiliated with the Center come from a wide spectrum of academic units across campus (e.g., Biological Sciences, Psychology, Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physical Therapy, Communication Science Disorders, Mathematical Sciences, and Computer Science). In addition to the UM neuroscientists, affiliated investigators are also located at the McLaughlin Research Institute in Great Falls and at Montana State University in Bozeman.

In line with its commitment to training, the CSFN is strongly dedicated to facilitating and supporting graduate and undergraduate students in these research efforts. The CSFN also serves as a point of contact between UM’s neuroscience research community and companies in the private sector focused on developing neuroscience-related products and technologies. These efforts have been supported in part by funding from the Montana Board of Research & Commercialization Technology and have led to a number of “public-private” partnerships that have created exciting opportunities for both UM faculty and students.

We encourage you to explore these pages and contact us if you have questions about the CSFN or are interested in collaborative opportunities.