The Department of Neurobiology is a vibrant collection of faculty and research labs dedicated to investigating development and nervous system function in health and disease. Research areas include the molecular, cellular and circuit analysis of neuronal communication and behavior, the role of gene regulation and epigenetics in development and nervous system function, and mechanisms of disease. The department is committed to postdoctoral training, emphasizing research excellence and professional development. We also also boast a strong tradition of leadership in health sciences education and scholarship. The department is an integral part of campus-wide neuroscience and developmental biology communities. Click the links below to see what events are currently happening.

DIAC Committee Neurobiology Labs Rising Stars UWIN

Transportation

The University of Utah's partnership with the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) provides students, staff, and faculty FREE access to the majority of UTA services. Currently enrolled students, faculty and staff use their UCard as a transit pass to tap on and off the card readers located on buses and train platforms when boarding and exiting. Find out more at the link below.

University Commuter Services

Shuttle

The University has a FREE shuttle system to transport you around campus. The Shuttle Tracker is the best resource to see where the current shuttles are and estimate the timing of your next ride.

Bus

There are over 60 UTA bus stops on campus. Numerous UTA bus routes serve campus, making public transportation accessible to those in the Wasatch Front.

TRAX

There are four TRAX stations on campus: Stadium Station, South Campus Station, Fort Douglas Station, and Medical Center Station — all of which are accessible on the Red Line.

S-LINE

The S-Line streetcar is a two-mile line that connects riders to residential and commercial areas in Sugar House and South Salt Lake City, including TRAX and bus stations.

Are you moving to Utah and looking for a neighborhood to settle down in? Our postdocs have quite the experience moving to and living Salt Lake City and its surrounding communities and would definitely recommend these areas:

Sugarhouse
Located next to Salt Lake City's largest park is the Sugarhouse area. It's quite a recent neighborhood with plenty of stores, restaurants, and bars. You are close to the highway and new apartment buildings frequently being built. You have plenty of bus routes going to the University and downtown. 

The Avenues
The Avenues is an eclectic mix of young families, and those who have lived there for years. It is a hub of friendly neighbors. Within the neighborhood you have the delicious Avenues Proper, Wildwood (with a secret speakeasy downstairs), Publik Coffee, Cucina and more. You are just a 2 minute drive from numerous trailheads, connecting to the Bonneville shoreline trail, where you can hike, mountain bike or trail-run to your hearts content. You are also a 5 minute drive from downtown for more restaurants, music venues, and bars. Finally, but importantly, you are a 7-10 minute drive from the University. It is one of the more expensive neighborhoods, but you can’t beat it for lifestyle.  

The University of Utah offers families four full-day child care centers, one preschool program, and one summer camp. There are also options off-campus and in the Salt Lake City area which fellow postdocs in the department can recommend. Information on University programs can be found at the links below. 

UKids-Presidents Circle UKids-East Village UKids-Guardsman Way BioKids Club U Summer Day Camp

Outdoor Activities and Sports

Hiking

The abundance of National parks, State parks, ski resorts, and trails make SLC the place to be if you like the outdoors. Moab, the gateway to Utah's FIVE National parks, are only a 5 hour drive away. There are other amazing state parks scattered across Utah that are even closer. If you only wish to go for a short trip, the Wasatch front and its canyons offer a wide variety of hikes that everyone can enjoy. 

Skiing and Snowboarding

Are you a snow addict? Utah is said to have the best powder snow in the world and several places to enjoy the slopes are within a 30 min drive from the city. Ski or snowboard to your heart's content from November all the way until April or May.

Trail & Street Running

There are plenty of opportunities to go for a run through the urban areas and parks of Salt Lake City. If you ever run out of options and want to try something more adventurous you can head for the hills around the city for some trail running. Beyond that there's plenty of opportunities to test your skills against other like-minded people in one of the many running competitions around.

Sports Teams

You can cheer on the University of Utah Utes through a wide range of college sports, with football, basketball, gymnastics, and skiing being some of the most popular. Salt Lake City is also home to 4 professional sports teams for you to cheer on: Utah Jazz for basketball, Real Salt Lake for soccer, ​Utah Warriors for rugby, and we recently got a new NHL ice hockey team! 

Hogle Zoo

Utah's Hogle Zoo is a 42-acre zoo that houses over 800 animals representing 250 species and is located near the Red Butte Gardens and Natural History Museum. The zoo has various exhibits including African Savanna, Great Apes, Primate Forest, Small Animal Building, Rocky Shores, and Asian Highlands. They also have a new exhibit called Wild Utah which features wildlife closer to home. In addition to animal exhibits, they also have a carousel, playground, and splash pad for the kids.

Red Butte Gardens

Red Butte Garden is one of the largest botanical gardens in the Intermountain West and together with the University of Utah, is the State Arboretum of Utah. The Garden is located on 100 acres in the foothills on the eastern edge of the University of Utah campus (Very close to the Neurobiology Department!). The Garden consists of over 21 acres of developed gardens and five miles of hiking trails winding through an extensive Natural Area and also has a concert venue in the summer months. The Garden is renowned for its numerous plant collections, display gardens, 560,000 springtime blooming bulbs. Entry into Red Butte Gardens is FREE for University of Utah postdocs with your UCard. 

Natural History Museum of Utah

The Natural History Museum of Utah is the state's official museum of natural history. Nestled in the foothills above Salt Lake City across from the Red Butte Gardens, the Museum's home—the Rio Tinto Center—is an architectural wonder that houses 163,000 square feet of breathtaking exhibitions exploring billions of years of natural history. The museum houses 12 permanent exhibitions—filling four levels at the Museum—explore billions of years of Utah's incredible natural history. An additional special exhibit gallery hosts exciting traveling exhibitions from international exhibit developers that rotate every several months.

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium located in Draper Utah, inspires people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems. A world-class facility, the Aquarium provides learning opportunities for all levels, interests, and ages. Home to more than 6,500 animals representing 500 species, the Aquarium showcases ecosystems from around the planet including kelp forests, coral reefs, the deep ocean, Antarctic waters, Asian cloud forests, South American rain forests, and the waterways of our home state of Utah.

Clark Planetarium

Clark Planetarium is located in downtown Salt Lake City and offers an out-of-this-world experience, featuring three floors of hands-on exhibits, as well as the breathtaking Hansen Dome Theatre and Northrop Grumman IMAX Theatre. Entrance to the planetarium exhibits is FREE and is a great activity for kids and adults . Tickets theatre showings do need to be purchased.