“I was involved in the creation of our neuroscience undergraduate program, and I am excited to oversee the next stage of its growth,” says Schumacher, a professor in the School of Psychology. 

Approved by the Board of Regents in 2017, the B.S. in Neuroscience is one of Georgia Tech’s fastest-growing majors with more than 500 students enrolled in 2024. It draws on faculty from the College of Sciences and across the Institute to provide interdisciplinary training in behavioral, cellular, cognitive, computational, molecular, and systems neuroscience. 

The program offers flexibility, enabling students to design their own path of study. For example, students can add a pre-health, research, or business designation to their degree and specialize in areas such as biology, computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics, physics, and psychology.

“There are many flavors of neuroscience as it’s inherently cross-disciplinary,” Schumacher explains. “Our degree is popular with students because it covers broad aspects of neuroscience. In this new role, I will aim to add depth to all the different areas we teach.”

Schumacher succeeds Biological Sciences and Biomedical Engineering Professor Tim Cope who has been named inaugural director of the Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, which will welcome its first cohort in Fall 2025. The B.S. and Ph.D. programs along with the recently launched Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society reflect Georgia Tech’s decade-long commitment to advancing neuroscience and neurotechnology through interdisciplinary research, education, and engagement. 

Neuroscience undergraduates stand to benefit from this growing research and educational ecosystem. 

“Georgia Tech has a strong culture of undergraduate research,” adds Schumacher. “One of my goals as director is to improve our students’ access to neuroscience research and engagement opportunities available on campus.”

Schumacher, who joined Georgia Tech in 2004, received a Ph.D. in Psychology, Cognitive Science, and Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Michigan. His research focuses on how brain mechanisms for attention, perception, and memory work together and how we control these systems to achieve cognitive and behavioral goals.