Highlights of Vision Science at Berkeley

UC Berkeley is considered by many to be the world's premier center for graduate-level study in the Vision Sciences. The interdisciplinary training program in Vision Science has been in existence for over 55 years on the UC Berkeley campus. The contributions of our faculty and graduate students can be found in the world's leading vision-related journals and scientific meetings. Many factors have contributed to the success and recognition of the Vision Science Program, including:

Faculty

UC Berkeley is a world-class research and teaching university with one of the finest faculties in the world, including 15 Nobel Laureates, one of whom is a member of the Vision Science Group. The Vision Science faculty have backgrounds in:

Neuroscience Molecular and Cell Biology Bioengineering Computer Science Chemistry Physics Psychology Optometry

Many are international leaders in their particular areas of research. Because our faculty is cross-disciplinary in nature, collaborative research is commonplace. The Current Research section of this site provides more information on individual faculty, their backgrounds, and research programs.

Students There are currently over 60 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows in the Vision Science Program, most having undergraduate degrees in psychology, biology, engineering, computer science, or optometry. Although most of our students come from the United States, our diverse student body has always included a significant number from other countries. Over 120 students have successfully completed the program and received a PhD in Vision Science. The Graduate Students section and Alumni section of this site provides more information on current and past students and their thesis topics. See the following news story featuring one of our VS graduate students: Accommodation: From Optometry to Vision Science

Research Facilities

Laboratories: Berkeley Vision Science researchers head state-of-the-art laboratories for visual psychophysics, ocular biology, visual neuroscience, contact lens research, computer modeling, and other programs. Many labs have custom instrumentation developed in-house, in cooperation Electronics and Machine shops. All have extensive basic and computer facilities. There is also other shared resources including microscopy, electrophsiological and cell culture facilities to support biological research (see Ocular Disease & Development, Molecular & Cell Biology, and Integrative Biology.

Clinical: The bulk of the Vision Science Program is housed in the School of Optometry, which maintains a modern public Eye Care Clinic with a large patient base. The School offers extensive clinical research facilities, which — along with subject recruitment from the clinic patient group and other sources — allow Vision Science researchers to conduct large-scale clinical trials.

Library: Vision Science students have access to the Fong Optometry and Health Sciences Library, housing over 13,000 volumes and hundreds of current periodicals. This easily accessible collection is part of the larger UC Library System - one of the finest in the world — including 23 separate subject specialty libraries at Berkeley alone! Students' computer accounts give them access to licensed online library resources, including thousands of electronic journals in science, that may be accessed both on- and off-campus. The UC Berkeley library and the Fong Optometry & Health Sciences Library are part of the California Digital Library.

Location: The UC Berkeley campus is nestled in the eastern hills of California's famous Bay Area, across the bay from San Francisco. This beautiful campus offers wooded paths and footbridges along Strawberry Creek, a variety of architecture dating back to the 1870s, and amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the SF skyline. The Bay Area affords a wealth of cultural and recreational opportunities, including world-class symphony and stage productions, outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, windsurfing, sailing, and sightseeing, and an active nightlife with every kind of music and cuisine imaginable — all easily accessible.