This is not the only neuroscience program at CU. Holmes was only in his first year as a PHd candidate which means he would have been taking most of his core course work rather than doing any original research. You are extrapolating from nothing
Not true...as far as what I read this weekend he was not just a phd candidate but was knee deep in RNA and disease and trauma of the brain.
That is my leap there though...Reports also talked of him giving a lecture on such or was about to.