REU Site: Biological Basis of Human and Animal Behavior

这个项目的目标是为本科生提供深入的、动手的研究体验，重点放在行为的生物学基础上。学生将被训练应用科学方法来制定假设、设计和进行涉及动物或人类对象的研究研究。学生还接受了负责任的研究行为方面的培训。学生由全职的、博士级别的教师指导，他们是终身教职/终身教职的教员，拥有强大的研究计划。这项由学生和他们的导师共同开展的研究增进了对动物和人类行为的生物学基础的理解。通过与导师的定期和频繁接触，学生学习研究过程的方方面面，包括假设的形成、科学文献的整合和分析、研究设计、数据收集、数据分析和研究结果的陈述。学生还参加以统计学、研究方法和研究生申请程序准备为重点的研讨会。为了最大限度地接触到多个研究领域，他们参加了教师导师介绍最近研究数据的研讨会。学生还参加每周一次的研究负责任行为研讨会，在研讨会中，他们学习研究伦理的历史、当代伦理法规以及数据管理和作者实践。学生们还讨论出现伦理困境的案例情景。在8周的时间里，学生们一起住在大学的宿舍里，并在项目开始时完成团队建设活动。REU的经历以为期一天的公开研讨会结束，在研讨会上，学生们用海报和简短的口头陈述来展示他们的作品。学生和导师还在地区和/或国家会议上展示研究成果，并提交研究报告，以便在同行评议的学术期刊上发表。通过增加学生对行为的生物学基础的理解，PI预计会激发人们对科学和行为研究职业的兴趣。据发现，很大比例的前REU学生继续攻读研究生学位。由于这些REU学生群体包括来自代表性不足群体的高比例学生，PI预计REU站点计划将有助于增加从事科学研究职业的个人的多样性。

The goal of this program is to provide undergraduate students with an in-depth, hands-on research experience focused on the biological basis of behavior. Students will be trained students in the application of the scientific method to develop hypotheses, design and conduct research studies involving either animal or human subjects. Students are also trained in the responsible conduct of research. Students are mentored by full-time, Ph.D.-level faculty members who are tenured/tenure-track faculty with strong programs of research.Intellectual Merit. The research conducted by students with their mentors advance understanding of the biological basis of behavior in animals and humans. With regular and frequent contact with mentors, students learn all aspects of the research process, including hypothesis formulation,integration and analysis of scientific literature, research design, data collection, data analysis, and the presentation of research findings. Students also attend seminars focused on statistics, research methods, and preparing for the graduate school application process. To maximize exposure to multiple areas of research, they attend seminars in which faculty mentors present data from recent research. Students also attend a weekly seminar in the responsible conduct of research in which they learn about the history of research ethics, contemporary ethical regulations, as well as data management and authorship practices. Students also discuss case scenarios in which ethical dilemmas are presented. During the 8 weeks, students are housed together in a University dormitory and complete a team-building activity at the start of the program. The REU experience culminates with a one-day public symposium in which students present their work in a poster and in a brief oral presentation. Students and mentors also present research results at regional and/or national conferences and submit research reports for publication in peer-reviewed academic journals.Broader Impacts. By increasing students' understanding of the biological basis of behavior, the PIs anticipate stimulating interest in careers in science and behavioral research. It has been found that a large percentage of the former REU students have gone on to pursue graduate degrees. Because these REU student cohorts include a high percentage of students from underrepresented groups, the PIs anticipate that this REU Site program is serving to increase the diversity among individuals working in scientific research careers.