NRT-UtB: Neurophotonics

NRT-UtB：神经光子学

基本信息

批准号：
1633516
负责人：
Thomas Bifano
金额：
$ 292.88万
依托单位：
Trustees of Boston University
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Standard Grant
财政年份：
2016
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2016-09-01 至 2022-08-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1633516&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
NRT UtB Neurophotonics

项目摘要

This National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) award to Boston University will train scientists and engineers in the emerging interdisciplinary field of neurophotonics - the use of light-based tools to study brain function at the cellular scale. Understanding how neural activities and circuits drive human computation, behavior, and psychology is motivated by a critical societal need to address brain diseases that involve disruptions or deterioration of neural circuitry - including Alzheimer's, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis. Recent scientific discoveries and powerful new tools in brain research have inspired broad student interest in career paths focused on understanding brain structure and function, as well as new industrial and academic career opportunities. Neurophotonics is among the most rapidly evolving research frontiers in brain science because it allows researchers to monitor and influence neuron activity and neural circuits at their most fundamental level. A prominent neurophotonic technique is optogenetics, through which communication signals from neurons are precisely monitored, activated, or inhibited using light. This project will support training for eighty (80) PhD students, including twenty (20) funded trainees, across the disciplines of neuroscience, biomedical engineering and photonics.Trainees will become versed in the biology of neural function and the development of optical instruments, photo-excitable materials, and imaging techniques to sense and affect neural circuits. NRT trainees will graduate having attended a hands-on neurophotonics technology boot camp, participated in multiple laboratory research rotations, completed a four-course core curriculum, conducted challenging doctoral research in a neurophotonics laboratory, and written a neurophotonics-themed dissertation co-mentored by NRT faculty. The traineeship project will emphasize immersive experiential learning activities and peer-to-peer learning, two educational approaches that have been shown to reinforce learning while simultaneously improving outcomes for STEM trainees, especially underrepresented minorities. Interwoven with educational activities will be a professional preparation program that supports trainee career goals, develops communication skills, and builds professional networks. Trainee learning objectives will focus on identifying important research problems in neurophotonics, applying light-based methods to measure and control neural circuits, working on team-oriented projects, and communicating effectively.The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) Program is designed to encourage the development and implementation of bold, new potentially transformative models for STEM graduate education training. The Traineeship Track is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary research areas, through the comprehensive traineeship model that is innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with changing workforce and research needs.

这项国家科学基金会的研究培训（NRT）颁发了波士顿大学的奖项将培训新兴的神经传播学跨学科领域的科学家和工程师 - 使用基于光的工具在细胞尺度上研究大脑功能。了解神经活动和电路如何推动人类的计算，行为和心理学是由关键社会需要解决涉及神经回路的干扰或恶化的脑部疾病（包括阿尔茨海默氏症，创伤性脑损伤，帕金森氏症，帕金森氏症，大脑瘫痪和多发性硬化症）的脑部疾病。最新的科学发现和大脑研究中的强大新工具激发了学生对职业道路的广泛兴趣，专注于了解大脑结构和功能以及新的工业和学术职业机会。神经原理是脑科学中最快发展的研究前沿，因为它使研究人员能够在其最基本的水平上监测和影响神经元的活动和神经回路。一种突出的神经光学技术是光遗传学，通过光线通过光精确监测，激活或抑制神经元的通信信号。该项目将支持跨神经科学，生物医学工程和光子学的学科，包括二十（20）个资助的学员，包括二十（20）个资助的学员，包括培训。Trainees将涉及神经功能的生物学以及光学仪器的发展，光学仪器的发展，照片可观的材料以及对感官和影响神经循环的成像技术。 NRT学员将参加动手神经传动技术新兵训练营，参加了多个实验室研究轮换，完成了四道菜的核心课程，在神经传播学实验室中进行了具有挑战性的博士研究，并编写了神经指导性主题的解雇。实习项目将强调身临其境的体验式学习活动和点对点学习，两种教育方法已被证明可以增强学习，同时改善了STEM学员的成果，尤其是代表性不足的少数群体。与教育活动交织在一起将是一项专业准备计划，该计划支持受训人员的职业目标，发展沟通技巧并建立专业网络。受训者的学习目标将集中在确定神经传播学的重要研究问题上，应用基于光的方法来衡量和控制神经回路，从事团队导向的项目以及有效沟通。NSFResearch训练（NRT）计划旨在鼓励大胆的开发和实施大胆的STEM毕业生培训模型的开发和实施。通过全面的跨学科研究领域的STEM研究生，培训轨道致力于有效地培训STEM研究生，通过全面的培训模型，该模型具有创新，基于循证的，并且与不断变化的员工队伍和研究需求保持一致。