Integrative Approaches to Explore Cellular Interactions in Neural Circuits

这是一项更新高级博士前培训计划的建议，重点是探索神经电路中细胞相互作用的综合方法。该计划的目标是赋予具有不同研究兴趣和科学背景的受训者使用多学科方法和严格的方法研究神经回路所需的技能。这一综合计划特别针对分子/细胞和系统/行为神经科学之间的界面研究兴趣的受训人员，强调跨越多个层次的分析和使用多种实验模型的科学方法。该计划的目标将通过量身定做的课程来实现，其中包括神经回路研究的高级课程，严格的神经科学研究技术和定量分析培训，以及科学交流和职业规划方面的指导。在专门为此培训基金设计的课程中，学员将学习当代神经回路研究，包括细胞和分子神经生物学、遗传学、突触生理学和行为学等不同方法。在这次更新中，我们为博士生增加了一个新的培训部分，将他们的研究项目带给一名生物统计学家，以便根据受训者自己的实验结果，就科学方法和数据分析的严谨性提供深入反馈。这一培训计划使博士生能够为现代神经科学研究的高度协作和跨学科性质做好准备，提供：(A)神经生物学基本原理的高质量科学教育，研究神经回路的最新技术，以及严格实验设计的统计学方法；(B)帮助受训者在未来的科学职业生涯中取得进步的指导；以及(C)对学术研究成功所必需的专业技能的培训，包括批判性阅读、助学金撰写、口头陈述、领导力、管理和网络。执行委员会将根据他们在研究方面的卓越表现、对神经回路的兴趣以及未来的领导潜力来挑选四名受训人员。每名实习生的任期为一年，并将在随后的几年中继续接受指导和职业发展支助。来自纽约大学医学院和纽约大学文理校区的31名教职员工将参加这一多学科培训计划。学院导师领导由NIH支持的强大研究项目，并使用细胞、分子和遗传学方法来揭示神经电路组装和功能的基本原理。纽约大学的环境强烈支持这一培训计划的目标，教育仍然是我们神经科学界的核心使命。

This is a proposal to renew an advanced predoctoral training program focused on Integrative Approaches to Explore Cellular Interactions in Neural Circuits. The goal of this program is to endow trainees with diverse research interests and scientific backgrounds with skills necessary for the study of neural circuits using multidisciplinary approaches and rigorous methodologies. This integrative program specifically targets trainees with research interests at the interface between molecular/cellular and systems/behavioral neuroscience by emphasizing scientific approaches that span multiple levels of analysis and employ multiple experimental models. The program's goals will be accomplished through a tailored curriculum that includes advanced coursework in the study of neural circuits, training in rigorous neuroscience research techniques and quantitative analysis, and mentorship in science communication and career planning. In a course that has been specifically designed for this training grant, trainees will learn from contemporary studies of neural circuits that incorporate diverse approaches, including cell and molecular neurobiology, genetics, synaptic physiology, and behavior. In this renewal, we add a new training component for PhD candidates that brings their research project to a biostatician for in-depth feedback on scientific methodologies and rigor in data analysis, in the context of the trainee's own experimental results. This training program enables predoctoral students to prepare for the intensely collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of modern neuroscience research by providing: (a) high-quality scientific education in the fundamental principles of neurobiology, state-of-the-art techniques to study neural circuits, and statistical approaches to rigorous experimental design; (b) mentoring that aids trainees’ progress toward their future careers in science, and (c) training in the professional skills that are necessary for success in academic research, including critical reading, grant writing, oral presentation, leadership, management, and networking. Four trainees will be selected by an Executive Committee on the basis of their excellence in research, interest in neural circuits, and potential for future leadership. Each trainee will be appointed for one year and will continue to receive mentoring and career development support in subsequent years. Thirty-one faculty from the NYU School of Medicine and NYU Arts and Science campus will participate in this multidisciplinary training program. Faculty mentors lead strong NIH-supported research programs and use cellular, molecular, and genetic approaches to reveal basic principles of neural circuit assembly and function. The environment at NYU strongly supports the goals of this training program, and education continues to be a core mission of our neuroscience community.