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，重点是探索神经回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学员使用多学科方法和严格方法研究神经回路所需的技能。这个综合项目通过强调跨越多层次分析和采用多种实验模型的科学方法，专门针对对分子/细胞和系统/行为神经科学界面有研究兴趣的学员。该计划的目标将通过量身定制的课程来实现，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的培训，以及科学交流和职业规划方面的指导。在专门为该培训基金设计的课程中，受训者将学习神经回路的当代研究，包括细胞和分子神经生物学、遗传学、突触生理学和行为学。在这次更新中，我们为博士候选人增加了一个新的培训组成部分，将他们的研究项目带到生物静力师那里，在学员自己的实验结果的背景下，对科学方法和数据分析的严密性进行深入的反馈。该培训计划通过提供：(a)神经生物学基本原理的高质量科学教育，研究神经回路的最先进技术，以及严格实验设计的统计方法，使博士预科学生为现代神经科学研究的紧密合作和跨学科性质做好准备；(b)指导艾滋病受训者在未来科学事业中的进步，以及(c)在学术研究中取得成功所必需的专业技能方面的培训，包括批判性阅读、拨款写作、口头陈述、领导能力、管理和网络。四名受训者将由执行委员会根据他们在研究方面的卓越表现、对神经回路的兴趣和未来领导能力的潜力选出。每位受训者将被任命一年，并将在随后的几年中继续获得指导和职业发展支持。来自纽约大学医学院和纽约大学文理学院的31名教师将参加这个多学科培训项目。教师导师领导强大的美国国立卫生研究院支持的研究项目，并使用细胞，分子和遗传方法来揭示神经回路组装和功能的基本原理。纽约大学的环境大力支持这一培训计划的目标，教育仍然是我们神经科学社区的核心使命。

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.