Integrative Approaches to Explore Cellular Interactions in Neural Circuits

这是一个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的方法研究神经回路所需的技能。该综合计划专门针对在分子/细胞和系统/行为神经科学之间的界面上具有研究兴趣的学员，强调跨越多层次分析和采用多个实验模型的科学方法。该计划的目标将通过量身定制的课程来实现，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的培训，以及科学交流和职业规划的导师。在专门为此培训补助金设计的课程中，学员将学习当代神经回路的研究，这些研究采用了不同的方法，包括细胞和分子神经生物学，遗传学，突触生理学和行为。在这次更新中，我们为博士候选人增加了一个新的培训部分，将他们的研究项目带到生物统计学家那里，在受训者自己的实验结果的背景下，对科学方法和数据分析的严谨性进行深入的反馈。该培训计划使博士生能够为现代神经科学研究的高度合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，研究神经回路的最先进技术，以及严格实验设计的统计方法;（B）指导，帮助受训者在未来的科学事业中取得进步，以及（c）培训在学术研究中取得成功所必需的专业技能，包括批判性阅读、撰写赠款、口头陈述、领导能力、管理能力，和网络。四名学员将由执行委员会根据他们在研究方面的卓越表现，对神经回路的兴趣以及未来领导的潜力进行选择。每名受训人员的任用期为一年，并将在随后几年继续接受辅导和职业发展支助。来自纽约大学医学院和纽约大学艺术与科学校区的31名教师将参加这一多学科培训计划。教师导师领导强大的NIH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。纽约大学的环境强烈支持这个培训计划的目标，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.