Explorations in Neuroscience Research For High School Students

确保生物医学研究队伍的特殊性需要来自社会各方面的最优秀的科学家选择参与。这对神经科学尤其重要，因为开发治疗神经系统疾病的有效策略仍然存在重大挑战。大多数人在职业决策过程的后期才接触到神经科学作为一个研究领域。这可能是有问题的，因为严格的研究经验是必要的，致力于研究神经系统疾病的职业生涯。高中生神经科学研究项目的探索就是为了填补这一空白而发起的。经过培训的导师将监督高中生，因为他们在神经科学，神经损伤或神经退行性疾病的实质性研究项目上工作七周。经验丰富的教师将提供补充研讨会，以促进专业发展，并为大学及以后的神经科学研究经验做好准备。参与者将从哥伦布大都市区选出，包括来自神经科学研究传统上代表性不足的群体的个人。我们将跟踪该计划对认知因素的影响，这些因素有助于促进研究活动的选择和坚持。我们还将跟踪参与者在项目结束后的职业轨迹，以了解这七周经验的长期影响及其对生物医学神经科学研究人员的影响。预计该计划将鼓励参与者探索神经科学学位，在高质量的神经科学研究经验中脱颖而出，并促进致力于神经疾病研究的多元化年轻研究人员的强大队列的发展。

Ensuring that the biomedical research workforce is exceptional requires that the best scientific minds from all parts of society choose to participate. This is especially important for neuroscience, as major challenges remain for developing effective strategies to treat neurological disorders. Most individuals are exposed to neuroscience as a field of study late in the career decision process. This can be problematic as rigorous research experience is necessary to commit to a career investigating neurological disease. The Explorations in Neuroscience Research for High School Students program was initiated to fill this gap. Trained mentors will supervise high school students as they work for seven weeks on substantive research projects in neuroscience, neurological injury, or neurodegeneration. Experienced faculty will provide complementary workshops to promote professional development and prepare individuals for neuroscience research experience in college and beyond. Participants will be selected from the Columbus metropolitan area and include individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in neuroscience research. We will track the impact of the program on cognitive factors known to promote choice and persistence in research activities. We will also track participants’ career trajectories after the program to discern the long-term effects of this seven- week experience and its impact on the biomedical neuroscience research workforce. It is expected that this program will encourage participants to explore degrees in neuroscience, excel in high quality neuroscience research experiences, and promote development of a strong cohort of diverse young investigators dedicated to neurological disease research.