Predoctoral Training in Basic Neuroscience

此申请要求资金继续我们在匹兹堡大学的综合基础神经科学培训计划。该培训补助金（T32 NS 07433）目前已进入第19个资助年，成功地招募和培养了神经科学领域的高质量博士预科生。资金要求支持8名研究生在他们的第一年或第二年（通常是第二年）在匹兹堡大学（CNUP）神经科学中心;这8名学生代表CNUP博士课程合格学员的前25%。本申请中描述的计划主要侧重于在大型和多样化的神经科学培训学院的实验室中进行研究培训。学生开始实验室研究后立即进入程序，并通过至少两个实验室，每个学期，在他们的第一年轮换。培训教师，由来自CNUP的76名教师组成，提供神经科学的专业知识，从细胞和分子到发展到系统，再到感知和认知，学生们都接触到神经科学的广度。除了研究，学生采取一系列的两个密集的一个学期的核心课程在基础神经科学，至少三个选修课程在神经科学或相关领域，在实验设计和数据分析的课程，在赠款写作的课程，以及各种研讨会和期刊俱乐部。学员还积极参加专业发展研讨会，提供明确的专业技能培训，包括书面和口头沟通，获得工作和赠款，教学和管理研究实验室。负责任的科学行为培训是核心课程和实验室培训的一个组成部分，也包括在一年级学生的研究道德课程中。鼓励学生考虑广泛的就业机会，在其中锻炼他们的研究技能，以及各种机制，使他们能够熟悉就业内外的传统学术研究型大学。我们建立了坚实的结构来指导学员并监控他们在整个计划中的进展。学生通过一系列的里程碑，包括第一年的重印考试，第二年的研究评估，并在第三年的补助金提案为基础的综合考试，然后提交论文提案，并进展到全职论文研究。每个学生都有一个咨询委员会，通过这些里程碑看到他们，并协助他们的指导。数据显示，我们招募优秀的学员，并为他们提供优质的培训。

This application requests funds to continue our integrated basic neuroscience training program at the University of Pittsburgh. This training grant (T32 NS07433), currently in its 19th year of funding, has been successful in recruiting and training high quality predoctoral students in neuroscience. Funds are requested to support 8 graduate students in their first or second year (typically 2nd year) in the Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh (CNUP); these 8 students represent the top ~25% of eligible trainees in the CNUP doctoral program. The program described in this application focuses primarily on research training in the laboratories of a large and diverse neuroscience training faculty. Students begin laboratory research immediately upon entering the program, and rotate through at least two laboratories, for one term each, in their first year. The training faculty, consisting of 76 faculty from the CNUP, provides expertise in neuroscience ranging from cellular and molecular to developmental to systems to perception and cognition, and students are exposed to this breadth of neuroscience. In addition to research, students take a series of two intensive one-term core courses in basic neuroscience, at least three elective courses in neuroscience or related areas, a course in experimental design and data analysis, a course in grant writing, and a variety of seminars and journal clubs. Trainees also participate actively in professional development workshops that provide explicit training in professional skills including written and oral communication, obtaining jobs and grants, teaching, and managing a research lab. Training in the responsible scientific conduct is an integral part of the core curriculum and laboratory training, and is also covered in a course on research ethics for first year students. Students are encouraged to consider a wide range of employment opportunities within which to exercise their skills in research, and a variety of mechanisms permit them to become familiar with employment both within and outside of traditional academic research universities. A solid structure is in place to mentor the trainees and monitor their progress through the program. Students pass through a series of milestones, including the first-year Reprint Exam, a second-year research evaluation, and a grant proposal-based Comprehensive Exam in the third year, prior to submitting a thesis proposal and progressing to full-time thesis research. Each student has an advising committee to see them through these milestones and assist with their mentoring. Data are presented to document that we recruit outstanding trainees and provide them with excellent training.