CADRE Program for Postbaccalaureate Training in the Neurosciences

摘要 尽管美国人口中的种族和民族群体具有多样性，但明显缺乏多样性 在研究科学家中。这一点随着训练的进一步沿着阶段逐渐变得更加明显， 从本科生到研究生再到教师。这可能是因为在研究中， 与许多其他职业一样，在该领域拥有身临其境的早期经验， 成功的技能和自信。没有这种经验的人才实际上是 被忽略了我们提出了一个全面的两年制学士学位后（'postbac'）计划：哥伦比亚访问 博士准备（CADRE），以解决这种缺乏及时的研究经验。它是针对最近的大学 高潜力的毕业生，他们有兴趣从事神经科学的研究工作，但缺乏 作为本科生的研究机会。CADRE的核心是一个为期两年的研究项目， 在哥伦比亚大学神经生物学和行为博士课程（NB&B）中选择导师。 Postbacs将从包括行为和系统在内的一系列神经科学领域中选择一个实验室 神经科学，细胞，分子和发育神经科学，计算神经科学，人类 认知研究以及神经系统疾病的神经生物学。他们将由从事监督， 热情的导师选择了他们的指导记录和技能，以及由研究生'好友'在 实验室重要的是，postbac将像其他NB&B研究生一样完全融入实验室。 同一阶段的培训，参加实验室会议和期刊俱乐部，讨论数据和实验设计， 参与实验室的社交活动这将给postbac一个身临其境的动手经验， 研究生涯。该postbac的研究项目也将补充课程，以加强他们的 学术基础。此外，在整个计划中，postbacs将参加研讨会，讲座和其他 哥伦比亚大学周边的教育活动。这一步与研究同样重要 根据经验，博士后参与促进联网和专业精神的活动。活动将包括：（1）a 专业发展系列解决主题，如申请以研究为重点的研究生课程， 专业写作和演讲技巧，保持工作/生活平衡，评估导师风格; 2） 职业意识系列：“拥有博士学位你能成为什么？”3)纽约周边的社会文化活动 城市，并与学生聚会;和4）学年期间的专业活动，如前往 两次全国科学会议，一次在第一年，一次在第二年。我们将评估 该方案的有效性，包括两年期的起始、中点和退出调查 postbac。我们还将收集校友的长期反馈。

ABSTRACT Despite the diversity of racial and ethnic groups in the US population, there is a marked lack of diversity amongst research scientists. This is progressively more apparent moving further along stages of training and of the profession, from undergraduate through graduate research to faculty. This is likely because in research, as in many other professions, it is invaluable to have immersive early experience in the field to give individuals the skills and self-confidence to succeed. Talented individuals without access to such experience are in effect left out. We propose a comprehensive two-year post-baccalaureate (‘postbac’) program: Columbia Access to Doctoral REadiness (CADRE) to address this lack of timely research experience. It is aimed at recent college graduates of high potential who are interested in pursuing a research career in neuroscience but lacked research opportunities as undergraduates. The core of CADRE is a two-year research project advised by selected mentors within the Doctoral Program in Neurobiology and Behavior (NB&B) at Columbia University. Postbacs will choose a lab from a range of neuroscience areas including behavioral and systems neuroscience, cellular, molecular and developmental neuroscience, computational neuroscience, human cognitive studies, and the neurobiology of neurological diseases. They will be supervised by engaged and enthusiastic mentors chosen for their mentoring track record and skills, as well by a graduate student ‘buddy’ in the lab. Importantly, the postbac will be fully integrated into the lab like other NB&B graduate students at the same stage of training, attending lab meetings and journal clubs, discussing data and experimental design, and participating in lab social life. This will give the postbac an immersive hands-on experience of starting a research career. The postbac’s research project will also be complemented with coursework to strengthen their academic foundations. In addition, throughout the program, postbacs will attend seminars, lectures, and other educational events around Columbia University. In a step that is equally as important as the research experience, postbacs engage in events that foster networking and professionalism. Activities will include: 1) a professional development series addressing topics such as applying to research-focused graduate programs, professional writing and presentation skills, maintaining work/life balance, and assessing mentorship styles; 2) a career awareness series: “What you can be with a PhD?” 3) social and cultural activities around New York City, and get-togethers with students; and 4) professional events during the academic year such as traveling to two national scientific conferences, one in their first and one in their second year. We will evaluate the effectiveness of the program with a starting, a midpoint and an exit survey through the course of the two-year postbac. We will also gather long-term feedback from alumni.