Bridge to the PhD in Neuroscience

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ABSTRACT Renewal of a five year program at Michigan State University (MSU) to Enhance Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Experience (ENDURE) is proposed. It is based on long-term, effective relationships between MSU, and campuses in Puerto Rico (5), Northern New Mexico College, St. Mary’s University (San Antonio, TX), and North Carolina Central, Raleigh). Each of these is a minority serving institution (MSI), and none have significant research opportunities on campus. The Puerto Rican campuses serve populations distant from the San Juan Metro area, and include University of Puerto Rico campuses in Cayey, Arecibo and Humacao as well as private institutions (Universidad Ana G. Mendez and Pontifical Catholic University).During the last four years, 13 ENDURE students entered or were accepted (2020) into Ph.D. programs; an additional 6 are still in the interview process. We achieve this result using a 3 step two yr program. 1) Students are introduced to neuroscience, in a day-long workshop entitled, “What is Neuroscience?”and held annually on the partnering campuses. Concepts of neurobiology are introduced, and integrated with simple hands-on experiments illustrating testable hypotheses, and sheep brain dissection. 2) Ten students spend 10 weeks in an intensive summer research program, working in labs of extramurally funded neuroscientists on hypothesis-directed projects. This is preceded by a 2-day “bootcamp” introducing fundamentals of lab research, research integrity and instrument methodology. 3) For seven students with special promise for graduate school, a 16 wk Fall Semester experience at MSU is offered between their 3rd and 5th yrs. It includes coursework in neuroscience, further research on a project with testable hypothesis, and professional development. Three courses are given. One introduces fundamentals of neuroscience, one focuses on pharmacology of drug addiction, and the 3rd is a seminar-type course stressing translational and inter-disciplinary approaches to understanding the etiology of human neurologic and psychiatric disease. This course entails significant practice in writing, and an integral journal club. Improvement of communication skills occurs both in summer and fall; they include both informal and more formalized settings. included (research presentations, participation in class, journal club participation and paper writing). Students from both the summer, and Fall Semester components will attend the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience participating actively in the ENDURE Meeting affiliated with the Annual Meeting. Student progress in both course work and research will be closely monitored and externally evaluated. An external advisory committee comprising faculty from the collaborating institutions and URM faculty will provide input and guidance regarding program direction and outcome and assist in candidate selection. An outstanding record of placement of students into highly selective graduate programs occurred during the last award period. We plan to build on that momentum in the next award.