TRIPODS+X:EDU: An MBI TGDA+Neuro Program for Undergraduates

该项目为本科生开发了一个教育计划，通过应用于神经科学问题，向他们介绍现代数学和统计数据分析的前沿方法。该计划包括一个学期的互动在线课程，然后在俄亥俄州哥伦布的数学生物科学研究所举行的亲身研究体验。来自俄亥俄州州立大学（OSU）和宾夕法尼亚州州立大学（PSU）的教师将在在线课程中授课;参与的学生群体将居住在OSU，PSU和其他六所美国机构的多元化集合-包括两所文科学院，两所位于波多黎各的大学，一所历史悠久的黑人大学（HBCU）和一所以通勤学生为主的地区大学。该项目将向具有不同背景和教育经历的本科生介绍一个现代研究领域-拓扑和几何数据分析，使这些学生为研究生教育和/或进入劳动力市场做好更好的准备。一个灵活的和可访问的本科课程拓扑和几何方法的神经科学数据的分析将开发和广泛提供。将培训一个多样化的教育工作者群体，以促进在其所在机构提供课程，并增加他们自己的研究机会;该项目的一个重要成果是实验和数学神经科学家参与新兴的拓扑和几何数据分析领域。在该项目中，俄亥俄州州立大学（OSU）的拓扑和几何数据分析研究人员将与一位实验神经学家、语音、语言和音乐实验室主任合作（SLAM实验室）在俄勒冈州立大学开发科学方法，教材和教育项目。 SLAM实验室的研究涉及使用结构和功能MRI数据来识别语音处理中各种能力的解剖结构和网络，以及大脑可塑性的本质。一个灵活的和可访问的本科课程拓扑和几何方法的神经科学数据的分析将开发和广泛提供。一个互动的在线课程，使用数学生物科学研究所（MBI）的宽带设施将给予本科生在八个机构与当地教师的参与。MBI的后续研讨会将汇集OSU的研究人员，远程教师和本科生进行研究项目。该项目提供了两个队列的本科生从八所高校参加一个独特的教育/研究经验，并为神经科学应用的拓扑和几何方法的新课程的发展的机会。此外，该奖项还将使参与机构的教师能够学习拓扑和几何数据分析的原理，从而有机会拓宽他们的研究计划，将这一现代数据科学领域包括在内。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project develops an educational program for undergraduate students, introducing them to methods at the forefront of modern mathematical and statistical data analysis through application to problems in neuroscience. The program consists of a one-semester interactive online course followed by an in-person research experience held at the Mathematical Bioscience Institute in Columbus, OH. Faculty from Ohio State University (OSU) and Pennsylvania State University (PSU) will lecture in the online course; participating student cohorts will reside at OSU, PSU, and a diverse collection of six additional US institutions - including two liberal arts colleges, two universities in Puerto Rico, an historically black university (HBCU), and a regional university with a primarily commuter student body. The project will introduce a modern area of research -- topological and geometric data analysis, to undergraduate students with different backgrounds and educational experiences, better preparing these students for graduate education and/or entry into the workforce. A flexible and accessible undergraduate curriculum in topological and geometric methods for the analysis of neuroscience data will be developed and made broadly available. A diverse community of educators will be trained to facilitate the delivery of the curriculum at their home institution, and their own research opportunities will be enhanced; an important outcome of the project is the engagement of experimental and mathematical neuroscientists in the emerging field of topological and geometric data analysis.In this project, researchers in topological and geometric data analysis at Ohio State University (OSU) will collaborate with an experimental neuroscientist, director of the Speech, Language, and Music Lab (SLAM Lab) at OSU to develop scientific methods, curricular materials and educational projects. Research in the SLAM lab involves the use of structural and functional MRI data to identify anatomical structures and networks underlying varied abilities in speech processing, as well as the nature of brain plasticity. A flexible and accessible undergraduate curriculum in topological and geometric methods for the analysis of neuroscience data will be developed and made broadly available. An interactive online course, using the broadband facilities of the Mathematical Biosciences Institute (MBI) will be given to undergraduates at eight institutions with participation by local faculty. A following workshop at the MBI will bring together the OSU researchers, the remote faculty and the undergraduates to work on research projects. This project provides the opportunity for two cohorts of undergraduates from eight colleges and universities to participate in a unique education/research experience and for the development of a novel curriculum in topological and geometric methods for neuroscience applications. In addition, it will allow faculty from participating institutions to learn the principles of topological and geometric data analysis, providing the opportunity to broaden their research programs to include this modern area of data science.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.