Neuroscience Experience and Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (NEUROP)

神经科学研究生项目和高级职位缺乏多样性是一个重大问题。神经科学经验和本科生研究机会计划(NeurOp)旨在增加准备好的神经科学学者在博士后、博士后和(最终)教职员工层面的多样性。为了解决这一问题，NeurOp的目标是扩大本科生代表不足的少数群体(URM)对神经科学研究的接触，并加强研究生URM对尖端研究方法和专业技能培训的接触，以培养下一代URM科学家。为了实现这些目标和长期目标，我们提出了多管齐下的办法。我们将加强URM神经科学本科学生对神经科学主题的接触，并在所有四个本科学年使用NeurOp元素进行研究。第一年的神经科学学习社区将使新生接触到神经科学研究和整个神经科学社区的兴奋。第二年的神经科学研究技能课程将使学生接触到最先进的技术和额外的教师导师。神经科学研究主题课程将汇集来自多年的学生，以便继续利用期刊俱乐部的形式，包括适当的榜样和潜在的教师导师，建立令人兴奋的神经科学知识基础和社区意识。在第二年之后，暑期和学术研究实习将提供对神经科学研究的实际接触，最终将达到第四年的顶峰研究体验，为本科生过渡到研究生院做准备。通过增加加入神经科学研究社区的机会和愿望，提供更好的指导，并最大限度地利用真实的研究经验，我们将增加接受过培训的URM学生进入神经科学研究生项目的人数。除本科生外，还将选拔研究生NeurOp学者。NeurOp将允许增加研究的影响，增强社区意识，并增强专业技能。我们建议，这将加强研究生对博士后培训的准备，并加强他们对神经科学研究学术教职的渴望。总体而言，我们致力于减少本科生的流失率，增加到研究生院的过渡，并通过吸引和支持神经科学学生在其蓬勃发展的职业生涯的多个阶段，加强研究生到博士后/教师的过渡。

Lack of diversity in neuroscience graduate programs and advanced positions is a substantial problem. The Neuroscience Experience and Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (NEUROP) is designed to increase the diversity of prepared neuroscience scholars at the predoctoral, postdoctoral, and (ultimately) faculty levels. To address this problem the NEUROP objectives are to expand the exposure of undergraduate underrepresented minorities (URMs) to neuroscience research, and to enhance the exposure of graduate URMs to cutting-edge research methodologies and professional skills training with the goal of fostering the next generation of URM scientists. To meet the objectives and long-term goals we propose a multipronged approach. We will enhance URM undergraduate neuroscience students' exposure to neuroscience themes and research with NEUROP elements across all four undergraduate years. The 1st year Neuroscience Learning Community will expose freshmen to the excitement of neuroscience research and the overall neuroscience community. The 2nd year Neuroscience Research Skills Course will expose students to state-of-the art techniques and additional faculty mentors. The Neuroscience Research Topics Course will bring together students from multiple years in order to continue to build excitement and a knowledge base of neuroscience and a sense of community using a journal club format, involving appropriate role models and potential faculty mentors. After the 2nd year, summer and academic research internships will provide hands-on exposure to neuroscience research, culminating in a 4th year capstone research experience to prepare undergraduate students for the transition to graduate school. By increasing opportunities and desire to join the neuroscience research community, providing enhanced mentoring, and maximizing authentic research experiences, we will grow the pool of trained URM students entering neuroscience graduate programs. In addition to undergraduates, graduate student NEUROP scholars will be selected. The NEUROP will allow for increased impact of research, intensified sense of community, and enhanced professional skills. We propose that this will enhance graduate student preparedness for postdoctoral training and intensify their desire for an academic faculty position in neurosciences research. Overall, we are committed to decreasing attrition at the undergraduate level, increasing transitions to graduate school, and enhancing the graduate student to postdoc/faculty transition by engaging and supporting neuroscience students at multiple stages of their burgeoning careers.