Neurobehavioral Sciences Research Training Program

该项目已进入第36个年头，其目的是培训博士后研究员，研究影响神经系统的各种类型的可塑性，包括神经元发育、动机状态的变化、选择性注意力、学习和疾病。研究这些过程的神经生物学基础，重点分析突触的规范、基因表达的调控、细胞骨架的结构、突触的可塑性、神经回路的组织、膜传导通道的结构和门控特性、突触传递的神经化学、轴突运输和神经元再生。将教授一种多学科的方法，在大多数情况下，可以直接在分子水平上分析这些问题。将提供各种学科的培训，包括膜生物物理学、解剖学和细胞生物学、行为学、发育、电生理学、分子生物学、神经化学、药理学和生理学以及脑成像。将鼓励每个研究员熟悉各种神经生物学学科，以便灌输以问题为导向的方法，而不是以技术为导向的科学方法。将鼓励受训者研究对基础神经科学具有根本重要性的问题，长期目标是所获得的知识有朝一日将在预防和治疗神经和精神疾病方面发挥重要作用。培训教师是神经生物学中心或哥伦比亚大学精神病学系(在一个案例中)的成员。培训计划主要围绕研究和培训活动以及中心的设施而建立。培训学院的29名成员拥有广泛的专业知识，不同的成员在大学7个不同的基础科学和临床部门担任联合职务。培训教师之间将在他们的研究和博士后和博士后培训方面进行广泛而积极的合作。学员将参加研究生课程和研讨会，但他们的主要培训经验将来自于其中一名培训教师的实验室的3-4年强化研究计划。该计划将在全国范围内广泛宣传，并将积极努力招募妇女和代表性不足的少数群体成员。要求每年为四名博士后实习生提供资金。

The purpose of this program, which is entering its 36th year, is to train postdoctoral fellows in research on a variety of types of plasticity that influence the nervous system, including neuronal development, changes in motivational state, selective attention, learning, and disease. The neurobiological bases of these processes will be studied, emphasizing analyses of synaptic specification, control of gene expression, structure of the cytoskeleton, synaptic plasticity, organization of neural circuits, structure and gating properties of membrane conductance channels, neurochemistry of synaptic transmission, axonal transport and neuronal regeneration. A multidisciplinary approach will be taught that in most cases can be directed towards an analysis of these problems at the molecular level. Training will be offered in a variety of disciplines, including membrane biophysics, anatomy and cell biology, behavior, development, electrophysiology, molecular biology, neurochemistry, pharmacology and physiology, and brain imaging. Each fellow will be encouraged to become familiar with a variety of neurobiological disciplines in order to instill a problem-oriented, as opposed to a technique-oriented, approach to science. Trainees will be encouraged to work on problems of fundamental importance to basic neural science, with the long term goal that the resulting knowledge will someday be of importance in the prevention and treatment of neurological and psychiatric diseases. The training faculty are members of the Center for Neurobiology or (in one case) the Department of Psychiatry of Columbia University. The training program is built primarily around the research and training activities and the facilities of the Center. The 29 members of the training faculty have a wide diversity of expertise, and various members hold joint appointments in 7 different basic science and clinical departments of the University. There will be extensive active collaboration between members of the training faculty in their research and in the training of pre- and postdoctoral students. Trainees will participate in graduate courses and seminars, but their primary training experience will come in an intensive 3-4 year research program in the laboratory of one of the training faculty. The program will be broadly advertised at the national level, and a vigorous effort will be made to recruit women and members of underrepresented minority groups. Funds are requested for four postdoctoral trainees per year.