Dissecting the assembly of vertebrate neurotransmitter release sites-Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research

摘要 这是对R01 MH113349的管理多样性补充的申请，《解剖 脊椎动物神经递质释放站点“，以支持克里斯托弗·米纳西的研究、培训和经验。 克里斯托弗是佛罗里达大西洋大学的应届毕业生。克里斯托弗是西班牙裔/拉丁裔，这一群体 在生物医学科学界的代表性不足。他拥有神经科学学士学位，并对攻读 神经学家的职业生涯。目前，他正在哈佛大学参加一个学士学位后的预科项目 到2020年秋季申请研究生院预科。 克里斯托弗的工作将分三个阶段阐明三个科学问题。在第一阶段，克里斯托弗将 确定ELKS是否可以在活动中断时被招募到突触前质膜 区带蛋白复合体，初步数据支持这是可能的。在第二阶段，克里斯托弗将 评估ELKS被招募到突触的机制。在第三阶段，克里斯托弗将回答 ELKS招募了哪些活性区域蛋白，他将确定潜在的机制。这 研究计划的结构是这样的：在早期阶段，克里斯托弗学习实验设计和 技术，以及该领域的关键概念。在以后的阶段中，他将通过以下方式明智地领导项目 提出假说，通过设计实验来解决这些假说，并通过得出科学的 结论。这种研究经历伴随着多个层次的指导，一个有重点的学习计划 科学陈述的技能，以及在神经科学领域发展事业的指导。它也是 辅以课堂作业，学习分子神经科学的关键概念。 总而言之，研究和培训计划旨在为克里斯托弗的学术生涯做准备 神经科学，具体目标是到2020年进入顶尖的神经科学研究生项目。

Abstract This is an application for an administrative diversity supplement to R01 MH113349, “Dissecting the assembly of vertebrate neurotransmitter release sites” to support the research training and experience of Christopher Minasi. Christopher is a recent graduate of Florida Atlantic University. Christopher is Hispanic/Latino, a group that is underrepresented in biomedical sciences. He has a B.S. in Neuroscience and is highly interested in pursuing a career as a neuroscientist. Currently, he is participating in a post-baccalaureate program at Harvard, preparatory to applying to graduate school for matriculation in the fall of 2020. Christopher's work will elucidate three scientific questions in three phases. In the first phase, Christopher will determine whether ELKS can be recruited to the presynaptic plasma membrane upon disruption of the active zone protein complex, and preliminary data support that this is possible. In the second phase, Christopher will assess the mechanisms through which ELKS is recruited to synapses. In the third phase, Christopher will answer what active zone proteins are recruited by ELKS, and he will determine the underlying mechanisms. This research plan is structured such that in the early phases, Christopher learns experimental designs and techniques, and the key concepts in the field. In the later phases, he will lead the project intellectually by formulating hypotheses, by designing experiments to address these hypotheses, and by reaching scientific conclusions. This research experience is accompanied by multiple levels of mentoring, a focused plan to learn skills in scientific presentation, and guidance in developing a career in the neurosciences. It is also complemented with classwork to learn key concepts in molecular neuroscience. Together, the research and training plans are aimed at preparing Christopher for an academic career in neuroscience, with the concrete goal of admission to a top neuroscience graduate program by 2020.