Explorations in Neuroscience Research For High School Students

确保生物医学研究队伍出类拔萃，需要社会各界最优秀的科学头脑选择参与。这对神经科学尤其重要，因为在制定有效的治疗神经疾病的战略方面仍然存在重大挑战。大多数人在职业决策过程的后期都会接触到神经科学，作为一个研究领域。这可能是有问题的，因为严谨的研究经验对于致力于研究神经疾病的职业是必要的。高中生神经科学研究探索计划就是为了填补这一空白而发起的。训练有素的导师将监督高中生在神经科学、神经损伤或神经退行性变方面的实质性研究项目工作七周。经验丰富的教师将提供补充研讨会，以促进专业发展，并为个人在大学及以后的神经科学研究经验做好准备。参与者将从哥伦布大都市区挑选，包括在神经科学研究中传统上代表性较低的群体中的个人。我们将跟踪该计划对认知因素的影响，已知这些因素有助于在研究活动中促进选择和坚持不懈。我们还将跟踪参与者在项目结束后的职业轨迹，以确定这七周经验的长期影响及其对生物医学神经科学研究队伍的影响。预计这一计划将鼓励参与者探索神经科学学位，在高质量的神经科学研究经验方面出类拔萃，并促进致力于神经系统疾病研究的多样化年轻研究人员的强大队伍的发展。

Ensuring that the biomedical research workforce is exceptional requires that the best scientific minds from all parts of society choose to participate. This is especially important for neuroscience, as major challenges remain for developing effective strategies to treat neurological disorders. Most individuals are exposed to neuroscience as a field of study late in the career decision process. This can be problematic as rigorous research experience is necessary to commit to a career investigating neurological disease. The Explorations in Neuroscience Research for High School Students program was initiated to fill this gap. Trained mentors will supervise high school students as they work for seven weeks on substantive research projects in neuroscience, neurological injury, or neurodegeneration. Experienced faculty will provide complementary workshops to promote professional development and prepare individuals for neuroscience research experience in college and beyond. Participants will be selected from the Columbus metropolitan area and include individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in neuroscience research. We will track the impact of the program on cognitive factors known to promote choice and persistence in research activities. We will also track participants’ career trajectories after the program to discern the long-term effects of this seven- week experience and its impact on the biomedical neuroscience research workforce. It is expected that this program will encourage participants to explore degrees in neuroscience, excel in high quality neuroscience research experiences, and promote development of a strong cohort of diverse young investigators dedicated to neurological disease research.