Predoctorial Training in Basic Neuroscience

申请者描述(由申请者提供)：此申请申请资金，以继续我们在匹兹堡大学和卡内基梅隆大学的综合基础神经科学培训计划。该培训基金(T32 NS07433)目前已进入资助的第四个年头，在招募和培训神经科学方面的高质量博士前学生方面取得了成功。请拨资金支持匹兹堡大学神经科学中心和认知神经基础中心的一年级和二年级研究生，该中心是匹兹堡大学和卡内基梅隆大学的联合中心，支持前三分之一的受训学生。本申请中描述的计划主要侧重于在大型和多样化的神经科学培训学院的实验室进行研究培训。学生在进入该项目后立即开始实验室研究，通常在第一年轮流进入两个实验室。培训教师由来自匹兹堡大学和卡内基梅隆大学的68名教职员工组成，提供从细胞和分子到发育到系统到感知和认知的神经科学专业知识，学生们接触到了这种广泛的神经科学。除了研究，学生们还参加了一系列为期一学期的基础神经科学强化核心课程，至少三门神经科学或相关领域的选修课，一门统计学课程，以及各种研讨会和期刊俱乐部。学员还积极参加一系列职业发展讲习班，提供书面和口头交流、获得工作和补助金、教学和管理研究实验室等“生存技能”方面的明确培训。负责任的科学行为培训是专业发展讲习班、核心课程和实验室培训的组成部分。鼓励学生考虑广泛的就业机会，在其中发挥他们的研究技能，并举办研讨会，使他们能够熟悉传统的学术研究型大学内外的就业机会。已经建立了一个坚实的结构来指导受训人员并监测他们在整个计划中的进展。学生在提交论文提案和进行全日制论文研究之前，要经历一系列的里程碑，包括第一年的重印考试，第二年的研究评估，以及第三年基于拨款提案的综合考试。每个学生都有一个咨询委员会来监督他们完成这些里程碑，并协助他们的指导。提供的数据是为了证明我们招募了优秀的实习生并为他们提供了出色的培训。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application requests funds to continue our integrated basic neuroscience training program at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. This training grant (T32 NS07433), currently in its fourth year of funding, has been successful in recruiting and training high quality predoctoral students in neuroscience. Funds are requested to support first and second year graduate students in the Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh and the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, which is a joint center of the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, with support being provided to the top one-third of our trainees. The program described in this application focuses primarily on research training in the laboratories of a large and diverse neuroscience training faculty. Students begin laboratory research immediately upon entering the program, and typically rotate through two laboratories in their first year. The training faculty, consisting of 68 faculty from the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, provides expertise in neuroscience ranging from cellular and molecular to developmental to systems to perception and cognition, and students are exposed to this breadth of neuroscience. In addition to research, students take a series of two intensive one-term core courses in basic neuroscience, at least three elective courses in neuroscience or related areas, a course in statistics, and a variety of seminars and journal clubs. Trainees also participate actively in a series of professional development workshops that provide explicit training in such "survival skills" as written and oral communication, obtaining jobs and grants, teaching, and managing a research lab. Training in the responsible scientific conduct is an integral part of the professional development workshops, the core curriculum, and laboratory training. Students are encouraged to consider a wide range of employment opportunities within which to exercise their skills in research, and seminars are held to permit them to become familiar with employment both within and outside of traditional academic research universities. A solid structure is in place to mentor the trainees and monitor their progress through the program. Students pass through a series of milestones, including the first-year Reprint Exam, a second-year research evaluation, and a grant proposal-based comprehensive exam in the third year, prior to submitting a thesis proposal and progressing to full-time thesis research. Each student has an advising committee to see them through these milestones and assist with their mentoring. Data are presented to document that we recruit outstanding trainees and provide them with excellent training.