Grants>Neuroscience

Travel Fellowships for the 8th Cajal Winter Conference: Neural Plasticity Mechanisms in CNS Diseases

8th Cajal Winter Conference "Neural plasticity mechanisms in CNS diseases"

March 19-23, 2012 Benasque, Huesca (Spain)

Travel fellowships

An important task of the Sociedad Española de NeuroCiencia (SENC) is to help young scientists to attend Neuroscience meetings and present their communications. SENC offers travel awards to PhD students and recent postdocs (less than 3 yr after PhD dissertation) to partly cover travel and accommodation expenses. Fellowships of 200 € will be awarded. Applicants should download the CV form from the CWC website and, once filled, upload it before February 15, 2012. Applicants are encouraged to present their communications in oral form.

You will not be able to upload your application if you didn't complete meeting registration previously.

Society for Neuroscience Travel Awards for the Japan Neuroscience Society Meeting

The application window for this award will open January 13, 2012. Applications are due March 5, 2012.

The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) and the Japan Neuroscience Society (JNS) support a joint travel award exchange program for graduate students or postdoctoral investigators to their respective annual meetings.

SfN will sponsor five (5) eligible members from North America (Canada, Mexico, and the United States) who intend on participating in the JNS meeting, September 17-21, 2012, in Nagoya, Japan. JNS will also sponsor five members to attend the SfN annual meeting in New Orleans, LA.

To encourage neuroscience on a global scale, SfN is providing five North American graduate students with a travel stipend of $2,000 USD to participate in the 2012 Japan Neuroscience Society meeting. Winners are selected on the merit of their abstract, CV, and letters of recommendation. Students are selected by the International Affairs Committee. Japanese students and postdoctoral investigators can learn more and apply by visiting the JNS site.

Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the award, the applicant must be all of the following criteria:

• The applicant must be a candidate for a PhD or postdoctoral scientist studying or working in North America (Canada, Mexico, and United States)
• Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of Canada, Mexico and the United States (subject to verification)
• Applicants must be members of SfN at the time of application
• Applicants must be a first author on an abstract to be presented at the JNS meeting (to be submitted to JNS for approval no later than April 5, 2012)
• The applicant may not have been selected for another SfN travel award within the last calendar year
• Preference is given to those who have not previously had extensive experience living or working in Japan

Required Materials
The following materials are required to be considered for the award:

• Completed application form
• Paragraph describing what the applicant hopes to achieve by attending the JNS meeting
• A copy of the abstracted to be submitted
• A one-page letter of recommendation from the applicant’s advisor
• A curriculum-vitae from the applicant including information on education, date of PhD candidacy, honors/awards, and publications

Conditions of Award
• Selectees will be notified by e-mail of the status of their application prior to the abstract submission deadline
• Awardees must present proof of abstract submission within ten business days of notification
• The award will be presented in the form of a check drawn on USD to the participant
• Award checks will be distributed to selectees following the meeting. Awardees will need to provide a certificate of attendance and airline boarding passes to receive their award

Interested applicants must submit completed applications in a single-PDF to SfN by close of business on March 5, 2012. Questions and completed materials may be sent to globalaffairs@sfn.org.

Donald G. and Darel Stein Fellowship: Promoting the Study of Sex Differences in Neuroscience

The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) is pleased to announce a new travel award opportunity for a student studying sex differences in neuroscience. This award is sponsored by Donald G. and Darel Stein in memory of Anne Hammer. The award is to be used for expenses associated with attendance at a scientific meeting where the student is presenting a poster. Proposed projects must advance the understanding of sex differences in neuroscience from the prospective of laboratory research, health promotion, health education, or health policy. Up to four awards will be funded each cycle.

Application Deadline: March 1, 2012

Award Recipients Will Receive:

$1,000 reimbursement (travel, hotel, food, registration) for expenses associated with attendance at a scientific meeting in 2012.
Recognition on SWHR’s website as an annual recipient of the Donald G. and Darel Stein Fellowship.
Fellowship certificate of completion.

Applicants Must:

Be enrolled as a full time student (9 credit hours or more) in an accredited Bachelors, Masters, or Doctoral degree program in neuroscience, or be an MD in residency,
Describe their research and how it will advance the understanding of sex differences in neuroscience,
Submit a letter from their advisor validating their commitment to the project,
Agree to use the travel award to attend a meeting in 2012 where they will present a poster on their original research,
Submit their poster abstract (when accepted) and final poster (prior to meeting date) to SWHR,
Include the SWHR logo and acknowledge support from SWHR and the Donald G. and Darel Stein Fellowship on their poster.

Society for Women's Health Research
1025 Connecticut Ave., NW
Suite 701
Washington, DC 20036

General Inquiries: info@swhr.org
By Phone: 202-223-8224
By Fax: 202-833-3472

Request for Proposals: Dana Foundation Program in Brain and Immuno-Imaging--Using Brain and Immune Imaging Innovations to Improve Human Health

Application Deadline: Tuesday, February 28th, 2012 at Noon

The Dana Foundation’s imaging research program focuses on improving human brain and brain-immune functioning in health and disease. Funds support pilot-testing by investigators who are early in their research careers of promising but high-risk innovative ideas that have direct clinical application and that, when successful, are competitive for larger-scale support from other funders. Grant amounts may be up to $200,000 total, payable over three years. Applicants will be informed within 14 weeks on whether they will be invited to prepare full proposals. The first awards will be announced in September 2012. Any subsequent award announcements will be made in December 2012. Below is a description of the program and application process.

Please note that this will be the only proposal solicitation process this year, and selection will be extremely competitive, with fewer than 10 percent of preliminary proposals likely to receive funding.

This program, as in all Dana research programs, is oriented to the human. Submitted proposals, therefore, should focus on imaging in patients or patient tissues, and healthy volunteers.

Applications for animal model studies of brain conditions or injuries will be considered only if they relate directly to the human but cannot yet feasibly be undertaken in humans, and are anticipated to be translated into the human following the three-year grant period. Such studies that are not undertaken in humans but directly relate to the human include research on: 1) normal brain anatomy and physiology in the animal model that can help to better understand the roles of cells and networks in specific cognitive functions and how these are altered by disease and injury; and 2) animal models of human diseases, either through insertion of human genes or through naturally occurring or induced disease states, that are directly related to the human condition. Specific criteria for these types of studies are listed in the section on Eligibility.

Previously funded studies under this Program have focused primarily on 1) understanding normal brain functioning, how it is altered by disease or injury, and how it recovers or repairs, 2) assessing and improving diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, and 3) refining and advancing imaging technologies to address specific clinical questions. In addition to these three general areas of continued interest, it is becoming increasingly apparent that neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, and mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression start long before they are clinically evident. The Foundation, therefore, encourages studies that seek to understand developmental processes of disease, surrogate measures of early disease existence, and measures of disease progression. Also, for chronic traumatic encephalopathy and Alzheimer’s disease, the role of tau is becoming of increasing interest and the Foundation is receptive to considering studies on how to image tau.

The Foundation invites submission of one preliminary application per invited institution (see eligibility), using either:

• Physiological and Structural imaging - anatomical imaging of white or gray matter and measures of physiological functioning. These proposed studies should focus on patient-oriented clinical research.
• Cellular/molecular imaging - biochemical actions of specific brain cells, or their interactions with immune cells, which have direct clinical relevance to human health and disease. These studies may involve human tissues or animal models. Applications can involve the study of cells within neural circuits, using a combination of imaging and single cell electrical recording, if the techniques have already been developed.

Eligibility:

Each U.S. medical school dean, and the presidents of the few selected biomedical research institutions that have been invited by letter, may nominate one applicant. The applicant may use either physiological/structural or cellular imaging or both. To be considered under this Program, the application must be countersigned by the medical school dean or invited biomedical institute’s president.

Investigators at institutions that are affiliated with a medical school are eligible to apply only through their affiliated medical school, by submitting an application to the medical school dean. Previous applicants are eligible to reapply through their dean’s office (or biomedical research institutes’ presidents’ offices). Projects involving collaborations with NIH intramural researchers or industry scientists are acceptable.

Support is focused on faculty researchers who have demonstrated the potential for independent research careers who are at the assistant professor level, or in the first few years of their associate professor appointments. Post-doctoral fellows are not eligible to apply. Applications from junior investigators that are an extension of the work of a senior mentor, particularly if from the same institution, are discouraged.

Funding of up to $200,000 payable over three years is provided for structural/physiological or cellular imaging proposals from promising early career investigators who have not yet been awarded more than one independent research grant (R01 from the NIH or equivalent from another Federal agency).

The Foundation does not provide support for indirect costs. Instead, however, up to 10 percent of the total grant award may be used to purchase equipment for the study. The balance is to be used to meet direct research costs. Studies should be designed to obtain meaningful data within the grant award period of up to three years.

All applicants please note:

All proposals that seek to develop new imaging techniques or assays, or modify existing ones to address clinical questions, whether in structural/physiological or cellular/ molecular imaging, must provide preliminary evidence of feasibility and evidence of the investigator’s experience in using the technology. Proposals seeking support without such preliminary evidence will not be considered.

Investigators proposing patient-oriented studies should provide preliminary evidence that the required number of participants—patients and controls—are available at the research institution(s) involved.

For all proposals that do not propose to undertake studies in humans, the direct relevance to human health and functioning needs to be explicitly stated. These proposed studies will only be considered if they are designed to: 1) pose a specific question concerning the disease process that is directly related to known aspects of brain pathology seen in the human; 2) alter a factor in a healthy animal for which there is some evidence of the factor’s involvement in a human disease process (as opposed to altering a factor in a healthy animal to see if the result resembles a human brain disease); and 3) be translated into studies in the human following the three-year grant period.

Certain areas are not appropriate for consideration:

• Ideas for which you do not have preliminary data.
• Instrument development without initial evidence of feasibility and clinical applicability.

Descriptions of all previously funded studies are available at: http://www.dana.org/grants/imaging/.

Applying:

The Program is designed to enable investigators to obtain pilot data more quickly than is possible through other funding processes. Investigations must be applicable to human brain or brain-immune functioning or malfunctioning to be considered for funding. Research that can be supported through clinical income should not be submitted.

The application should be in the form of a four-page preliminary proposal, using at least 11-point font size (font sizes smaller than that will not be reviewed) and .5 inch margins in all directions with numbered pages, consisting of the following:

Page 1:

On institutional letterhead: Please provide a cover page containing all of the following. Write “The Dana Foundation Program in Brain and Immuno-imaging”, followed by: Project title; investigator(s) name(s), title(s), phone and fax numbers, E-mail, and street addresses. Indicate the imaging category (structural/physiological or cellular/molecular, or a combination of both) and, specify the imaging technique(s) (such as fMRI, two-photon, etc). In addition, please include the names and full addresses of the sponsored research officer and the dean or president forwarding the application. All proposals must be countersigned by the dean of a U.S. medical school or president of a specifically invited research institution to be considered eligible.

Pages 2-4:

Section I: A clearly and succinctly stated hypothesis.

Section II: The aims of the proposed research project. What disease(s), disorder(s) or injuries would be better understood, diagnosed, or treated? Or, what normal brain function or brain-immune interaction would be better understood? Or, what imaging technology would be refined and for what specific purposes? Such technology development or modification aims need to be accompanied by initial evidence of the project’s feasibility.

Section III: The research significance and potential clinical application(s) of the research.

Section IV: The methods. Please clearly describe the research design and specify specific tests and analyses proposed to develop the pilot data. If enrollment of human participants is planned, please provide preliminary evidence that the number required can be recruited from the participating institution(s).

Section V: The qualifications of the primary investigator(s) for undertaking the proposed research. What
facilities and resources at the applicant institution(s) would be used in the research? Please provide evidence that required technologies would be available for this project.

Additional Pages:

Appendix A: A list of all active grants and pending proposals by the applicant(s). Please include an abstract that specifies the aims for any existing or pending grants from these sources of support that are related to, or could potentially overlap with, the proposed Dana study.

Appendix B: Please provide a standard NIH four-page format CV for the primary investigator(s).

Appendix C: Optional: If high resolution photographs are vital to illustrate or support the methodology proposed, please enclose 10 glossy originals. You may include up to two additional pages to list relevant references.

Please note: At this time, do not send a budget, or any other supporting documents.

Proposal Review and Notification of Grant Awards:

Preliminary proposals received by the February 28, 2012, deadline will be reviewed for further development. Late submissions will not be considered. Applicants will be informed within approximately fourteen weeks from preliminary proposal receipt on whether or not they are being invited to prepare full proposals. Please note below the Dana Foundation’s current address.

Grants will be awarded on a “rolling” basis, with the first group of approved studies to be announced in September 2012 and the second group to be announced in December 2012.

Please refer to the FAQ’s section of the Dana Foundation Web site www.dana.org/grants for any questions you may have regarding the proposal process.

The original application and ten copies, each stapled, should be sent to:

Angie Marin
Program Associate
The Dana Foundation
505 Fifth Avenue, 6th floor
New York, NY 10017

Staff is unable to respond to inquiries regarding application content.

Call for Applications: Caltech's Amgen Scholars Program

Application, Recommendations, and Proposal Deadline: February 15, 2012

Caltech's Amgen Scholars program provides students the opportunity to conduct research in biology, chemistry, and bio-technical related fields under the guidance of seasoned research mentors. The program offers students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. a great opportunity to experience the research process.

Amgen Scholarships may be offered in the following fields: biochemistry • bioengineering • bioinformatics • chemical and biomolecular engineering • biopsychology • biotechnology • chemistry • immunology • medical pharmacology • microbiology • molecular genetics • molecular medicine • molecular pharmacology • molecular, cell, and developmental biology • neurobiology • neuroscience • pathology • physiological psychology • physiological science • statistics • toxicology

The Amgen Scholars program is modeled on the grant-seeking process:

Students collaborate with potential mentors to define and develop a project
Applicants write research proposals for their projects
A faculty committee reviews the proposals and recommends awards
Students carry out the work over a 10-week period in the summer, mid-June to late August
At the conclusion of the program, they submit a technical paper and give an oral presentation at Seminar Day, a symposium modeled on a professional technical meeting

Eligibility Statement
Amgen Scholars must

Be sophomores (with at least 4 quarters or 3 semesters of college course work), juniors, or non-graduating seniors attending 4-year colleges or universities in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or other U.S. territories
Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2
Not be under any disciplinary sanction
Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Have an interest in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D.

Students who have been an Amgen Scholar, at any U.S. site, are not eligible. Please consider applying through the Caltech SURF program.

Requirements
Upon receiving an Amgen Scholarship, students sign an agreement to fulfill the following requirements:

To conduct their research from June 18 - August 24, 2012
To devote full effort to conducting the Amgen Scholars project (Scholars are strongly discouraged from taking courses or holding a job)
To submit two progress reports signed by their mentors
To attend the mid-summer Amgen Scholars conference
To submit an abstract of their project
To submit a written technical report approved by the mentor
To give an oral presentation on one of the scheduled seminar day symposia
To attend weekly Amgen Scholar meetings
To fully participate in Amgen Scholar assessment efforts
To abide by Caltech's Honor Code

Compensation
Students receive a $5,500 stipend for the ten-week period. For information on payroll tax issues, please contact sfp@caltech.edu and we will forward your question to the Amgen Scholars payroll coordinator.

Stipend payments will be distributed in equal installments near the first business day in July and August.

Students will also receive a $1500 room and $1200 board allowance, and non-Caltech students will receive reimbursements for their travel to and from Pasadena.

Funding
Amgen Scholar stipends are funded from a generous grant from the Amgen Foundation. Mentors pay all research-related costs and provide space.

Amgen Scholar Summer Activities
To enrich the research experience, Amgen Scholars may participate in the following activities:

Amgen Scholars weekly lunch meetings to bring participants together for discussions, special programs, and to meet faculty
Weekly seminars by Caltech faculty—lunch is provided
A professional development series on developing a research career, graduate school admissions, and other topics of interest to future researchers
Social and cultural activities
Weekly small student-faculty dinners
Special field trips

Housing
Non-Caltech Amgen Scholars will live in Caltech housing during the ten-week summer period, and they can move into rooms on the first day of the summer program.

General Inquiries
amgenscholars@caltech.edu
626.395.2885

Call for Applications: M.D./Ph.D. Summer Undergraduate Research Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center

Goals of the Summer Research Program

The University of Nebraska Medical Center strongly believes that the training of physician-scientists is critical to the future of medicine. Physician-scientists play a unique role in biomedicine by studying patients and their diseases.

To accomplish this, we wish to recruit highly qualified students into medical and research programs at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The summer research program described here will provide appropriate experience and training to enable students to become competitive for admission into our M.D./Ph.D. Scholars Program.

This summer research program is for individuals that are motivated for success in careers combining medicine and research. Although we are especially interested in undergraduate students who are currently in their sophomore year of college, current freshman and juniors are also encouraged to apply. Some research background may be useful in order to maximize your laboratory experience.

This is a great opportunity for students to discover first-hand the broad spectrum of research activities being performed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Not only will students be doing research, but successful applicants will also have the opportunity to shadow physicians. This gives students a chance to not only experience great science but to also experience the doctor/patient relationship side of medicine. We can provide a summer of challenges and exceptional learning experiences.

A wide variety of exciting research projects are available, from studies at the molecular level to patient oriented clinical research and healthcare outcomes research. Cancer Biology, Cardiovascular Biology, Cell and Developmental Biology Cell Signaling, Genetics, Immunology, Molecular Biology, and Neuroscience are some of the programs available to students for their summer research projects.

Why Should You Participate?

Benefits include:

Gaining research training and experience that will make you more competitive for medical school, graduate school, other summer research programs, and M.D./Ph.D. Programs
Becoming familiar with UNMC and its faculty, students and programs
The UNMC faculty will get to know you and your potential
Exploring your personal motivation for a career in medicine and biomedical research
Discovering all of the exciting research going on at UNMC
Participating in a student poster session
Understanding how discoveries made in the laboratory are translated into new methods of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human disease
Research is fun and rewarding
AND, we will PAY you to do it. A stipend of $3,000 for approximately 10 weeks of participation.

The Summer Research Program, like the M.D./Ph.D. Scholars Program, is highly competitive, and candidates that are successful in securing a slot in the summer program will have outstanding academic records.

You can apply online to participate in this program. In addition to the application, the student must send the following information to the address below:

A one- to two-page essay describing their interest in medicine and research. Be sure to indicate your general (or specific) area of research interest in your essay.
A current transcript (also include a high school transcript if currently a freshman).
SAT or ACT scores (required for all applicants).
At least one letter of reference from a faculty member at your current college or university.

The goal would be to place students in the areas that interest them the most.

Students in the program will be required to participate in a Summer Undergraduate Research Poster Session. Students, with the help of their faculty advisor, will develop a poster for the session

The deadline for receipt of applications is March 1.

Additional information may be obtained by calling (402) 559-8242 or (877) 269-0029. Feel free to e-mail Sonja Cox with any questions at sacox@unmc.edu

Application materials should be sent to:

Sonja Cox
University of Nebraska Medical Center
985520 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-5520
fax: (402) 559-8266

Call for Applications: 2012 National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program on Mind and Brain at Colorado State University

Tentative Dates: June 11, 2012 - August 3, 2012

We will begin accepting applications in January of 2012, with a March 1st deadline. Inquiries should be sent by e-mail to Dr. Edward L. DeLosh, delosh@colostate.edu.
 

Call for Applications: 2012 National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program on Networked Ventures for Collaborative Biological Discovery at Wadsworth Center

The Wadsworth Center participates in summer research experiences for undergraduates. Students are selected from colleges across the country to work for 10 weeks (from early June through mid-August) on independent research projects in the laboratories of Wadsworth scientists.

The focus of the 2012 Wadsworth Center’s summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) is “Networked Ventures for Collaborative Biological Discovery”. The primary objective of this program is to provide cutting-edge research experiences in collaborative scientific discovery to undergraduate students, including underrepresented minorities, to help them gain insight into how scientific research is conducted.

Students can choose either a traditional, single-mentored research project, or a networked collaborative project.

In these collaborative projects, two students are networked together with one or two mentors to tackle a common research problem. The diverse range of projects covers molecular genetics, cell biology, neuroscience, and structural, as well as, computational biology. All of these are pursued within a close-knit environment that will provide a uniquely enriching research training opportunity for undergraduates. The strength of this program is clearly delineated by the robust external research funding of mentors and the intellectual achievements and peer-reviewed publications of REU students and mentors.

Application Process

Ensure Eligibility
Applicants are sought who are undergraduates majoring either in a natural or basic science (biology, chemistry, computational modeling, genetics, mathematics), who will have completed their first, second or third year of study by the summer, and who are interested in attending graduate school with the goal of pursuing a career in science. Students graduating May 2012 are not eligible. If you meet these eligibility criteria, we encourage you to apply to the program.

Send the following materials to reu@wadworth.org

In addition to the on-line application, interested students should submit directly to the Summer Undergraduate Research Program: i) a resumé, ii) official college transcripts, iii) two letters of recommendation from faculty members, and iv) a one-page summary stating both their field of interest and why they wish to participate in the Wadsworth Center's REU program. The resumé and summary statement may be submitted together as an attached pdf or word file. Recommendations from faculty or mentors may also be submitted directly to the online site.

Applications are encouraged from students attending colleges with limited research opportunities and from students who are members of groups underrepresented in the sciences, such as women, racial minorities, veterans, and the physically challenged, and who are first in their family to attend college. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and upon acceptance will receive a stipend of $4800, plus paid on-campus housing, and travel to Albany.

Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Wadsworth Center, Room E-275
Empire State Plaza, Box 509
Albany, NY 12201-0509
Phone: (518) 473-6961
e-mail: reu@wadsworth.org

On-line applications for the 2012 Research Experience are now being accepted, applications will continue through Monday, March 5, 2012.

Students from groups that are underrepresented in the sciences, as outlined above, are encouraged to apply.

Call for Applications: 2012 National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program at the New York University Center for Neural Science

The NSF-REU site grant provides housing, living expenses for the summer, a meal plan and reimbursement for travel to non-NYU students that are accepted into the SURP.

The Center for Neural Science hosts a summer research experience program for undergraduates with an interest in neuroscience. This program is designed to foster entry into a neuroscience research-centered career. Students apply for positions in a 10-week summer program during which they actively participate in research projects in the laboratories of New York University science faculty. We match students to laboratories primarily on the basis of their background preparation and areas of interest. They work either directly with faculty or with graduate students or postdoctoral fellows.

Each student conducts a research project under the direction of his or her mentor. The projects involve on-going research in the host laboratory. The students are involved in all phases of the research process from experimental design to data analysis and communication of results. In addition to the research experience, the students meet regularly for neuroscience seminars at which faculty and graduate students of the NYU research community from the downtown Washington Square Campus and the NYU Medical School present summaries of their work, and the summer students discuss their own projects.

At the end of the program, the students each give a presentation of their own work. They prepare an abstract and write a journal-style report on their work, and give a 20-minute oral presentation in a special summer research conference. The primary goal of this program is to extend the Center's robust neuroscience research opportunities to non-NYU students. Financial support is available to non-NYU students through the NSF REU-Site Grant.

The dates of the 2012 Summer Undergraduate Research Program are: May 29 - August 3

Applicant must be US Citizen or Permanent Resident

Applicant should have strong academic records with courses in biology, mathematics, psychology, and if possible, neuroscience, and a GPA of 3.0.

Priority will be given to students with minority cultural, racial or ethnic background or with demonstrable financial need or of the first generation to attend college.

Priority will also be given to pre-PhDs.

Applicants must be undergraduates completing their sophomore or junior year and with at least one course completed in the field of neuroscience.

Applicants from any institution will be considered. Priority will be given to students from small colleges with limited research opportunities.

Application Deadline (all supporting documents must be received by this date): April 15th, 2012. The department will begin to review applications on a rolling basis beginning March 11.

At most one application per person is allowed.

Further information: Contact surpinfo@cns.nyu.edu

Call for Applications: 2012 National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program in Behavioral Neuroscience at Duke University

Mechanisms of Behavior
A Summer Program for Undergraduate Research in Behavioral Neuroscience at Duke University

The Mechanisms of Behavior (MOB) program is a 10-week summer research internship that allows undergraduates from small colleges and universities around the country to conduct supervised independent research in the field of behavioral neuroscience at Duke University. The program is directed by Dr. Warren Meck and co-sponsored by the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and the National Science Foundation with a “Research Experiences for Undergraduates” grant.

Eligibility

Awards are given to qualified college students from around the country who are interested in behavioral neuroscience and are considering a career in basic scientific research. All applicants who will still be undergraduates at the commencement of the 2012 session of this program are eligible to apply; however, strong preference will be given to rising juniors (i.e., current sophomores). Awards may also be made to exceptionally qualified rising sophomores (i.e., current freshman) and rising seniors (i.e., current juniors) who have had either no or very little previous research experience. Members of minority groups that are under-represented in scientific professions are particularly encouraged to apply. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States.

Program description

The focus of the 10-week summer program is a research mentorship with a participating faculty member at Duke University studying animal learning & behavior or systems and integrative neuroscience. For a list of participating research mentors, click [here] (/education/undergraduate-neuroscience/academics/undergrad-research/mechanisms-of-behavior/participating-research-mentors). Students also participate in a two-day Orientation Conference at the outset of the program, and meet several times each week thereafter for seminars by participating faculty, as well as for tutorials and workshops covering topics such as experimental design and analysis, science writing and oral presentation, science ethics, career paths in neuroscience, and applying to graduate school. At the conclusion of the program, students report on their work at an Undergraduate Research Conference held jointly with other summer research programs.

Dates

The program will run from May 28 until August 3, 2012. Note that participants are required to move into the provided housing the weekend prior to the beginning of the program (on the afternoon of May 27th). Participants are also required to remain for the duration of the program. Participants should plan to move out of the housing on the morning of August 4th (or the evening of August 3rd).

Support

Students receive a stipend of $4,500 for the 10-week program. Students are also provided with on-campus housing at no cost and given a food allowance. Students are expected to cover their own travel expenses. (Stipends may be subject to tax withholding.)

Application Procedures

Applications should include the following:

A completed application form: complete either the PDF version of the Mechanisms of Behavior Application or the Microsoft Word (97-2003 compatible) version of the Mechanisms of Behavior Application.

A current official transcript of your college record.

A 1-2 page personal statement addressing how your participation in the Mechanisms of Behavior Program will fit into your academic and career interests (space to provide this personal statement is included in the application form).

Two (2) letters of recommendation from college faculty members or other individuals who can comment on your potential for success in a laboratory setting.

For more information, contact the Mechanisms of Behavior Program Director, Dr. Warren Meck (phone (919) 660-5765 or e-mail Warren Meck), or the program’s administrative assistant, Amanda Archambeau (phone (919) 660-5725 or e-mail Amanda Archambeau).

Application materials, including recommendation letters, should be sent to Amanda Archambeau preferably by e-mail attachment or by mail or Fax:

Mechanisms of Behavior Program
c/o Amanda Archambeau
Genome Sciences Research Building II
572 Research Drive – Box 91050
Duke University
Durham, NC 27708

Fax: (919) 660-5798
E-mail: aa133@duke.edu

Completed applications must be received by Friday, March 9, 2012. Notification of awards will be made on or about April 9, 2012.