Saturday, December 7, 2024
12/7/2024
Project Summary The Howard Schneiderman Interdisciplinary Training Program in Learning and Memory is based at the University of California - Irvine Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM), a top-ranked and highly visible organized research unit established in 1983 by the UC Regents with James L. McGaugh as its Founding Director. The Center’s interdisciplinary faculty are working to achieve a complete and integrated understanding of how the brain stores and remembers information across all levels from molecules to mind. Of the Center’s more than 90 active research faculty, 21 are the core training faculty for this program, representing strengths in molecular, cellular, circuit, systems, cognitive and computational neuroscience of learning and memory. The program’s goal continues to be to train the next generation of innovative leaders in neuroscience by empowering them with the skills, knowledge, and team science core values necessary to comprehensively understand the neural basis of learning and memory. The program is aimed at predoctoral trainees with five slots offered every year and an average duration of appointment of less than 2 years. It features 10 key components that provide unique education training in the range of skills required for a successful research career in learning and memory: (1) a problem-focused seminar course that promotes transdisciplinary and divergent thinking in learning and memory; (2) a course on neural dynamics and computation; (3) a workshop on transdisciplinary team science; (4) workshops on research-intensive academic careers (Life Skills for the Academic); (5) a series of workshops on quantitative approaches to scientific inquiry; (6) a workshop on cultivating inclusion in the academy; (7) participating in journal clubs; (8) participating in professional development, networking, and conference travel activities; (9) participating in T32 program retreats; and (10) participating in mentoring meetings. The activities fulfill many of the advanced requirements for coursework and do not increase time to degree completion. The program also provides ample opportunities for leadership and service, as well as value added beyond the T32 trainees to extend to other students in the same laboratories. We focus on empowering mentors with training and skills through Culturally Aware Mentor (CAM) Training and continue to use our joint preceptorship program to train junior mentors. The overall training program leverages the existing resources and activities in UCI’s graduate training, adds new training components that are unique to trainees of this program, and provides a host of optional activities for professional development. Desired outcomes include successful completion of PhD, published manuscripts, quantified improvement in transdisciplinary thinking and behavior, individual fellowships (e.g. NRSA), successful placement in postdoctoral training, and subsequent career in research-intensive or research-related areas. With several value-added components, this training program will continue to successfully prepare our trainees to be future leaders in the neurobiology of learning and memory.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
