Pre-Doctoral Training in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience

This proposal seeks renewal of a Jointly Sponsored NIH Predoctoral Training Program in the Neurosciences (JSPTPN, T32DA018926). Our T32 program supports students in their first and second years of the PhD program of the Institute for Neuroscience (INS) at The University of Texas at Austin (UT). The overall objective of our T32 is to provide broad, quantitatively focused neuroscience training to students in their initial years of training. For two decades, our T32 has had a multi-dimensional impact in synergizing with other T32 programs, facilitating high-impact research, and promoting mentoring and outreach. The rationale for this T32 is that it raises the bar for excellence in graduate training not only in the INS but across the UT campus. Our specific aims are to (1) establish mentoring and community as core values that enable individuals from all backgrounds to succeed as leaders in neuroscience; (2) deliver rigorous, ethical, and quantitatively focused training that can be tailored to a variety of neuroscience research areas; and (3) provide a balanced and integrated training plan to accelerate the launch of trainees as top-flight neuroscientists. To support Aim 1 we have embedded regular mentor training as a requirement for our T32 faculty and trainees. To meet this requirement, we have formalized a mentor training workshop for faculty and created a variety of mentoring and outreach activities for our trainees to participate in. Aim 2 is accomplished through curriculum offerings that begin with a 2-week bootcamp that occurs prior to starting classwork and rotations. This bootcamp launches our student’s quantitative training and introduces them to experimental design and methodology. Subsequent required coursework includes fundamental neuroscience courses, and 3 semesters of statistics/quantitative literacy training. To accomplish Aim 3, we have developed an intentional plan that provides balanced training and accelerates our trainees’ progress. This includes streamlining the lab rotation process and integrating regular, required progress checks in the first several years to ensure students remain on track for graduation within 5 years. We take advantage of numerous UT-sponsored career development resources to ensure our students develop actionable plans for their future. In addition, we recognize that progress towards graduation is dependent on our trainees’ holistic wellbeing and therefore activities aimed at building community and supporting student wellness are embedded in all aspects of our training plan. Based on our large and highly qualified applicant pool, this application requests funding for 4 first-year trainees and 4 second-year trainees (totaling 8 per year). The expected impact of our T32 is the training of a new generation of rigorous and ethical neuroscientists who will apply their knowledge and skills as leaders in academia, industry, and other professions. The broader impact of this T32 is that it will establish UT as a beacon for innovative graduate training, exemplary mentoring, community-building, and excellence in neuroscience research.