Training in Environmental Neuroscience

The proposed Training in Environmental Neuroscience (TEN) is a program based at Florida International University (FIU), a designated Carnegie Research 1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production University. FIU has a leadership committed to providing institutional resources to ensure successful student outcomes. The TEN program aims to provide training to a new generation of interdisciplinary scientists working at the unique interface of environmental health and neuroscience termed Environmental Neuroscience. As the burden of neurological disease and disorders increases at an alarming rate, especially among underserved minorities, environmental factors are recognized as significant determinants. Thus, there is an urgent need for a new generation of scientists trained at the interface of environmental health and neuroscience. The existing Brain, Behavior, and Environment (BBE) center at FIU is uniquely poised to provide this research training and provides strong institutional support and a home for the proposed program. As a designated Emerging Preeminent Program at FIU, BBE brings together faculty and students from the Robert Stempel College of Public Health, the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education, and the College of Engineering and Computing. The mission of the proposed TEN program is to provide talented and motivated predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees with rigorous didactic and laboratory training in contemporary environmental health and neuroscience. Program Objectives are for trainees to 1) acquire fundamental knowledge in environmental health and neuroscience; 2) become proficient at integrating concepts of environmental health and neuroscience into cutting edge basic, clinical, and translational research; and 3) gain the necessary skills and tools to leverage this unique training to achieve their next career objective. The Program proposes to support a cohort of 2 pre- and 2-post-doctoral trainees in Year 1, increasing to 3 pre- and 3 post-doctoral trainees/year thereafter. The core curriculum for PhD students includes didactic coursework in environmental neuroscience, environmental health, neuroscience, neurotoxicology, advanced methods in neuroscience/neurotoxicology and research design and analysis. This didactic training is complemented by career development activities, training in Responsible Conduct of Research and Rigor and Reproducibility, and rogrammatic/networking opportunities. Postdoctoral trainees will also participate in selected components of the didactic program, depending upon their background, and be provided with additional career development activities. At the end of the program, trainees will have a deep understanding of interdisciplinary Environmental Neuroscience research, demonstrated ability to carry out independent research in this challenging multidisciplinary area, and achieved state-of-the-art preparation for this rapidly evolving discipline.