UAB Research Training Program in Neurobiology of Cognition and Cognitive Disorders

For 14+ years, UAB Heersink School of Medicine’s (HSOM) Neuroscience faculty have continuously refined our T32 Training Program in Cognition & Cognitive Disorders (C&CD) to strengthen the 55 students under ≥ 43 Faculty from 15 departments. In this 3rd competitive renewal, we have revised & revitalized our program with new offerings while maintaining our most successful program elements. As the burden of cognitive disorders expands, UAB HSOM continues to grow neuroscience faculty in C&CD and invest in programs, projects, and partnerships furthering neuroscience research, especially in the understanding of brain disease states, harnessing advanced neurotechnology to develop treatment strategies, and transform care of brain-related diseases at UAB and across the nation. Neuroscience research is a primary focus at UAB HSOM, aimed at expediting scientific discoveries and promoting excellence in various neuroscience fields. Consequently, our C&CD T32 Training Program is more essential than ever. Each of the six T32 Trainees is supported for up to two years starting in their 3rd year. Training includes a 3-week hands-on Introduction to Neuroscience at Alabama’s Dauphin Island Sea Lab in late summer, laying the groundwork for future studies. In the Fall, 1st year Ph.D. students take core courses in Biochemistry, Genetics, Cell Biology, and Critical Thinking & Error Analysis. In Spring, Neuroscience courses include Neuroanatomy, Neurophysiology, Developmental Neuroscience, and Systems Neuroscience. Summer requires courses in Research Ethics and Diseases of the Nervous System. During their 2nd year, T32 Trainees also take required T32 electives including Mechanisms of Memory and Clinical Evaluation of Cognitive Disorders. Trainees are also required to take Biostatistics (using R programming), Neurobiology Seminar Series, 2 journal clubs each year, including C&CD or Neuroimaging, a Grant-writing Course, Art of Reproducible Science, and Neuroscience Student Summer Seminars. Our new Works-in-Progress offers “elevator speech” and extended speaking sessions, emphasizing quantitative approaches in neuroscience, statistics, ethical research, and alternative career paths. Lab research is integrated throughout the program. The C&CD T32 Program positions Trainees and all Neuroscience Ph.D. students at the cutting edge of modern neuroscience.