Undergraduate Summer Institute in Neuroscience Underway
The Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory is hosting 22 undergraduate students and 2 high schoolers from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM in an intensive paid 8-week residential research training and professional development program in neuroscience. The program aims to increase the diversity of the neuroscience workforce by fostering preparation and admission to doctoral programs in brain-related disciplines. The CNLM’s Summer Institute in Neuroscience‘s research focus is to understand the neurobiological mechanisms of learning and memory in healthy normal development as well as the biology of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders that alter learning and memory. Students conduct intensive research in neuroscience labs and attend weekly seminars and cohort activities. The Institute also supports year-around scientific and professional development activities such as a virtual seminar series and continued mentorship.
The Institute is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation Biology Research Experience for Undergraduates Program (NSF-REU) (PI: Manuella Oliveira Yassa), as well as a grant from the University of California Office of the President’s UC-HBCU Program (PI: Autumn Ivy). The REU grant is open to undergraduates of all backgrounds with a particular emphasis on women and individuals from under-represented backgrounds in STEM disciplines. This year it supports 12 undergraduate students and 2 high school students. The UC-HBCU program sponsors an additional 10 students from HBCUs to participate in the Summer Institute in Neuroscience.
Summer Institute students are in the midst of conducting cutting-edge research in neuroscience laboratories all around campus. If you happen to run into one of these brilliant scholars, be sure to say hello!