Multidisciplinary Training Program in Neuroscience

University Of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore MD

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The Program in Neuroscience (PiN) at the University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary predoctoral training program with exceptional training outcomes. This interdisciplinary program includes 76 students and 120 faculty from 14 departments and 3 schools. The long-standing JSPTPN training program, integral to PiN for 20 years, connects all neuroscience facets at UMB and drives training and research excellence. The 67 Training Faculty represent diverse neuroscience research areas, including molecular, cellular, systems, behavioral, and translational neuroscience. Our mission is to provide a center of excellence for training outstanding graduate students in neuroscience. The program currently supports 6 PiN students in their first two years. We are requesting an increase of 2 training positions for a total of 8 training positions per year, justified by (i) our excellent outcomes: average graduation in 5.2 years with ~2 first-author publications, 45% F-series awards (or the equivalent), and 96% of graduates in research-intensive/science-related careers; (ii) our increasing pool of highly qualified training grant-eligible and underrepresented groups in science (UrGS) applicants; and (iii) the unprecedented growth of neuroscience research at UMB. This growth is highlighted by the establishment of two new neuroscience-related institutes, the University of Maryland-Medicine Institute for Neuroscience Discovery (UM-MIND) and the Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine, which will bring a significant influx of new faculty and enrich the training environment. Modern neuroscience is rapidly evolving, and our objective is to train scientists equipped with the fundamental knowledge and skills to adapt and lead in this dynamic field. The foundation of graduate training in PiN is built upon four critical components: (i) a strong foundation in core neuroscience concepts; (ii) emphasis on critical thinking skills; (iii) a deep understanding of experimental design, quantitative analysis, and hypothesis testing; and (iv) mentored career development. These components are interwoven into all stages of the program’s training plan and continue to serve as the keystone of excellence in training. In this renewal, we have continued to evolve our training program to incorporate: (1) innovative teaching of experimental design, quantitative analysis, and hypothesis testing through neuroscience-centric problem-based learning; (2) a redesign of the core neuroscience courses; (3) mentored laboratory rotations that require oral research presentations; and (4) enhanced career development skills through mentoring and the Office of Career Development. The stable funding of the faculty and the success of our students underscore the strength of our graduate training efforts, justifying continued funding for our program. With continued support, the faculty and students in PiN can continue to spearhead the effort of multidisciplinary neuroscience at UMB.