Graduate Program in Translational Neuroscience
Profile of the International Graduate Program in Translational Neuroscience within Collaborative Research Center 636 (SFB 636)
Translational neuroscience aims at the integration of molecular and cellular approaches, behavioral analysis and clinical applications in the study of the central nervous system. In the newly founded translational neuroscience graduate program we focus on alterations of learning, memory, emotional and motivational processing in various disorders of the nervous system, following a mechanistic approach rather than the current classification of mental disorders. This translational approach is interdisciplinary and includes a highly diverse set of methods, reaching from molecular and cellular methods up to the level of psychometric measures and treatment applications in humans. Therefore, a more general part of the graduate program consists of a mandatory compact course (~60 hours) in translational neurosciences which covers a large variety of relevant topics and methods (molecular and cellular neuroscience, basic neuroanatomy, systems neurophysiology, behavioral neuroscience and behavioral genetics, computational neuroscience, behavioral pharmacology, neuroimaging, clinical and experimental psychology and clinical neurosciences). A short abstract of the individual research areas can be found on this homepage; for more detailed information on distinct projects of interest students may directly contact the respective project leaders or look up their publications).
This common core curriculum will be offered in the first 6 months (4 hours/week) and will end with a written exam, ensuring a common knowledge base for all students. The individual part of the curriculum will be supported by regular meetings with the members of the student advisory board, by the possibility to visit German and foreign laboratories, including those in industry, in order to acquire specific techniques, by invitations of guest scientists and, most importantly, by choosing two special topics (a major and a minor) for extended studies throughout the PhD, MD or MD/PhD course. Students with projects rooted in basic sciences will chose a clinical minor and will have to visit a clinical unit for an elective. Conversely, students with a clinical focus will perform some basic research in a laboratory. In the major topic, in-depth education will continue with courses of 2 hours/week throughout the whole period of the PhD or MD thesis. The students will thus choose one main laboratory and advisor with whom they are affiliated at the very beginning of the program. Therefore, when applying, students are encouraged to select up to 3 projects within the collaborative research grant and rank order them according to their preferences.
In addition, we offer yearly summer and winter schools which provide in-depth teaching and discussion of selected topics like „psychobiology of learning and memory“, „molecular basis of neural plasticity“, „clinical methods in psychiatry and psychology“, „advanced imaging methods“, or „computational models of brain function“. Students will also receive training in “soft skills” such as presentation techniques or group work. These courses will be offered in cooperation with the newly formed Graduate Academy of Heidelberg University.
All principal investigators of the SFB cover a wide variety of subjects and have a good overview of the needs within this interdisciplinary research project. They are also involved in teaching within different clinical and basic programs and are members of different faculties (Medical Faculties at Mannheim and Heidelberg, faculty of psychology, and faculty of biology). Therefore, we can make use of existing teaching programs wherever appropriate (for example, students can join courses of the newly established Major Neuroscience within the Master course of the Faculty of Biosciences at the University of Heidelberg). Special attention will be given to medical students. Both Medical Faculties have created programs for an in-depth scientific education of highly talented medical students. In Mannheim, such students receive special training within the Junior Scientific Master Program of the newly established medical course MaReCum. Heidelberg has established an MD/PhD program for selected medical students. The integrated graduate program will support medical students who join projects within the SFB and will enable them to do an advanced MD thesis or a combined MD/PhD thesis in cooperation with the above-mentioned initiatives.
The graduate program started in April 2008. Applicants must hold a master’s, diploma or equivalent degree in biology, chemistry, engineering, physics, biochemistry, mathematics, psychology, or other related fields. Medical students can either start to work within the SFB towards the end of their MD program and aim at an extended version of the conventional MD or enter into an MD/PhD program.
Funding period for MD students is 12 months. For PhD students an initial funding of 12 months of the 36-month program is provided. Additional funding for two more years must be sought. It is also possible to join the program for one year at a later stage in exchange from another PhD program. In addition, this program also allows international exchange of PhD students from other universities.
Information for application
The Graduate Program Translational Neuroscience within the Collaborative Research Centre 636 (SFB 636, Learning, Memory, and Brain Plasticity: Implications for Psychopathology) of the University of Heidelberg, funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, invites applications for:
PhD scholarships and MD scholarships
The Graduate Program is jointly organized: The scholarships are either funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft or the Medical Faculty Mannheim of the University of Heidelberg.
Scholarships are granted as of April 2012, application deadline is January 15th, 2012. Applicants must hold a master’s, diploma or equivalent degree in biology, chemistry, engineering, physics, biochemistry, mathematics, psychology, or related fields. Medical students can join the graduate program towards the end of their studies in medicine.
For MD students, the funding period covers 12 months. For PhD students, an initial funding of 12 months of the 36-month program is provided. Additional funding for two further years to finish the program must be sought by the investigator. It is also possible to join the program for one year at a later stage of the PhD studies.
The Graduate Program Translational Neuroscience aims at the integration of molecular and cellular approaches, behavioral analyses and clinical applications in the study of mental disorders such as anxiety, depression or addiction. In an interdisciplinary approach we focus on alterations of learning, memory, emotional and motivational processing and accompanying plastic changes of the brain.
Please send the following information as PDF to this email address by 15th January 2012:
SFB636-School(at)zi-mannheim(dot)de
· Personal information (name, birthday, postal address, e-mail address, etc)
· Academic history (subjects, degrees, universities, scholarships, awards, additional qualifications, languages, etc)
· Work experience (employer, position, etc)
· Two letters of reference
· Scientific interests (name of preferred project and/or mentor - see project list below)
Please indicate up to three projects or mentors (see list below) in which or by whom you wish to pursue your research. You are urged to match your interests with the research fields of the participating investigators.
· Thesis and research experience (if applicable) (not more than 250 words!)
Please indicate the title of your Master or Diploma thesis, the name of the supervisor and the period within which the project was completed. Briefly summarize the aims of the project, key results obtained and your contribution. If you have carried out research prior to your Diploma or Master thesis, or since then, please describe this briefly in a separate paragraph.
· Publications or patents (if applicable)
· Motivation for entry into program (not more than 250 words)
Briefly discuss your reasons for applying to this program and for wanting to pursue advanced studies in Neuroscience
· Financial statement
· Research proposal (not more than 500 words)
Write a short research proposal about the scientific work you would like to do. Please state whether you have funds and equipment available. You are welcome to develop your own ideas. Alternatively, you may look up recent publications as a starting point.
Projects and mentors
SFB 636
Project Group A: Molecular and neurobiological mechanisms
A02 P. Schloss
A03 G. Schütz
A04 R. Sprengel
A06 H. Bading
A07 Ch. Schuster / H. Bading
Project Group B: Behavioral and physiological mechanisms
B01 R. Spanagel
B03 P. Gass
B06 A. Draguhn
B07 A. Meyer-Lindenberg / M. Rietschel / J. Utikal
B08 D. Durstewitz / W. Kelsch
B09 R. Kuner /Th. Kuner
Project Group C: Experimental psychopathology
C01 H. Flor
C05 M. Bohus / Ch. Schmahl
C06 M. Wessa
C07 K. Szabo / F. Nees
Project Group D: Intervention-related plasticity
D04 C. Diener / Ch. Kühner
D06 F. Kiefer / P. Kirsch
D07 K. Mann / G. Ende / W. Sommer
Others
L. Frölich
M. Schmelz
M. V. Singer
R.-D. Treede