The Behavioral Brain (B²) Research Training Program funded by National Institutes
of Health is a new graduate training program within the existing Center for Neural
Basis of Cognition (CNBC), a joint program of the University of Pittsburgh and
Carnegie Mellon University. The overall goal of this training program is to train the
next generation of behavioral science researchers who can skillfully incorporate
neuroscience perspectives and methods into their programs of research, based on
an understanding of brain structure and function that bridges across traditional areas
of behavioral research. The Behavioral Brain Research Training Program will focus on
three major research themes to realize such integration in the next generation of
behavioral scientists: 1) Representation and Communication; 2) Evaluation and
Control; 3) Learning, Memory, and Plasticity.

The Behavioral Brain Research graduate program has the following specific aims for
students committed to work at the interface of the behavioral and brain sciences:
Foundational training in neuroscience methods and perspectives, through
coursework and laboratory-based research rotation experiences.
Deep training in behavioral science, through coursework, laboratory-based
research experiences, and independent programs of research.
Continued infusion of interdisciplinary perspectives, through co-mentoring,
selection of courses and rotation experiences, and involvement in other
program forums (e.g., journal clubs) that foster exposure to behavioral and
brain science research that falls into one of three major cross-cutting
research themes (representation and communication; evaluation and
control; learning, memory, and plasticity).

All trainees in the B² training program will be part of the CNBC training program,
with several specific requirements emphasizing depth of training in behavioral
methods coupled with coursework and laboratory experiences that will provide a
solid foundation for integrative contact with neuroscience findings and approaches.

Specifically, 
Co-mentorship Committee. A mentoring team of faculty consisting of
behavioral and neuroscience faculty will supervise trainees.  This will ensure
trainees learn behavioral brain research from underlying principles to
applications from faculty mentors with broad expertise.
Training in Neuroscience. Students will complete the CNBC Core Curriculum
to ensure training in basic neuroscience. Details can be found on the CNBC
website, (http://www.cnbc.cmu.edu).
Deep Training in the Behavioral Sciences. Students coming from one of
the participating behavioral science departments will meet these requirements
as part of fulfilling the obligations of their departmental PhD training programs.
For students coming from a biomedical department, obtaining such training
will require additional coursework, which will developed by the student’s
Co-Mentorship Committee and approved by the Program Steering Committee
such that training is undertaken in quantitative, methods, foundational and
advanced topics in behavioral sciences
Research Rotations.  Research rotations will provide “hands-on” immersion
experiences in behavioral and neuroscience research labs and a broad
perspective on lines of inquiry. Trainees have the option of completing one of
two rotation models. In both models, trainees will be required to complete at
least two rotation experiences and they will be strongly encouraged to
undertake a third. One of the rotation experiences may be in the lab of their
primary advisor; at least one must be in a laboratory that incorporates
neuroscience methods. The composition and completion of the rotation
experience requirement will be directly overseen by the Co-Mentorship
Committee for each student.
Vertical Rotation Model. Some students will enter the program with a
strong commitment to a particular research advisor and area of research.
These students may choose to focus on convergent approaches to a
research topic within one of our major research themes. Trainees who
adopt this model will be expected to propose and execute their rotation
projects over the course their first three years of training. The rotation
projects, which may extend over different periods of time and vary in scope,
must be approved in advance by the trainee’s Co-Mentorship Committee.
The student may organize these projects so that they are completed in
parallel with ongoing work in the primary research lab, as long as trainees
maintain a regular presence and a high degree of involvement in the rotation
laboratory. Students will submit a report to their Co-Mentorship Committee
when each rotation project is completed.
Horizontal Rotation Model. Other highly qualified students will enter the
program with a commitment to behavioral brain research, but they will not
have settled on a specific research agenda or advisor.  These students may
choose to focus on gaining exposure to our research themes and training
faculty. Specifically, the first year will be divided into two research rotation
periods with an optional rotation period the summer before or the summer
after. The student will spend all research time in the chosen laboratory.
Students will submit rotation reports to the Co-Mentorship Committee at
the end of each period and identify a primary research advisor by the end
of the rotation periods. 
Additional Training. Cross-cutting extracurricular experiences will support
training. Trainees will participate in the CNBC annual retreat, student-run
colloquium series, multi-group lab meetings and journal clubs, student research
presentation series, Friday Seminar Series, and will take survival skills and
ethics workshops.
Home Department Requirements. Trainees will complete the requirements of
their home Ph.D. department.

MS WORD VERSION