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, 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.


To learn more about the B² training program, please contact-
Lori Holt, Carnegie Mellon University or Julie Fiez, University of Pittsburgh