Neuroscience Orientation 2015

Welcome to USC !

Neuroscience Orientation 2015

A. Welcome & Introduction

B. Research OpportunitiesC. Honors ProgramD. Advising: Academic / Pre-Health. Some

words of caution. E. Honor & Service Societies: Nu Rho Psi &

InterAxonF. Supplemental InstructionG. Reception

Faculty & StaffCo-Directors

Prof. Irving Biederman, PSYC (bieder@usc.edu)Prof. Albert Herrera, BISC (aherrera@usc.edu)

Executive Committee• Prof. Chien-Ping Ko (cko@usc.edu)• Prof. John Monterosso, (johnrmon@usc.edu)• Student Representatives: Eshed Margalit, Arvin Saremi• Academic Advisors

Academic AdvisorsLica Abu-Esba (abuesba@usc.edu)Lucy Leon (lucyleon@usc.edu)Briana Weiland (bweiland@usc.edu)

Program AssistantGloria Wan (yuhungw@usc.edu)

http://dornsife.usc.edu/usc-neuroscience/

http://dornsife.usc.edu/usc-neuroscience/

Research

I. Why get involved in original research in a faculty member’s lab as an undergraduate?

Research: Why? How? When?

A. The obvious. It will:

1. Look good on my record (allow honors*!) and,

2. Allow me to get a personalized recommendation, which along with (possibly),

4. of getting into _____________. (Fill in the blanks: medical school, graduate school, or much of what I might want to do as a career choice in this competitive world.)

3. A conference presentation* or a publication* in a scientific journal, would improve my chances

*Life-long record of a distinct achievement

I. Why get involved in research as an undergraduate? (cont.)

B. The not-so-obvious:

1. The chance for an extraordinary intellectual journey. The excitement of mastery and discovery.

2. An opportunity to experience—deeply--what a research university is really about.

3. A home on campus. Labs are like families. You will be taken into a small group of highly intelligent, dedicated people with a shared mission.

4. A lifelong domain of expertise. With benefits:

a. Developing cognitive seed crystals for a broad range of your studies in neuroscience.

b. The opportunity to become a “citizen” of your domain of expertise.

II. How (and in what manner) can I get involved in research?

B. Select a lab that you feel could be a good match for your interests and talents. Look at the web pages of various labs. Ask around. Treat your meeting with the lab director as if it were a job interview.

A. First and foremost, you should know that it is competitive: there are more people who want to join labs than there are positions to be filled.

C. You are not expected to come in with a research project in hand. Once in, you will join a lab member on either an ongoing project or a new project. They will train you.

II. How (and in what manner) can I get involved in research? (cont.)

D. Everyone in a lab will have to do some routine work. Once in the lab, do all you can to demonstrate that you are capable of making an intellectual contribution to the research (rather than working only as a drone). This can (and should) lead to co-authorship.

III. When should you get involved in research as an undergraduate?

A. The sooner the better. The longer you are involved in a research project, the more time you have to develop mastery.

B. Most labs would want you to be able to commit a minimum of 10 hours a week. The good news is that times usually are flexible. But the lab will want (and should want) to recoup their investment in your training and want you to be a productivity source, not a productivity sink.

Three Things to Think about Re. Courses

and Skills

1. Take your Neuroscience courses as early as possible in your

university career.

Neuroscience is not an easy discipline. There is enormous

complexity and range, from molecular neuroscience to

cognitive and computational neuroscience. The more time

the conceptual structure is in your brain, the greater the

chances of discovering new associations between concepts

that will bring you mastery.

2. Learn to program.

Certainly if you are going for a B.S., and even if you are

going for a B.A., Matlab (or Python or any programming

language) is a good start. This will stand you well for the

rest of your life. It will give you an edge in a wide range of

courses, lab positions, and employment opportunities.

3. Learn (take a course in) linear algebra.

Honors Program

http://dornsife.usc.edu/usc-neuroscience/honors_program/

• Adds distinction• Deepens understanding• Develops skills• Facilitates mentoring• LORs• Requirements:

- GPA 3.5- NEUR 493 Honors

Seminar (1 unit, 2x)- NEUR 490 Research (4

units)- NEUR 494 Honors Thesis- Submit thesis

• To start, begin research

Academic Advising

Academic Advising

Advising Services

• 30 minute, 1-on-1 advisement appointments• Make course recommendations • Create Course Plans• Degree Audits• Lift Advising Holds• Connect to Campus Resources• Mid-term “at risk” Grade Outreach• Navigate Academic Policies

Additional Resources

• Career Pathways• Career Planning and Placement Center• Pre-Health Advising• Pre-Graduate School Advising• Kortschak Center for Learning and Creativity• Disability Services & Programs

Involvement

• Student Organizations• Greek Life • Intramural Sports • Service Learning (JEP & Volunteer Center)• Internships • Research (SURF & SOAR)

Contact Info

AHF 107

To make an advising appointment, please call:

213-740-3800

Nu Rho PsiArvin Saremi - President

Emily Lin - Vice President

Who are we?

Nu Rho Psi is the National Honor Society in Neuroscience, founded in 2006 by the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience and now an independent honor society. We are a non-profit, grass-roots organization comprised of neuroscientists, like you. Currently, charters have been awarded to over 40 chapters in all regions of the United States.

Purpose• Encourage professional interest and excellence in scholarship,

particularly in Neuroscience • Award recognition to students who have achieved such excellence in

scholarship • Advance the discipline of Neuroscience • Encourage intellectual and social interaction between students,

faculty, and professionals in Neuroscience and related fields • Promote career development in Neuroscience and related fields • Increase public awareness of Neuroscience and its benefits for the

individual and society • Encourage service to the community

Requirements• Major, minor, other emphasis in Neuroscience

• Completion of at least 3 semesters of the College course.

• Completion of 9 semester hours of Neuroscience-related courses.

• Undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.5 and a minimum GPA of 3.5 in Neuroscience courses.

Events

• Mentorship Programs

• Neuroscience-Related Volunteering

• Tedx Neuroscience

• Special Events (Active members only)

Perks• Course Assistance

• 24/7 access to upperclassman

• Discounts for GRE/ MCAT prep classes*

• Informational meetings

• Scholarship opportunities

Get Involved Interested in a cabinet position?

• nurhopsiusc@gmail.com

Sign up sheet towards back of the room!

defin. Neuroscience community service organization that visits under-served K-12 students to present dynamic

interactive presentations about science in general and neuroscience in particular

Join our mailing list!Usc.interaxon@gmail.com

FB: “USC Interaxon”

community service | neuroscience community |

leadership opportunities | mentorship | social

events around LA | teach what you’re learning

Supplemental Instruction

http://dornsife.usc.edu/supplemental-instruction/

Neuroscience Social TeaOne Thursday a month, HNB 107, 4 – 5 pm

Please join us!This Fall: Sep 24, Oct 22, Nov 19

Ponder deep thoughts! Satisfy hunger