FUNDING SOURCE. The Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience (CPN) has been established at the University of Mississippi Medical Center with funding from the National Center for Research Resources, a division of the National Institutes of Health. The CPN directly funds the Neuroscience Scholars Summer Program.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION. The CPN believes it is crucial to foster interest in psychiatric neuroscience at the undergraduate level. The CPN's Neuroscience Scholars Summer Program is an undergraduate summer research internship that provides the opportunity for undergraduates to explore their interest in neuroscience research. The CPN Mentoring and Education Core is responsible for program recruitment and implementation of the Neuroscience Scholars Summer Program.

Throughout their internship, students participate in original research at UMC as part of a multidisciplinary research team. CPN research laboratories investigate areas of neuroscience research ranging from the neurobiological basis of substance abuse behavior to the molecular mechanisms regulating synaptic activity to the neuroanatomical abnormalities attending psychiatric disease.

Neuroscience scholars are matched with research projects that best fit their interests as indicated on their application forms. Each student is assigned to a UMC faculty researcher who serves as their mentor throughout the program. Faculty mentors provide instruction in modern research methods, techniques and the uses of state-of-the-art research tools and are available to the neuroscience scholars to provide an understanding of research as a career.

Weekly meetings of all the students are held to facilitate discussions amongst the scholars and to offer opportunities to enhance their learning through a series of lectures presented by experts in the field of neuroscience research. Because each research project is unique, the students benefit from sharing their laboratory experiences with each other.

PROGRAM DATES. The Neuroscience Scholars Summer Program is a 10-week internship, although the length of the internship can vary in exceptional circumstances. The 2010 program begins Monday, May 24, 2010 and continues through Friday, July 30, 2010.

ELIGIBILITY. College or university undergraduates (including incoming freshman and graduating seniors) and medical students between year M1 and M2 whose residence is in Mississippi.

STIPEND. Scholars will receive a stipend at the level of the UMC Student Researcher I, II or III, level depending on the academic level of the scholar.

HOUSING. No housing allowance is available. Students must secure their own housing. For a listing of housing resources, please click here.

CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTANCE. Internships to the Neuroscience Scholars Summer Program are awarded on a competitive basis. Applicants are accepted based on past academic performance, faculty recommendations, and research career goals as outlined in the application.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:

1. Participants must engage in full time research in the mentor's laboratory.
   
   
2. Participants are required to attend all program meetings. This includes mandatory attendance at the program's orientation meeting and weekly program meetings.
   
   
3. At the close of the summer program, all scholars must participate in a one-day symposium at which they will present an oral report of their project.
   
   
4. Participants are required to submit a written report on their research project at the conclusion of the program.
   
   
5. Scholars are asked to evaluate the program and participate in post-program surveys that track their academic and career progress.
   
   

HOW TO APPLY. (Application Instructions) The application packet contains an Application Form and two Faculty Recommendation Forms. The applicant is also required to send an official copy of academic transcripts. The Application Form is to be completed and signed by the student applicant. The Faculty Recommendation Forms should be completed by faculty members familiar with the applicant, placed in sealed envelopes, and returned to the applicant for inclusion with the completed Application Form. Application packets are available online at http://cpn.umc.edu, from your faculty advisor, or by calling (601) 815-5392.

Completed application packets and official academic transcripts should be mailed to:

Catherine Kaime, Program Coordinator
Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
2500 North State Street (Room L721)
Jackson, Mississippi 39216

APPLICATION DEADLINE. The completed Application Form, two sealed Faculty Recommendation Forms, and official academic transcripts are due in the CPN office by Friday, March 12, 2010. Notification of acceptance to the Neuroscience Scholars Summer Program will be mailed the first week of April, 2010.

QUESTIONS: Contact Catherine Kaime by email or call 601-815-5392.

NSSP Links: