If understanding the inner workings of the brain is on your mind, now is the time to explore the Banner-ASU Neuroscience Scholars program. Top-achieving college undergraduate and graduate science students are eligible to apply for the paid eight-week training program. Applications must be received by March 1.
Students selected for the program will work side-by-side with some of the world’s most talented scientists, clinicians and researchers in an environment devoted to neuroscientific biomedical research and clinical care.
“The Banner-ASU Neuroscience Scholars program provides invaluable hands-on experiences in a lab or clinic that fuel the curiosity, creativity and talent of the young people who participate each year,” said Dr. Joshua LaBaer, executive director of the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, director of the Biodesign Virginia G. Piper Center for Personalized Diagnostics and professor in the ASU School of Molecular Sciences. “We greatly appreciate the investments which help our students to flourish year after year.”
Students will work on a research project full time in a laboratory under the mentorship of a scientist from Banner Health or the Biodesign Institute.
Students will have the opportunity to select one of five research tracks for deeper study, including basic and translational neuroscience; computational image analysis; healthy aging research; brain and body donation; and clinical neurodegenerative research. Each research track is correlated to a participating training facility.
Students will receive hands-on training, attend educational seminars, learn about career options, practice scientific writing, attend social networking events and create a scientific poster to present the outcomes of their research at a concluding symposium.
Banner started the scholars program 17 years ago. Since then, nearly 250 students have donned lab coats for a summer of science. Most of the students pursue degrees in science or medicine. The Biodesign Institute joined the partnership in 2016, strengthening the experience for participants.
Scholars are expected to commit 35 to 40 hours per week to the program. A stipend of $125 per week for a total of $1,000, is provided upon successful completion of the program. The overall aim is to provide scholars with cutting-edge experience in biomedical and clinical research.
Past participants have gone on to achieve success and shared impressive accomplishments, including scientific abstract and manuscript publications, earning top national student rankings, gaining acceptance into first-rate graduate and medical schools and receiving national awards and scholarships.
The Neuroscience Scholars program is an extraordinary opportunity for high-achieving students to connect their coursework to real world experiences that cannot be replicated in conventional settings. Philanthropic gifts provide critical funding to make this program possible each year; however, many more are qualified than can be awarded due to limited funding. Organizers are actively seeking additional resources to make the Neuroscience Scholars experience available to more students this year.
For more information, eligibility requirements, and application visit neurosciencescholars.org.
