EXCEED THE SPACE PROVIDED. The goal of this program is to support graduate training in the field of vision at MIT. Funding for five predoctoral students is requested. The Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences (BCS) has a very broad range of research and teaching in the vision sciences, with particular expertise in visual development, neurophysiology, psychophysics, and computational models. In conjunction with participants from the Department of Biology and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, the program will provide excellent opportunities for students to explore a wide range of topics in vision. In the first year of the graduate program, all BCS students take a year-long interdisciplinary core course covering the breadth of the department's specialties: molecular and cellular neuroscience, systems neuroscience, computational neuroscience, and cognitive science and neuroscience. Each of these areas offers different approaches to vision, as represented by the research of and courses taught by the participatingfaculty on this proposal. During the first year, students also begin research, either immediately upon entry, or in the spring term after one to three month-long rotations in laboratories during the fall term. Throughout the course of their education, graduate students are expected to conduct research at least half-time, while taking courses or teaching, or full-time during summers and after coursework is complete. Acting as teaching assistants is required for three terms, usually one term each in the second, third, and fourth years. An advisory committee is chosen within the first year, although the primary advisor usually has the greatest contact with the student, especially in regard to research. Written and oral qualifying exams take place after the second year, and a research report is required during the third year. The department graduate program is coordinated by a Graduate Committee comprised of representatives from each area of the department, and a Graduate Office which implements the Committee's decisions and administers the graduate program from admissions through graduation. The purpose of this training program is to produce a new generation of vision researchers who are highly trained in their own field of expertise, but who are also broadly educated about the scientific foundationsthat link the vision community together. PERFORMANCE SITE ========================================Section End===========================================
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