Faculty who study the neuroscience of hearing and vocal communication at the University of Southern California (USC) established a research training program for predoctoral, postdoctoral, and physician-scientist scholars starting in 2009: the Hearing and Communication Neuroscience (HCN) Training Program. The program brings together a broad spectrum of scientists to enhance inter-disciplinary communication, and offers the advantage of providing research training opportunities that bridge basic science with translational research and clinical applications. The program serves to reinforce research and training interactions between scientists who study basic aspects of hearing and vocal communication in the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences, the Keck School of Medicine, and the Viterbi School of Engineering at USC. The program combines the strengths of an outstanding group of researchers, the resources of USC graduate programs in Neuroscience, Development/Stem Cell/Regenerative Medicine, Psychology, and Linguistics, and expertise in clinical otologic excellence provided by the Department of Otolaryngology. The rationale of this proposal is to engage predoctoral, postdoctoral, and physician-scientist trainees in a highly interactive and multi-disciplinary training experience ranging from cell biology to cognitive neuroscience and linguistics that is unfettered by conventional departmental barriers, and to actively facilitate their development as independent scientists. We have successfully filled positions with outstanding predoctoral and postdoctoral scholars during the first ten years of the program. Predoctoral trainees typically join the program during the second year of their graduate training, whereas the level of seniority of post-doctoral trainees participating in the program varies. All trainees receive multi-disciplinary training in all aspects of hearing and communication neuroscience, as well as practical skills that will prepare them for careers in independently-funded research, education, and industry. The ability to expose trainees directly to both cutting-edge research in basic science as well as ongoing clinical research and applications is a major strength of the program.
This proposal focuses on research and training that are directly relevant to hearing loss, speech and language disorders, and communication disorders in humans. This training program will prepare a cadre of scientists to address fundamental questions pertaining to hearing and communication neuroscience. These individuals will not only advance our understanding of biologic and behavioral bases of a broad spectrum of auditory-vocal communication disorders, but will also generate innovative diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
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