9732148 This REU Site will provide research experience for students who would otherwise not have the opportunity. In addition, it will attract large numbers of highly qualified graduate students to the University of Kentucky. The program will provide an interactive environment for faculty and graduate students to expose undergraduate students to the many facets of a graduate career. It will inform undergraduate students about career opportunities available in the field of neuroscience over the wide spectrum of industry, academia, medicine, and public service. Students will be given an intensive short course on neuroscience, covering basic anatomical, physiological, developmental, and behavioral aspects. Later in the summer, a mini-symposium on a selected research area will bring leading national researchers to UK for seminars and informal discussions with students. Students will be immersed in a research project of their own choosing, working in the lab of a faculty member who acts as mentor. The goal is production of publishable data, and to this end all students will present the results of their research in a setting resembling a regional or national professional meeting. This program should give students an appreciation for the nature of biomedical research and the various opportunities for careers in this field.
