Trainees will be asked to take specific courses that will provide fundamental knowledge in neurobiology and improve their professional development. The additional courses do not represent additional credit hours to their curriculum, since they can be incorporated as electives.
The suggested courses for the trainees are:
PSIC3003: Introduction to General Psychology
An introductory course to provide general knowledge on perception, cognitive development, learning and memory, language and psychology impact on the social and cultural organization (3 Credits).
CCOM 3030: Computer Science
An introductory course to develop skills related to problem-solving. Provides a panoramic view of computer science through areas, like databases, networks, bioinformatics, operating system, and artificial intelligence (3 Credits).
ENGL3236: Scientific Writing
The student will develop skills to write descriptive and analytical reports and theoretical assays (3 Credits).
BIOL4990: Introduction to Research
Supervised research work opportunity: The Department of Biology allows a maximum of 6 credits of BIOL-4990. The student could take 1, 2, or 3 credit hours in a given semester. (6 credits)
*Select at least one Neuroscience course from these:
BIOL5548: Neurobiology
Study of the nervous system with an emphasis on development, physiology, biochemistry, and anatomy (3 Credits).
BIOL 3566: Biopsychology
An introductory course to the relationship between topics such as the relationship of biology and psychology at the theoretical level, the value of studies of animal models, and the degree of functional specialization of the different areas of the brain (3 Credits).
BIOL3576: Psychopharmacology
Interdisciplinary course where the fields of neurobiology, pharmacology, psychology, and medicine come together in order to offer a comprehensive approach to the different etiologies of addiction (3 Credits).
There are equivalent courses for General Psychology, Scientific Writing, and Introduction to research, at the other participating institutions in the metropolitan area. The selected students from these institutions would be requested to take these equivalent courses [e.g. UNE — PYSC121/122; ENGL115/116; UNRE 201]. However, the students from these institutions would need to register for the neurobiology course at the UPR-RP campus. Importantly, the courses described will not constitute additional credit hours to the students’ curriculum; instead, the trainees will be directed toward specific courses to fulfill the advance and elective requirements. During the course of the semester, the NeuroID program will sponsor several scientific seminars. The participants are required to attend these seminars. The seminars will be on current topics in neuroscience and offered by invited speakers from different academic institutions. The participants will sign an attendance list on every seminar.
Rules:
Every year, 8 students will take courses to enhance their understanding of neuroscience and improve their professional abilities. Specific rules are established to measure the development and proficiency of the student participants. These rules are:
- The students will be expected to pass these courses with a grade equal or better than B. Failure to obtain the expected grade will put the participant on probation status with the program. If the grade obtained was a C, the student will be requested to do a special work regarding the subject discussed in the course. The professor that offered the course will be consulted for the preparation of this special work. Participants that obtained D or F will be required to repeat the course. At the end of the program, the students are required to provide an official academic transcript to keep on his/her record.
- Students will be required to attend NeuroID’s sponsored seminars during the academic year. The students will sign an attendance list on the day of the seminar. Failure to attend at least three seminars during the academic year will render the student on probation status. The student on probation will be required to complete a special work designed by the Program Directors.
- Participation in the Program will be terminated to any students that don’t fulfill the academic requirements and not complete an assigned special work before the end of the academic year. The student terminated from the program will be encouraged to continue participating in the mentoring program.