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MISSION STATEMENT:
"Middle Tennessee Chapter Society for Neuroscience (MTNCSfN) was formed to unite neuroscience in Nashville and surrounding area."
Numerous activities are designed to promote the exchange of information and ideas between neuroscientists at all levels and to inform the public about brain science.
DONATE NOW
Give a tax-deductible donation to MTNCSfN via PayPal.
| Who We Are | |
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President-Elect: Bruce Carter, Ph.D. Vanderbilt University Professor Biochemistry E-mail bruce.carter@vanderbilt.edu |
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Secretary/Treasurer-Elect: Maureen Hahn, Ph.D. Vanderbilt University Assistant Professor Medicine, Pharmacology Email maureen.hahn@vanderbilt.edu |
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Graduate Student Representative-Elect: Sudipta Chakraborty Vanderbilt University Neuroscience Graduate Program Email sudipta.chakraborty@vanderbilt.edu |
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Postdoctoral Representative-Elect: Jamie Reed, Ph.D. Vanderbilt University Research Associate Psychology Email jamie.l.reed@vanderbilt.edu |
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President-Past: |
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Secretary/Treasurer-Past: E-Mail aaron.bowman@vanderbilt.edu |
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Neuroscience Trainee Representative-Past: |
- 2009-2010
- 2010-2011
2009 - 2010 MTNCSfN News and Events
May 28th, 2010 MTNCSfN Annual Meeting and 1st Annual Datablitz
The Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience held its annual meeting at 3:30pm to 5pm May 28th in room 1220 Medical Research Building III at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. A reception followed in the lobby outside of the meeting room. The annual meeting this year included a Trainee DataBlitz competition for graduate student and postdoctoral members of the MTNCSfN. Five graduate student trainees and three postdoctoral trainees presented a 5-minute presentation of their research (zero to 4-slides max) to compete for $100 cash prizes. Participation was also part of the selection criteria for SfN chapter travel award nominations this year.
Dr. Aaron Bowman, MTNCSfN Secretary/Treasurer giving the overview of
the rules for the trainee datablitz.
Winners of the 2010 MTNCSfN Datablitz; Lillia Zurkovsky, Ph.D. and
Rankin McGugin
Dr. Casagrande, MTNCSfN President, discussing the mission of the chapter to annual meeting attendees.
2010 - 2011 MTNCSfN News and Events
Summer 2011 we hosted the first student in our SERPENT (Summer Enrichment Research Program in Education and Neuroscience Training) program. Click here for the educational resources developed by the student, designed for local 5th and 6th grade students."
Brain Awareness Month: Brain Blast!
MTNCSfN participates with the Vanderbilt Brain Institute and Neuroscience Student Organization to lead a variety of hands-on activities to engage children in learning about the brain. A free day of family fun, Brain Blast 2011 was held on March 5 in the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital theater.
MTNCSfN Sponsored 2011 Summer Research Experience Application
IT’S A WIN-WIN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH!
Join the Middle Tennessee Chapter for the Society for Neuroscience (MTNCsfn) and enter the summer fund-raiser lottery to win – “TN BRAIN LOTTO”.
Our Chapter is launching a new summer outreach program to attract bright young minds from local colleges to neuroscience research. The goal for summer 2011 is to support one student and more students in subsequent years. We need your help to raise the funds. This student will be sponsored in partnership with the Vanderbilt Center for Science Outreach and a special effort will be made to attract minority students from local colleges. This student will receive basic training in neuroscience and exposure to laboratory research. Additionally, this student will reach down to the next generation of students while also learning communication skills. By the end of the summer training this student will have translated a portion of their knowledge into educational materials to be presented to local middle school students. This effort will be guided by input from local experts to benefit both the student and the middle school recipient (grades 5 and 6). These materials will be distributed to local middle schools the following spring by the chapter. The ultimate goal of this program is to excite students about career possibilities in science especially neuroscience. With your support we can develop a sustainable summer program in neuroscience supported by your local chapter. If successful, this program could be a model for other university-K-12 schools partnerships and for other SFN chapters.
So what could you win with your lottery ticket?
One lucky winner and 10 of their best buddies will be invited to the house of the President of the MTNCsfn and her husband and be treated to lessons in traditional Neapolitan Pizza craft using a heated marble stone and outdoor oven. This individual will then cut their own marble pizza stone (white Alabama marble) to take home along with recipes for making their own pizzas. Hand selected libations and an assortment of other delicacies will be provided throughout the evening.
It is only $10 to enter and you and your friends could be the lucky ones! Also, we have a special offer for renewing and new members, get two lotto tickets with your membership at a reduced cost.
September 11th, 2010 MTNCSfN and NSO Scavenger Hunt, Fundraiser and membership drive
On September 11th, 2010 at the VBI Neuroscience retreat held at the Vanderbilt Student Life Center the MTNCSfN held a scavengar hunt/fundraiser for our upcoming summer research internship program. Graduate students from the Vanderbilt Neuroscience and the Meharry neuroscience graduate programs participated. The event raised over $350 in donations and membership dues. A photo of the student winners is below.
Scavenger Hunt Winners (from left to right, in front, Jeannette Stankowski, Katherine Louderback and Amy Kleman) with MTNCSfN leadership (from left to right, in back, Dr. Aaron Bowman and Dr. Vivien Casagrande).
Who Should Join?
Any level of student, trainee, faculty, staff member, etc. at any institute or company with an interest in neuroscience should join. We welcome undergraduates and others to join and participate in the local chapter even if you are not a member of the national chapter of SfN.
Why Join?
Membership entitles you to participate in the many events our chapter sponsors, including socials, fun activities (e.g. the scavenger hunt fundraiser), lectureships, our annual meeting, outreach programs such as Brain Blast, the summer student program (SERPENT), as well as making you eligible for graduate student or postdoctoral travel awards.
• Membership in the local and national SfN chapters is required for trainees to be nominated for travel awards to the SfN Annual Meeting
• Membership in the local and national organization is required to nominate trainees for travel awards. (Advisors must be members of the local and national chapters for their trainee to be nominated.)
• Local chapters provide networking opportunities and neuroscience information exchange for members and play an integral role in local public neuroscience education.
• You could have a leadership role in the organization, as membership is required for chapter officers and committee chairs. As our chapter grows, we will be engaging in ever expanding activities and programs organized by our members. We welcome your participation in activities such as the following:
Meetings
In addition to regular meetings, the chapter organizes events such as a Grass Traveling Scientist Lecture and specialized scientific mini-symposia. We hold social functions and fundraisers to help support our summer research program SERPENT and other activities.
Outreach
The chapter participates in local Brain Awareness activities designed to educate the public about the brain and brain diseases. We develop and run programs such as the SERPENT summer research program to introduce undergraduate students to neuroscience in the laboratory, who in turn develop educational materials for middle school students.
Training
The annual spring meeting of MTNCSfN is designed to highlight neuroscience trainees and their research. In addition, we compete at the national level for Chapter Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Travel Awards.
How to Join?
Chapter Membership:
Members are required to pay a small annual fee:
Investigators $20; Students/trainees $10.
Membership runs from January-to-January; thus members become past due after December 31 if they have not sent in their annual renewal.
Membership Form (doc) Membership Form (pdf)
ONLINE PAYMENT OPTION: Fill out the information below to send membership dues to the Chapter via our PAYPAL site. Once completed, email any additional information you want added to your membership record (e.g. lab website, postal address, alternate email address) to maureen.hahn@vanderbilt.edu and no need to even fill out the form.
Upcoming Events
Spring Membership Drive is February 23rd at 4:00 p.m. in 1220 MRB III.
March is Brain Awareness Month! Each year, the chapter participates in Brain Blast (educational outreach event for children). This year the event will be held at Vanderbilt 100 Oaks on March 3. Details TBA.
Spring Social, MTNCSfN/NSO March TBA.
Annual Chapter Meeting, May TBA. Will include a voting process (e.g., from Data Blitz presentations) to nominate applicants for Travel Awards for the Annual SfN meeting.
We plan to hold 2-3 socials each year focused on grad students, post docs, and faculty from the Middle TN community.
In addition, we plan 2-3 community socials each year, which may include short seminars, contests, and food and beverages. These will be open to the Middle TN neuroscience research community and focused on including undergraduates.
Members participate in such events and join committees to help plan and execute them. We welcome undergraduates to serve as representatives on committees.
Grants and Awards
SfN Chapters Graduate Student Travel Awards - Allows chapters to nominate outstanding graduate students to participate in SfN's annual meeting.
SfN Chapters Postdoctoral Trainee Travel Awards - Allows chapters to nominate outstanding postdocs to participate in SfN's annual meeting.
SfN Travel Awards to the IBRO World Congress - Allows chapters in the United States, Canada, and Mexico to nominate outstanding graduate students to attend the IBRO World Congress held every four years.
Next Generation Award - Allows chapters to nominate up to four predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees if working together as a team and one junior faculty member for outstanding contributions to outreach efforts. Awardees and their chapter receive a monetary award. One awardee at each level will receive financial assistance to attend SfN's annual meeting.
See more SfN Grants and Awards
http://www.sfn.org/index.aspx?pagename=awards_all
Summer Program
The Middle Tennessee Chapter for the Society for Neuroscience (MTNCSfN) summer student program started in 2011 through a grant from the national chapter. For summer 2012, SERPENT (Summer Enrichment Research Program in Education and Neuroscience Training) will require donations in order to fund an undergraduate, but we expect to meet the need. The chapter officers will select a student from the pool of applicants. Applications are due March 31th, and the form (SERPENT application) is located at the bottom of this page. We are seeking a local rising sophomore or junior undergraduate student that may be interested in neuroscience and a summer research internship with a science outreach initiative. The student will be paid a stipend, with the level to be determined. Minority students are especially encouraged to apply.
The selected student will be assigned to a faculty member either at Vanderbilt or Meharry who has agreed to mentor a summer student based on student interest. This student will be introduced to the tools used in neuroscience by participating in laboratory research. Additionally, the student will work with a team of mentors to develop educational materials aimed at 5th and 6th grade students focused broadly on their area of research interest. These materials will be distributed to local middle school students the following spring. The purpose is two-fold: 1) to help the student develop communication skills, 2) to open doors for the next generation of young neuroscientists.
Please submit applications or questions directly to the chapter at: mtncsfn@gmail.com or bruce.carter@vanderbilt.edu
Download the application here: SERPENT Application (pdf)
Please NOTE: The deadline for applications is March 31, 2012. Download the pdf application, follow the instructions, and submit it via email to bruce.carter@vanderbilt.edu
DONATE NOW
To help support this program, you can give a tax-deductible donation to MTNCSfN via PayPal