Closed | 26 February – 24 March, 2024 |
This is an advanced neuroscience course intended for 14 trainees from Africa and Latin America with scientific leadership potential in their home countries. The program focuses on fostering open scientific discussions with experts, hands-on laboratory experience, and the opportunity for students to attend and and present their work at the prestigious Canadian Association for Neuroscience’s Annual Meeting.
ABOUT THE SCHOOL
The Canadian Association for Neuroscience’s Annual Meeting, that the students will attend and present in, brings together over 1000 researchers, mostly from across Canada and the United States. Therefore, this presents a great chance for them to network and foster scientific exchange with esteemed experts in the field.
The school faculty consists of neuroscientists from Canadian universities and the language of instruction is English.
Educational objectives:
- Enhance participants’ knowledge of the biological mechanisms related to the plasticity of the nervous system through critical discussions of original research
- Familiarize participants with a variety of novel experimental approaches, equipment, and analytical tools
- Allow students to present their own research at the school and also at the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association of Neuroscience (CAN)
- Provide general guidance on research ethics, as well as on written and oral communication, including writing research papers, preparing grant applications, delivering research seminars, and making effective poster presentations
- Foster long-lasting ties with Canadian neuroscientists and investigators in Africa and Latin America
Application deadline:
24 March, 2024
School website:
http://www.can-ibroschools.info
School dates and location:
A) Virtual component:
11 Sep 2024 – 30 Nov 2024
15 Feb 2025 – 15 April 2025
B) In-person component:
14 May 2025 – 29 May 2025
McGill University, Physiology
Montreal, Quebec, H3G1Y6
Canada
Apply HERE
For any queries, please write to the organizer, Ellis Cooper, at ellis.cooper@mcgill.ca
Program description:
The school consists of two parts:
Part A – Virtual
- From September 11, 2024 to November 30, 2024 and from February 15, 2025 to April 15, 2025.
- The first part of the school will take place remotely and has three main components: 1) Lectures; 2) Tutorials, and 3) Professional development. The school uses a secure website to post pre-recorded lectures and related scientific articles, and for participants to communicate with one another during the school. All live Zoom sessions will be recorded and posted. Each lecturer will post a pre-recorded talk and then discuss it with the students in an interactive live Zoom session. The topics cover a wide range. Previous years’ topics included: i) experimental methodologies and equipment used to measure neuronal activity simultaneously recorded from groups of neurons in different brain areas in live, behaving animals; ii) interactive workshops on single-cell RNA sequencing; iii) techniques to access and analyze data in available online databases; iv) writing computer code and using DeeplabCut to analyze videos of behaving animals; v) Computational models of synaptic integration; vi) Use of model organisms (Xenopus laevis, C. elegans, Drosophila melanogaster) to investigate the development and function of neural circuits; vii) sessions on bioimaging, including 2-photon microscopy, a discussion of new global bioimaging initiatives and training centers; viii) Ethics of scientific research; ix) Writing research papers. To view the report of the 16th Canadian IBRO School, see http://www.can-ibroschools.info
Part B – In-Person
- From May 14 May, 2025 to May 29, 2025.
- The second part of the school will be in-person and take place in Montreal and Toronto, Canada. Students will attend the Canadian Association of Neuroscience Meeting and satellite symposia in Toronto and present a poster account of their own research. In Montreal, students will observe on-going experiments, have practical sessions on analyzing behavioural data using DeeplabCut, bioimaging, 2-photon microscopy and optogenetics, and they will learn techniques to analyze gene expression data. In addition, students will have hands-on computer lab sessions to learn how to analyze gene expression data and access the large number of open science resources and tools available to neuroscience researchers such as those from the Allen Brain Institute, and Janelia Research Campus.
WHO CAN APPLY TO THIS SCHOOL?
This school calls for applications from young investigators, primarily PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty.
Only applicants based in the Africa and Latin America regions are eligible to apply.
Students will be selected in collaboration with IBRO’s regional committees for Africa and Latin America. The selection process will be based on specific criteria, including academic achievements, leadership potential, publication record, letters of reference, and the statement outlining how participating in this school would contribute to the applicant’s research career and their research environment. A basic knowledge and laboratory experience pertaining to this year’s school theme are essential.
WHAT COSTS ARE COVERED FOR PARTICIPANTS?
Successful applicants will have the following expenses covered by the school:
a) traveling (economy air fare from home to Montreal and back),
b) living expenses (housing, meals and local transportation),
c) the registration to the Canadian Association for Neuroscience Annual meeting.
Visas and other immigration arrangements are the responsibility of each student.
Co-sponsors:
IBRO US-Canada, Africa, and Latin America Regional Committees, Society for Neuroscience, Canadian Association for Neuroscience, Canadian Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health, Montreal Neurological Institute and the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University.
HOW TO APPLY?
- Create an applicant account here.
- Refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for any inquiries.
- For technical issues with the site, submit customer support request form.
- For any other queries, please write to the school organizer, Ellis Cooper, at ellis.cooper@mcgill.ca.
Apply HERE
Please note you will be redirected to the IBRO Grants Portal.