FUN Member Information

This set of pages provides information relevant for FUN members, including information about the Travel Awards, Equipment Loan Program, FUN activites at SFN, Faculty Awards, and Meetings and Workshops

FUN Events at the Society for Neuroscience Meeting

 

       
The 41st Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience will be held November 12-16, 2011 in Washington, DC.  This page contains information about meeting logistics of particular relevance to FUN members and their students.  For the offical SfN Meeting Program go to the 2011 Annual Meeting Site.

Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Executive Council Meeting

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Time: 7:00-9:30 p.m.

Location: Grand Hyatt Hotel, Lafayette Park meeting room

Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Business Meeting

Monday, November 14th

Time: 7:00-8:00 a.m.

Location: Grand Hyatt Hotel, Constitution Ballroom C&D

 
Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Social:
Social, Awards, & Poster Presentations

Monday, November 14th

Time: 6:45 to 8:45pm

Location: Renaissance Hotel, Grand Ballroom Central & North

Chaired by: Jennifer Yates
Co-Chaired by: Shelly Dickinson

Socialize and exchange ideas with others interested in undergraduate neuroscience research and education. Undergraduates will present posters of their research, and FUN Student Travel Awards and Educator of the Year Award will be presented. See the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN) website for travel award information and registration for poster presentations at the FUN Social.

Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience:
 FUN Booth #3224/3226

Sunday - Wednesday, November 13-16, 2011
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM



 

 

 

2011 Travel Award Application

We welcome dues-paying members of the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN) to sponsor nominees for a FUN Undergraduate Student Travel Award.  The award offers aid for expenses associated with attending the Society for Neuroscience 2011 meeting for an undergraduate student who is presenting a poster at the main SfN meeting. All student award travel award applications must have a faculty sponsor who is a dues-paying member of FUN.  The student should be an author on the abstract and present research results from studies conducted while an undergraduate.  It is not necessary that the student be enrolled as an undergraduate at the time of the SfN meeting.  Students are eligible if the work was done as a graduating senior the previous year.  A panel of FUN members judges the award applications.  The judging criteria focus on the student’s contribution to the project, the importance and originality of the project, and the candidate’s potential in science.  Preference is given to students who are first author on an abstract. 

The student’s sponsor must submit an email containing the application document as an attachment to Dr. Elaine Reynolds (reynolde@lafayette.edu) by May 20, 2011.  When submitting the application, please write “FUN Travel Award Submission” in the subject line.

The current application is attached below.

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FUN Equipment Loan Program (2011)

FUN is pleased to announce the Call for Proposals for the 2011 Equipment Loan Program.  Through generous donations from ADInstruments, Kinder Scientific, and, San Diego Instruments we are now accepting applications for proposals requesting a loan of equipment for research and/or teaching for FUN members.  A complete list of equipment available is available below.  Please note that only single versions of this equipment are available for loan at this time – it is not possible to request multiple pieces of a single item (unless otherwise noted).

All dues-paying members of FUN are eligible to apply for this program.  Applications will be submitted electronically.  Review of applications will begin on October 3, 2011 and awards will be announced in early November.  An official announcement of awards will be made at the FUN Social in San Diego, although awardees will be notified prior to the meeting

 Terms of the Loan: 

 Applications:

Applications should be no more than 5 pages in length (not including cover page).   Applications may be single spaced, with font size no less than 11, top and bottom margins of 1” and right/left margins of 0.75”.

 Factors to be considered when reviewing the proposals will include:

For more information contact:  Jeff Smith (jsmith12@svsu.edu) Office: 989.964.4503

ADInstruments Equipment
ADInstruments PowerLab system is a high speed multichannel computer-based data acquisition system appropriate for upper division undergraduate student neuroscience projects as well as research applications. PowerLab data acquisition potential applications include: extracellular/intracellular recordings, evoked potentials, current/voltage clamping, biopotential recordings and many other neuroscience protocols.

The Team at ADInstruments will work with the award winner to configure the system to best meet the needs of the work that is proposed. The final form of the system might vary, but in general would make use of the Powerlab 4/26T platform and LabChart software.

PowerLab 4/26T (QTY 1) - http://www.adinstruments.com/products/hardware/education/product/ML856/
The PowerLab 26T is an integrated data recording unit featuring a dual Bio Amp, an isolated stimulator, trigger input and two independent analog outputs (non-isolated). The ML856 provides the option of up to four general DIN inputs (Inputs 3 & 4 are shared between the dual Bio Amp). With appropriate transducers and accessories the PowerLab 26T covers the broad experimental requirements in neurobiology education.

The ML856 PowerLab 26T includes:

PTK 19 (QTY 1) - http://www.adinstruments.com/products/hardware/education/product/PTK19/

The PTK19 is ideal for conducting experiments using isolated animal nerve, skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscle preparations. The Bridge Pod and transducer measure muscle contractile force. The cables connect to the Nerve Chamber or the Muscle Holder and plug directly into the analog inputs and analog outputs of the PowerLab system for recording and stimulating tissues.

The PTK 19 Nerve/Muscle Kit II Includes:

Complete software overview can be found here: http://www.adinstruments.com/solutions/research/Neurophysiology/.

The included LabChart software has integrated post-hoc data analysis modules including Peak Analysis http://www.adinstruments.com/products/software/research/modules/Peak-Analysis/Windows/ and Spike Histogram http://www.adinstruments.com/products/software/research/modules/Spike-Histogram/Windows/.

Although the acquisition software must be removed at the termination of the loan period, ADI does offer free downloads of the LabChart Reader software for review of previously collected data.
http://www.adinstruments.com/products/software/research/LabChart-Reader/

Awardees are responsible for shipping costs associated with returning the equipment to the supplier.  Equipment must be returned and insured (up to $5K) via a registered carrier and in good working condition. 

Kinder Scientific Equipment

This year Kinder Scientific has agreed to provide a Rodent Automated Forced Swim Task System. The Forced Swim paradigm is the most widely used tool for assessing antidepressant activity. The extensive use of this model is based in its ease of use, reliability across laboratories and ability to detect a broad spectrum of antidepressant agents. The system includes two (2) force swim stations and all hardware/software required to perform multiple versions of forced swim tasks.

Additional product information available at:  http://www.kinderscientific.com/

Awardees are responsible for costs of shipping to and from the supplier.  All equipment will be returned cleaned, sanitized and in a good working condition.

San Diego Instruments Equpiment

This year, San Diego Instruments have agreed to provide an ANYMAZE video tracking system for the equipment loan program. SDI’s ANY-Maze is designed to test in a wide range of mazes and enclosures, allowing you to choose whether to track the head, body, tail, or whole animal. Extremely flexible, the Anymaze system will set up quickly with a Firewire or USB connection to any laptop or PC and tests automatically with virtually any camera.  Additionally if a maze or enclosure is required for your testing and SDI has it available SDI is willing to include it with the Anymaze loan.

Two additional systems are being returned from loan and will be available for new proposals. They are:

PAS Open Field with Rearing Frames (2 Stations) - PAS-Open Field stations use a 16 x 16 photobeam configuration that offers the option to utilize a rearing frame and/or floor pokes. To accommodate subjects of different sizes, you will be able to position frame height anywhere on the posts.

SR-LAB System with Large Enclosures (2 Stations) - The SR-LAB startle response system is the world’s most widely used startle reflex behavioral research system and the most successful for measuring startle habituation, pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) and Fear Potentiated Startle (FPS). 

In addition, our friends at SDI are willing to work with individuals to setup additional behavioral systems for our loan program. If they have a system that could help establish your research program, and it is not currently available in our loan program, please go ahead and submit a proposal for that particular system. SDI will try hard to accommodate your specific research needs.

Additional product information available at: http://www.sandiegoinstruments.com/

Awardees are responsible for costs of shipping to and from the supplier.  All equipment will be returned cleaned, sanitized and in a good working condition.

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2010 FUN Equipment Loan Winners

FUN is pleased to announce that the following proposals were funded with the generous support of our corporate donors for the 2010 FUN Equipment Loan Program:

Robert Flint, College of Saint Rose “Pedagogical Development and Research Advances using the SR-LAB System at The College of Saint Rose” SR-LAB System, San Diego Instruments

Leah Chase, Hope College “Is Homocysteic Acid Neurotoxicity a Model for Schizophrenia?” Kinder Scientific Startle System

Adrienne Betz, Quinnipiac University “Role of caffeine and taurine in anxiety-like behaviors” Photobeam open field activity, San Diego Instruments

Many thanks to our sponsors and selection committee, and best of luck to the awardees!

--Jean Hardwick

2011 FUN Equipment Loan Winners

FUN is pleased to announce that the following proposals were funded with the generous support of our corporate donors for the 2011 FUN Equipment Loan Program:

"Exploring Cardiovascular Functioning in Students Engaged in Behavior Changes"
Glena L. Andrews, Northwest Nazarene University
Award of a Powerlab System from ADInstruments.

"Characterizing cognitive deficits in an animal model of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)"
Megan St. Peters, Ferrum College
Award of a SR-Lab System from San Diego Instruments.

"The development of a quantitative measure of social motivation for mouse phenotyping"
Loren Martin, Azusa Pacific University
Award of an Anymaze system from San Diego Instruments.

"Effect of environmental enrichment on symptoms of depression and anxiety following brain injury"
Jeff Smith, Saginaw Valley State University
Award of a Rodent Forced Swim Task System from Kinder Scientific.

Many thanks to our sponsors and selection committee, and best of luck to the awardees!

FUN Faculty Awards

 

The Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience annually recognizes members who have made outstanding contributions to undergraduate neuroscience.  These awards are based on peer nominations and are announced at the FUN Social and Poster Session at the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. The specific awards and previous winners are listed below.

 

FUN Career and Lifetime Achievement Awards

The Career/Lifetime Achievement award is FUN's highest honor and is also based on a nominating letter from a member. The Career/Lifetime Achievement Award will be given from time to time, to recognize individuals who have made outstanding efforts on behalf of undergraduate neuroscience education and research. Outstanding efforts may include singular achievements that have provided wide benefit to the undergraduate neuroscience community, or sustained efforts across years.

Lifetime Achievement Award Winners

Career Achievement Award Winners

FUN Educator of the Year Award

The Educator Award is given annually to a regular member or fellow of FUN in recognition of notable efforts related to promoting effective teaching of neuroscience at the undergraduate level, and is based on a nominating letter from a member. 

FUN Service Award

The Service Award will be given from time to time, to recognize individuals who have made outstanding efforts towards the continuing development of FUN as an organization.

FUN Mentor Award

The Mentor Award will be given from time to time, to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions as mentors for young neuroscientists.

 

Meetings and Workshops

List of relevant meetings and workshops:

 

FUN Undergraduate Neuroscience Education Workshops

 

 

The Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience holds biannual workshops centered around designing, implementing and assessing neuroscience programs in undergraduate settings. Our most recent meeting was held in 2008 at Macalester College (see below).  Stay tuned for information about our next workshop that will be held at Pomona College in 2011.

Background

  • At the 1st FUN workshop, held at Davidson College in 1995, participants developed four blueprints to guide faculty in their efforts to enrich the undergraduate science curriculum of their institutions by developing courses and programs in an interdisciplinary and marvelously fertile young science: Neuroscience.
  • At the 2nd FUN workshop, held at Oberlin College in 1998, participants used these blueprints as a foundation to explore cutting-edge laboratory exercises designed to serve as the basis for the development of investigative, discovery-based laboratory experiences and the steps involved in launching regional meetings emphasizing undergraduate neuroscience research.
  • At the 3rd FUN workshop, held at Trinity College in 2001, participants again explored laboratory exercises as well as simulations of synaptic transmission, and further examined issues in developing regional meetings emphasizing undergraduate neuroscience research.
  • At the 4th FUN workshop, held at Macalester College in 2005, in addition to exploring new laboratory experiences and development of leadership skills, the participants revisited the four original curricular blueprints that served as curricular models in neuroscience since 1995, and, to address the directions that neuroscience is headed in the coming decades, added a fifth curricular blueprint, neuroscience studies

 

 
2008 FUN Undergraduate Neuroscience Education Workshop

The Undergraduate Neuroscience Education: Interactions, Interdisciplines, and Curricular Best Practices
Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota
July 18 - 20, 2008

A Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Workshop
In conjunction with Project Kaleidoscope

In July 2008, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN) held its fifth workshop on designing, implementing and assessing neuroscience programs in undergraduate settings.  See the workshop website for more information about the meeting, the featured presenters, and to read the 2008 FUN Workshop Notebook.

 

Regional Undergraduate Neuroscience Meetings

The Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience supports the development of regional conferences that promote undergraduate research.  These meetings provide opportunities for undergraduate neuroscientists to present their original research.  In addition these meetings help to build regional networks of faculty interested in undergraduate research and education.  Look for more regional meetings in the years to come.

 

 

NorthEast Under/graduate Research Organization for Neuroscience (NEURON)

The primary objectives of NEURON are to provide an open forum for neuroscience undergraduate and graduate students to present and discuss their work with students and faculty of similar interests, to provide faculty an opportunity to discuss curriculua and research issues in neuroscience, biopsychology and related areas, and to provide resources to enhance communication and collaboration among neuroscience researchers and educators.

 
Symposium for Young Neuroscientists and Professors of the SouthEast (SYNAPSE)

SYNAPSE is a one-day regional undergraduate neuroscience conference that provides opportunities for students and faculty to present their research results and make connections with other neuroscientists in the southeast.  Attendees discuss important issues in neuroscience training via workshops and panel discussions and learn about cutting-edge research via a keynote speaker.

 

MIDBRAINS: The Undergraduate Neuroscience Conference of the Upper Midwest

The conference is a joint effort of the MidBrains Neuroscience Consortium-- a network of faculty from undergraduate neuroscience programs in the upper midwest. This annual event provides a forum for undergraduate students in the Midwest to present research findings, to attend research lectures and special panels, and to meet other undergraduate students interested in the neurosciences. Representatives from several major research universities are also present to discuss graduate school opportunities. Students are encouraged to submit abstracts in all fields of the neurosciences and related disciplines!

 

Midwest/Great Lakes Undergraduate Research Symposium in Neuroscience (mGluRs)

In the spirit of regional undergraduate neuroscience conferences such as SYNAPSE and Midbrains, the Neuroscience Program at Ohio Wesleyan University will host the first annual conference for States Touching Ohio (and Ohio, of course) in Delaware, OH.  The conference will also include oral and poster presentations by students, workshops, a graduate school panel, and not least, breakfast and lunch.