UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #685 | Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement

Submission information

Submission Number: 685

Submission ID: 14046

Submission UUID: d23db6f6-5b52-4b3a-b2ab-36e5af6658fd

Submission URI: /urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal

Submission Update: /urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?token=AUGLg3N2FtYTQ0LA0KoQSvu6aOelYMEbm-l_ljh_1mo

Created: Thu, 07/18/2024 - 09:57 PM

Completed: Thu, 07/18/2024 - 10:09 PM

Changed: Wed, 09/18/2024 - 01:29 PM

Remote IP address: 98.230.30.112

Submitted by: Anonymous

Language: English

Is draft: No

Webform: UROP Project Proposal Portal

Submitted to: UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal

Research Mentor Information

Primary Research Mentor Name Carmen Varela

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Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) c.varela@fsu.edu

Position Title Faculty

FSU College (if applicable) Arts and Sciences

FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation Florida State University

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Additional Research Mentor(s)

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Overall Project Details

Title of the Project Investigating the Role of Sleep in the Consolidation of Episodic Memory

Project Keywords memory, sleep, rat, behavior

Are you currently looking for research assistants? No

Number of Research Assistants Needed 2

Relevant Research Assistant Major(s) Psychology, Computer Science, Engineering, Biology

Project Location: On FSU Main Campus

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Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s): In-person

Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work? 10

Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work? Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)

Overall Research Project Description When we go to sleep, the memories we form during the day are reinforced and processed, allowing them to become stable and accessible for a long period. This process of memory consolidation requires the interaction of networks of cells across different parts of the brain. Our goal is to understand how sleep aids learning in animals and identify the critical brain circuits involved in memory consolidation. To achieve this, we train rodents to explore objects and then examine how their memory performance changes following sleep.
We are looking for students interested in the cellular mechanisms of memory and sleep. As part of this project, you will learn about behavioral training in rodents, histological methods, and assist in rodent surgeries. If you have a strong interest in neuroscience and the mechanisms of behavior and cognition, this could be a great fit for you.

Research Tasks Data collection working with behaving rats
Data collection involving neuroscience methods such as optogenetics and brain tissue processing
Data analysis with Matlab

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: We are looking for students that are dedicated, interactive, and love to learn.
Recommended: Experience handling rodents is a plus, as well as experience with microscope use, histological methods. Programming skills are a plus!

Mentoring Philosophy We are a highly interactive and multidisciplinary lab. Our mentoring style is centered around teamwork, communication, and shared goals. As a result, I expect that anyone considering joining the lab will have a strong motivation to study the fundamental mechanisms of learning and memory, while also seeking to acquire expertise in the neuroscience methods employed within the lab. One of the key strengths of our team lies in the diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and viewpoints, all of which collectively enrich the mentoring experience for trainees. I expect that each lab member will contribute to fostering a positive lab environment, displaying respect for and valuing others.

Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable): https://varelalab.create.fsu.edu/

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Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable? No

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UROP Program Elements

Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication Yes

UROP Performance Evaluation Yes

Materials Grant Yes

UROP Poster Presentation Yes

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Year 2024

update url https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?element_parents=elements/research_mentor_information/headshot_optional_&ajax_form=1&_wrapper_format=drupal_ajax&token=AUGLg3N2FtYTQ0LA0KoQSvu6aOelYMEbm-l_ljh_1mo