UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1090

Research Mentor Information
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Primary Research Mentor Name: Aaron Wilber
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: He/Him/His
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific?: Dr.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): wilber@psy.fsu.edu
Position Title: Faculty
FSU College (if applicable): Arts and Sciences
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: Psychology, Program in Neuroscience
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Additional Research Mentor(s)
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Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above): Shawn Moseley
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns: He/Him/His
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?: Mr.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): moseley@psy.fsu.edu
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Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
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Overall Project Details
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Title of the Project: Brain Systems for Spatial Orientation in Health and Disease
Project Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, spatial orientation, rodent animal disease models
Are you currently looking for research assistants?: No
Number of Research Assistants Needed : 1
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s):
Neuroscience, Psychology, Biology, Computer Science, Math

Project Location:: On FSU Main Campus
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation?: {Empty}
Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s):: Partially Remote
Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work?: 10-12
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:
The goal of this project is to explore whether problems with memory reactivation—when the brain replays patterns of activity from a learning task during sleep—might be linked to the trouble with spatial orientation seen in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease.
Another project looks at which brain systems help rats figure out where they are and how to get around. In this study, we’ll try to temporarily shut down these systems using drugs or optogenetics (a method that uses light to control brain activity) to see how it affects their sense of direction

Research Tasks:
- Assist with analyzing brain recording and behavioral data for transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. 
- Assist in data collection by performing behavior experiments. 
- Section and stain brain tissue and assist with quantifying positive cells in specific brain regions.	

Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
Basic science background recommended. We will teach needed skills.

Mentoring Philosophy:
We offer interactive and intellectually stimulating learning experiences by developing customized training plans that align with both the student's goals and the needs of our laboratory. I meet with students at least bi-weekly after lab meetings, and more frequently for those with intensive training plans. Each plan is shaped by the student's interests and begins to take form during the interview process, where I learn about their aspirations and identify potential project matches within the lab. The interview also helps us recognize students who bring unique perspectives and backgrounds that enrich our group. These varied viewpoints foster more innovative ideas and effective solutions to the challenges we face, while also enhancing the overall training experience and expanding the collective knowledge of our team.

Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable):: https://wilber.neuro.fsu.edu/
Please add any additional information here (if applicable)::
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Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable?: No
Roundtable times and Zoom links:
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UROP Program Elements
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Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication: Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation: Yes
Materials Grant: Yes
UROP Poster Presentation: Yes

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Year: 2025
update url: https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?token=M0f3Uz08e6R67r473yVBMZ9SLpY2pZhLVM8gQ-O3Au4