UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #398 | Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement

Submission information

Submission Number: 398

Submission ID: 8261

Submission UUID: 7fa049f8-a81f-45d2-ade6-ab40f5032558

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

Submission Update: /urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?token=C4I5brp2rF71Xi9yAHRhAh9JcHrrvY-QLMi003i5mhw

Created: Tue, 08/08/2023 - 06:50 PM

Completed: Wed, 08/09/2023 - 01:52 PM

Changed: Thu, 10/05/2023 - 01:34 PM

Remote IP address: 144.174.212.119

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 Psychology

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Additional Research Mentor(s)

Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above) Zoe Atherton, Annie da Costa Souza

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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 3

Relevant Research Assistant Major(s) Psychology, 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, memories that we formed during the day are reinforced and processed so they can become stable and accessible for a long period of time. This process of memory consolidation requires the interaction of networks of cells in different parts of the brain. Our goal is to understand how sleep helps animals learn, and what parts of the brain are critical for memory consolidation. To do this, we train rodents to explore objects, and examine how their memory performance changes following sleep.
We are looking for students that are interested in the cellular mechanisms of memory and sleep. As part of this project, you will learn about behavioral training in rodents and histological methods, and you will be able to 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.

Research Tasks literature review, data collection, data analysis, handling and training of rodents (rats).

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 or histological methods.

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://psy.fsu.edu/php/people/people.php?_tr=1_7#

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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 2023

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