Neurons, Stress, and Responsibilities

I was going to post about the “From Neurons to Neighborhoods” lecture at Weill Cornell Medical College, but I noticed that the very first blog post was about just that! It sounds like a very interesting lecture about a fascinating topic. I am currently enrolled in Dr. Mangels’s Mind, Brain, and Behavior class in Cognitive Neuroscience and she provides us with many valuable resources both in class and through email. I first found out about the lecture from her and I was very glad that another REU student was also aware of it. I also recently received an email about an NSF REU program in Brooklyn College from Professor Mangels; her email read as follows:

“The Brooklyn College NSF REU Program in Neuroscience is seeking undergraduate applications for Spring 2014 (program dates are Jan. 27 – May 16, 2014).  The current application deadline is October 1, 2013 (but we plan on extending it for a couple of weeks).  Twelve students will be admitted  (8-9 from campuses other than Brooklyn) and each will receive a stipend of $3,100.  REU participants are given the opportunity to carry out an independent research project under the guidance of REU mentors, and to deepen their understanding of the neurosciences through structured didactics and ethics training.

Email Susan Chi if you are interested ([email protected]).
More information about the program can be found on the following website and blog:

While I know that this opportunity will not directly apply to any of us since we already are REU students in a year-long program, this may be an invaluable opportunity for those you may know (especially those with an interest in neuroscience)…and maybe a chance for us to apply for next year!
Personally, I am starting to find neuroscience to be quite daunting and intimidating. When I enrolled in Dr.Mangels’s course I truly did not know what I was getting myself into (I guess I overlooked the entire “science” part of “neuroscience” and expected to be learning fun, almost trivial facts about the brain…enough to brag about, but not enough to truly understand.) With an exam fast approaching and other responsibilities accumulating, I am finding myself in a rather tough spot.
As for  lab life, every week I feel more and more confident about the Sleep Deprivation IRB. Professor Engle-Friedman, Tiffani, Viktoriya, and I are almost finished with the Part II and cannot wait to finally submit it and begin running our study. This is one responsibility that I am very excited to take on!

For Those Interested in Graduate School for Clinical Psychology

For those of you that are interested in applying to a clinical psychology grad program: I have found this practical guide (link below) to be very helpful in addition to our textbook.  The author is Mitchell J. Prinstein Ph.D., a professor at the University of North Carolina.

http://www.unc.edu/~mjp1970/Mitch%27s%20Grad%20School%20Advice.pdf

You can see more about the author, as well as several additional guides here: http://www.unc.edu/~mjp1970/Profdev.htm

First Session

Last Friday was the first time I ran a session. We had run a mock session over the prior weekend. This included going through what to say and do in the session step by step; including turning on and logging into each of the computers we could potentially use in a session. Running the mock session was very helpful come the day of the session.

I think the session was less intimidating than I anticipated it to be. This may be because of the practice at the mock session. Or do to having a small handful of participants over two sessions. I suspect I would have been more nervous if I opened the door to let the participant in and found a large group of students.

After the session the other RA and I closed everything up and posted our notes on the studies online forum. However, we forgot to send it out to the rest of the lab. Next time it will be easier to remember all the little steps.

I am also trying to work on a poster for a conference in a few weeks. It is taking me longer than normal. Because, I feeling I am still orienting myself to the project and second guess if I am I properly representing the research.

The 11th Annual Neuropsychology Research Day @ Queens College

If anyone is interested in neuropsychology . There will be research being presented next Friday at Queens College.

The 11th Annual Neuropsychology Research Day

Friday, October 11, 2013

In the Rosenthal Library Auditorium, ground floor, room 230

Students interested in learning more about the wide range of Neuroscience and Neuropsychology research at Queens College are strongly encouraged to attend all or part of this conference.

Research talks are given by graduate students and faculty in the CUNY Neuropsychology doctoral program beginning at 9:30 and continuing throughout the day with a break from 12-1:00. The keynote address is at 1:00. Presentations are 15 minutes long and include all areas of on-campus Neuropsychology research (including studies of drugs of addiction, cognition, emotion, developmental disabilities, epilepsy, neurogenesis, cortical plasticity, feeding behavior, to name a few).

The highlight of the conference is the KEYNOTE ADDRESS, given by:

Dr. Marina Picciotto (Yale University)

Website: http://psychiatry.yale.edu/people/marina_picciotto-2.profile

Title: “From Molecules to Behavior: Role of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Nicotine Addiction, Food Intake and Depression”

Time:  1:00-2:15 PM

Forensic Psychology Conference

Hey guys,

In case anyone is interested in the field of forensic psychology I am attaching some information on the conference that will be taking place at St. John’s in about three weeks. Hope you find it helpful!

Olena

 

Forensic Psychology Conference

PSYCHOLOGISTS ON THE STAND:
Evaluation of Various Competencies

Date:
October 20, 2013
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Location:
Queens Campus, School of Law Courtroom
Conference co-sponsored by Psychology Department, St. John’s University Dean’s Office, St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, St. John’s University Center for Psychological Services, St. John’s University Forensic Division of the New York State Psychology Association (NYSPA) Nassau County Psychological Association (NCPA)

Brief Program Description:

Request for competence evaluation is an important component of forensic work. Indeed, forensic professionals are often called upon to perform evaluations on competences covering a variety of situations, from competence to stand trial to termination of parental rights, guardianship/conservatorship, Miranda waver, consent to sexual intercourse, competence to be sentenced or to be executed, etc. Each of these competence evaluations involved important knowledge of the law and standards of practice to allow the professional to provide the best services possible for their clients. Recognizing the importance of gaining relevant training to perform these evaluations, the St. John’s University Office of Postgraduate Professional Development Programs decided to dedicate its second forensic conference to a careful discussion of these competences. For this purpose, we are fortunate to be joined by a group of recognized forensic experts with extensive knowledge in these different competences to guide our discussion. The Moot Court in our Law School will serve as the setting for this event. Specific issues related to rendering expert testimony in regard to one of the competences will also be elucidated and demonstrated through a simulation experience in the afternoon on “competence to stand trial” in front of a seating judge. Forensic psychologists, psychiatrists, and attorneys representing different parties will also be involved in the demonstration. A follow-up (postmortem) panel discussion composed of these different individuals will engage in an active discussion with the audience. Those attending this conference are expected not only to gain knowledge about the different competences but to become familiar with what is involved in court appearance as expert witness from an examination of the forensic report to the court testimony of the findings.
List of Confirmed Presenters:

 

Register Now! Webinar Available!

Refund Policy:
Refunds prior to Monday, October 14, 2013 are subject to a $20 administrative fee.
No refunds granted after October 14, 2013.
*Must pre-register to secure seating
**For registration information please call the office at (718) 990-5460, email [email protected], or visit our website at http://www.stjohns.edu/postgraduatedevelopment

 

For more information contact:
Rafael Art. Javier, Ph.D., ABPP
Office of Postgraduate Professional Development Programs
Marillac Hall, Room 402-B
Queens, NY 11439
[email protected]
(718) 990-5460