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Harvard University COVID-19 updates
+”these instructions” (ADD A LINK TO SECTIONING, WHEN CREATED)
Wondering how to sign up for a tutorial? Read these instructions first, and then come to our tutorial fair (Weds 9/2 4:30-6 PM, Bauer Labs Lobby) to meet the instructors and pick up a copy of their syllabi.
The Neurobiology Tutorial Program is designed to provide undergraduates (primarily juniors) with the opportunity to associate with a professional biologist over an extended period of time, to explore important research topics that are not covered in depth in other undergraduate offerings, and to become comfortable reading primary scientific literature. Tutorials can also help students to identify research topics and potential lab sponsors for their thesis work. One tutorial may count toward the ‘Advanced Neurobiology’ elective requirement for the Neurobiology concentration or secondary or towards the MBB junior tutorial requirement (for non-neurobiology concentrators only).
All tutorials are open to qualified students from all concentrations who have completed the listed prerequisites (minimally LPSA/Ls1a and MCB80), although students in the Neurobiology concentration will be given priority. Class size averages ~7 students per tutorial with a maximum of 12 students. Each Neurobiology 100 tutorial meets once a week throughout the academic year, carries 0.5 course credit for the year, and cannot be divided for credit.
Because Neurobiology 100 is a yearlong half course, students usually take it as a fourth course one semester and a fifth course the other semester. This allows students to take a lighter load (1.75 credits) one semester instead of the normal 2 credits, which is often useful to help balance a semester with a particularly difficult schedule.
*Neurobiology 101 (formerly *Neurobiology 101hfa). Novel Therapeutics in the CNS
Dr. Catherine Dubreuil, Director of Training and Education, Therapeutics
Graduate Program at HMS: Catherine_dubreuil[at]hms.harvard.edu
Time/Location: W 4:00-5:30 PM / 107 Robinson
Recent advances have elucidated new non-traditional molecular signaling pathways involved in many disorders and diseases in the CNS. This tutorial will focus on examining novel therapeutics and ‘outside the box’ approaches to treat CNS disorders: Alzheimer’s, Autism, Schizophrenia, Traumatic Injury and Multiple Sclerosis. To do this, we will examine primary and clinical literature and explore drug design strategies.
*Neurobiology 104 (formerly Neurobiology 101hfi). The Neurobiology of Drug Addiction
Dr. Johanna Gutlerner, Associate Director of the HMS Curriculum Fellows Program,
Lecturer at HMS: Johanna_Gutlerner[at]hms.harvard.edu
Time/Location: W 3:30-5:00 PM / 106 Robinson
Students will examine primary literature to understand the acute and chronic action of drugs of abuse, including opioids, cannabinoids, psychostimulants, nicotine, and ethanol. The course will introduce the models of addiction and examine animal and human research results to build an understanding of how modifications to molecular signaling, cells and neural circuits underlie the development of the addicted brain.
*Neurobiology 105 (formerly Neurobiology 101hfm). Fundamentals of Computational Neuroscience
Dr. Alexander Mathis and Dr. Ashesh Dhawale, Postdoctoral Fellows, MCB and OEB:
amathis[at]fas.harvard.edu; dhawale[at]fas.harvard.edu
Time/Location: T 7-8:30 PM / Robinson 105
The brain is an extremely complex computing device. Computational neuroscience seeks to understand brain function by constructing mathematical models of the nervous system to summarize our knowledge and gain new insights into how neurons perform basic tasks, e.g., encode stimuli, form memories, or generate movements. This course presents computational techniques for investigating, modeling, and understanding the function of neurons, neuronal networks, and systems.
*Neurobiology 106 . Human Cognition: Reading and Writing the Neural Code – (New Course)
Dr. Shaun Patel, Postdoctoral Fellow, HMS: shaun.patel[at]mgh.harvard.edu
Time/Location: Th 6-7:30 PM / 105 Robinson
In this course, we will explore a new and cutting-edge discipline in neuroscience — invasive human neurophysiology. Some neurosurgical procedures, such as deep brain stimulation surgery, allow for the unique opportunity to directly access the human brain while patients are awake-and-behaving. Topics will include: place/grid cells, deep brain stimulation, epilepsy, face processing, brain-machine control, and reward processing.
Emily Kuehn, Graduate Student, HMS; Dr. Amanda Zimmerman, Postdoctoral Fellow, HMS: emily_kuehn[at]hms.harvard.edu; amanda_zimmerman[at]hms.harvard.edu
Time/Location: M 7-8:30 PM / 107 Robinson
We rely on our sense of touch for essential tasks and behaviors, including feeding, object recognition and grasping, avoiding physical harm, mating behaviors, and child rearing. This course covers the neural components and circuitry that underlie our sense of touch. From skin to the cortex, we will explore touch and its role in development, diseases, and most importantly, in our everyday life.
