# Summer Program in Neuroscience, Excellence and Success

> **NIH NIH R25** · MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY · 2021 · $207,804

## Abstract

Project Summary
SPINES, formerly known as the Summer Program in Neuroscience, Ethics and Survival, now known as the
Summer Program in Neuroscience, Excellence and Success is a course and networking opportunity at the
Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) that runs concurrently with the summer Neurobiology and Neural Systems
and Behavior courses. The goal of SPINES is to increase the tenacity and success of underrepresented
minority (URM) groups in the neurosciences by creating role models and leaders committed to diversifying the
scientific workforce. Measurable outcomes of this course will include significantly enhancing the impact of
highly skilled neuroscientists from URM groups in research and academic endeavors. Thus, it is expected that
SPINES alumni will contribute to their scientific community by boosting creativity through the incorporation of a
greater diversity perspectives, minds, and approaches. This highly interactive course offers students an
intensive immersion experience that integrates in-depth networking and mentoring with best practices for
professional development, and incorporates research training focused on strengthening quantitative analytical
skills in neuroscience. The course is specifically designed to advance individuals through: (a) acquiring
effective lifelong networking and mentoring connections that incorporate evidence-based approaches to
networking, mentoring, and career best practices and (b) enhancing exposure to cutting-edge neuroscience
research and hands-on training in quantitative analysis skills. The aims are: 1) to introduce students to an
innovative multi-generational model of mentoring that provides student extended periods of time face to face
with successful URM scientist role models, including SPINES faculty and SPINES alumni; 2) to educate
students in professional development best practices and strategies for success in science that focus
specifically on tenacity over time and through major hurdles, transitions and roadblocks; 3) to build
competence and understanding of issues related to persistence in research careers, especially for individuals
from URM groups, including family and community demands, health disparities, committee and community
service loads, stereotype threat, implicit bias, identity as a scientist, scientific self-efficacy, and the imposter
syndrome; 4) provide intensive training in producing high rates of scholarly writing, experimental rigor and
reproducibility, winning grants, delivering outstanding oral presentations, and scientific and academic
leadership; 5) promote and assist SPINES scholars in establishing interdisciplinary or translational
collaborations in order to foster a career trajectory towards highly cited independent neuroscience research; 6)
expose trainees to leading edge neuroscience research presented by leading URM scientists and other
renowned neuroscientists at MBL, especially as it relates to topics relevant to the strategic priorities of the
National Insti...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10132392
- **Project number:** 5R25MH055929-25
- **Recipient organization:** MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY
- **Principal Investigator:** Linda E Hyman
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $207,804
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1995-09-30 → 2024-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10132392

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10132392, Summer Program in Neuroscience, Excellence and Success (5R25MH055929-25). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10132392. Licensed CC0.

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