# TRAINING PROGRAM IN THE NEUROSCIENCE OF HUMAN COGNITION

> **NIH NIH T32** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $334,509

## Abstract

Project Summary
This proposal describes the continuation of the Training Program in the Neuroscience of Human Cognition.
A group of 25 faculty preceptors—investigating perception, attention, memory, emotion, problem solving,
language, cognitive control, and the like—has been assembled to participate in training the next generation
of cognitive neuroscientists at Northwestern University. The training program is led by Ken Paller (Director),
Marsel Mesulam (Associate Director), and an Internal Steering Committee, with input from an External
Advisory Committee. Each year, pre- and postdoctoral trainees are selected through a highly competitive
process on the basis of proposed research, scientific potential, and excellence of prior scientific training.
Funding from the Northwestern Graduate School is also provided to 3 predoc Affiliate Trainees per year.
Trainees conduct their research under the guidance of one or more preceptors affiliated with many different
departments and centers within the university. In order to provide thorough training in all facets of Cognitive
Neuroscience, the training program brings together a diverse set of perspectives to facilitate a broad range
of methodological, computational, and theoretical endeavors. Exceptional opportunities are provided for
trainees to learn from and closely interact with local and visiting faculty members, and with other trainees, in
the service of expanding their capacity for creative research on the neural substrates of cognition. Trainees
often bridge the distinct areas of expertise of two mentors through novel interdisciplinary collaborations,
thus expanding the breadth of both their training and of Cognitive Neuroscience research at Northwestern.
Trainees gain from in-depth research discussions with a network of other scientists outside their home
laboratory and department, including regular presentations (and critique) of their own work. Concerted
efforts focus on including under-represented individuals and on fostering a diversity of perspectives, which
also enriches the whole program. This T32 funding mechanism facilitates innovative strategies and novel
research orientations, and solidifies a sense of community for all involved in human cognitive neuroscience
at Northwestern. Value-added benefits of the program also include a rich array of activities that supplement
standard research training, providing trainees with opportunities to expand their training outside of the home
laboratory and beyond departmental boundaries. The community also facilitates training in specific research
skills across individuals and supplies generally relevant knowledge to help trainees gain independence and
become better scientists. Faculty preceptors monitor training through formal advising and evaluations, with
ample examples of written and oral scientific communication, and with attention to responsible conduct and
all aspects of career development. A chief goal of the program is to provide top-rate comp...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9948764
- **Project number:** 5T32NS047987-14
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** KEN A PALLER
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $334,509
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2006-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9948764

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9948764, TRAINING PROGRAM IN THE NEUROSCIENCE OF HUMAN COGNITION (5T32NS047987-14). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9948764. Licensed CC0.

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