ASU’s Biodesign Institute and Banner Health open summer opportunities for neuroscience scholars

A student who participated in the 2019 program.

If understanding the inner workings of the brain is on your mind, now is the time to explore the Banner-ASU Neuroscience Scholars program. Top-achieving college undergraduate and graduate science students are eligible to apply for the paid eight-week training program. Applications must be received by March 1.

Students selected for the program will work side-by-side with some of the world’s most talented scientists, clinicians and researchers in an environment devoted to neuroscientific biomedical research and clinical care.

“The Banner-ASU Neuroscience Scholars program provides invaluable hands-on experiences in a lab or clinic that fuel the curiosity, creativity and talent of the young people who participate each year,” said Dr. Joshua LaBaer, executive director of the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, director of the Biodesign Virginia G. Piper Center for Personalized Diagnostics and professor in the ASU School of Molecular Sciences. “We greatly appreciate the investments which help our students to flourish year after year.” 

Students who participated in the 2019 program.

Students will work on a research project full-time in a laboratory under the mentorship of a scientist from Banner Health or the Biodesign Institute. 
Students will have the opportunity to select one of five research tracks for deeper study, including basic and translational neuroscience; computational image analysis; healthy aging research; brain and body donation; and clinical neurodegenerative research. Each research track is correlated to a participating training facility.

“My colleagues and I are committed to developing the best and brightest people in the ongoing fight against Alzheimer’s and related diseases in highly collaborative ways,” said Dr. Eric Reiman, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute executive director, Banner Research CEO, and ASU Professor of Neuroscience. “Helping these student scholars tackle important neuroscientific research questions is a true privilege. Through this program we are proud to provide them the mentorship, research environment and tools needed in their quest for answers.”

Students will receive hands-on training, attend educational seminars, learn about career options, practice scientific writing, attend social networking events, and create a scientific poster to present the outcomes of their research at a concluding symposium.

A student who participated in the 2019 program.

Banner started the scholar’s program 17 years ago. Since then, nearly 250 students have donned lab coats for a summer of science. Most of the students pursue degrees in science or medicine. The Biodesign Institute joined the partnership in 2016, strengthening the experience for participants.  
Scholars are expected to commit 35 to 40 hours per week to the program. A stipend of $125 per week for a total of $1,000, is provided upon successful completion of the program. The overall aim is to provide scholars with cutting-edge experience in biomedical and clinical research.

Past participants have gone on to achieve success and shared impressive accomplishments, including scientific abstract and manuscript publications, earning top national student rankings, gaining acceptance into first-rate graduate and medical schools and receiving national awards and scholarships.

The Neuroscience Scholars program is an extraordinary opportunity for high-achieving students to connect their coursework to real world experiences that cannot be replicated in conventional settings. Philanthropic gifts provide critical funding to make this program possible each year; however, many more are qualified than can be awarded due to limited funding. Organizers are actively seeking additional resources to make the Neuroscience Scholars experience available to more students this year. Visit our program website to learn more about opportunities or to support this outstanding program.  
For more information, eligibility requirements, and application visit:  neurosciencescholars.org

About Banner Research
Banner Research conducts high-quality clinical trials and other medical research as part of Banner Health, one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country. Dedicated to patients, Banner Research’s focus is to turn discoveries into new diagnoses, treatments and prevention methods for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cardiovascular disease, fibromyalgia, arthritis and cancer. For more information about programs and studies, visit BannerHealth.com/research.

Banner Health media contact: [email protected]  

About the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University
The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University delivers the future of nature-inspired scientific innovation today for the betterment of human health, community safety and global sustainability. Its transdisciplinary scientists are united in discovering bold solutions that directly benefit the health of our ecosystem. From individuals, to communities, to the planet, we focus on benefiting the overall health of life by turning our discoveries into technologies that are resilient, adaptive and deployable now and into the future. For information, visit biodesign.asu.edu.

Biodesign Institute media contact: Sandra Leander, [email protected], 480-727-3396