NURP
Neuroscience Undergraduate Reading Program
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What is NURP?
The Neuroscience Undergraduate Reading Program (NURP) is a mentoring initiative supported by the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program (INP) and the Neuroscience Graduate Student Association (NGSA).
NURP pairs undergraduate neuroscience majors with graduate student mentors engaged in neuroscience research to facilitate focused, independent study. The program’s goal is to provide undergraduates with learning opportunities and skills that extend beyond the standard curriculum through personalized one-on-one mentorship. Each project culminates in a 15-minute presentation at the end-of-semester NURP Symposium, allowing mentees to develop and showcase their ability to summarize and communicate their work effectively.
Who is involved in NURP?
Undergraduate Students
(mentees)
Eligibility
Any undergraduate student at the University of Texas who is a neuroscience major
Expectations
Meet with mentor weekly (~1 hour)
Spend an additional 4 hours weekly on NURP work
Write an abstract for their presentation
Give a presentation at the NURP Symposium
Graduate Students
(mentors)
Eligibility
Any graduate student at the University of Texas whose research is within the field of neuroscience
Expectations
Meet with mentee weekly (~1 hour)
Guide the mentee through research a topic, writing an abstract, and preparing a presentation
Attend the NURP Symposium
Why should you join NURP?
Undergraduates gain insight into the realities of graduate school, including the application process, the transition into research life, and the essential skills graduate students develop along the way. Graduate student mentors benefit from the opportunity to guide a student independently, honing their mentorship style and leadership skills. All participants expand their understanding of neuroscience while building connections that may grow into future collaborations and professional relationships.
How can you join NURP?
Application forms are sent out via email two weeks into the Fall semester and the first day of the Spring semester. They are sent to undergraduate neuroscience majors, INS graduate students, and graduate students in affiliated departments.
What are the projects?
What are the projects?
NURP projects are as flexible and creative as you want them to be. You can critically analyze influential papers to build a deeper understanding of a neuroscience topic, learn about a cutting-edge technique, or even try something completely new. Past mentees have tackled everything from writing project proposals and analyzing real data to building simulations and running their own experiments. Each project is truly collaborative with mentors and mentees brainstorming together, combining their interests and strengths to shape something unique.
Previous examples
Why We Like to be Afraid: A Look Into Recreational Fear
The Next Phase of Alzheimer’s Research: Gamma Oscillations in the Hippocampus
A Review of the Hodgkin-Huxley Model
Optogenetic Manipulation of Mood and Emotion
The Use of Neural Networks in Brain-Machine Interfacing (BMI)
The Neurobiology Behind Addiction
Efficient Neural Computations of Sensory Stimuli
Modeling the Visual Cortex with Convolutional Neural Networks
An Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Visual Hallucinations in Schizophrenia
Exploring the Efficacy of Novel Versus Traditional Predictors Using Random Forest Models in Computational Psychiatry
Principal Component Analysis of Prefrontal Neural Populations During A Complex Attention Guided Decision-Making Task
Slumber with a Key: Where Do We Go Before We Sleep?
Rewind & Remember: How Sleep Replays Our Memories
Examining the effects of the Mediterranean diet on oxidative stress and cognitive function
The Impact of Early Life Adversity on Memory
Fear No More: Testing Therapeutic Combinations for Fear-Based Behaviors in Dogs
Pathogenic Mechanisms and Treatments for Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Animal Models to Investigate Multiple Sclerosis Pathophysiology
A Complex Picture: Alcohol's Varied Effects on Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis
Opioid Abuse and Its Neurological Consequences
Redesigning Relief: A Neuropharmacological Approach to Safer Pain Management
Founding of NURP
NURP started thanks to the initiative of two UT undergrads, Rose Nguyen and Eszter Kish, who came up with the idea in 2015 after seeing a similar mentoring program in the math department. The first official semester kicked off in Fall 2016, with graduate student Kathryn Bonnen acting as the very first NURP Coordinator. Since then, the program has been running every semester and grown into a key part of the UT neuroscience community. Today, it’s coordinated by the NGSA Vice President to keep things running smoothly.
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