Simons Fellowships in Computational Neuroscience

Award Description

The Simons Fellowship in Computational Neuroscience will select highly qualified college graduates to participate in cutting-edge autism research at the Yale Child Study Center. The Yale Child Study Center is a leading institution for clinical research on autism and related social disabilities, with a multidisciplinary approach spanning projects in behavioral neuroscience, neuroimaging, molecular and population genetics, and treatment. Successful applicants will be involved in a 2-year program aimed at the development of computational tools for early diagnosis and phenotypic characterization of infants at risk for autism.

We seek highly motivated candidates from diverse backgrounds who, along with broad experience in computation, also have a particular interest in the application of those skills to a field of research with direct clinical impact. Successful applicants will integrate computational strategies with clinical research goals: developing methods for the analysis of visual scanning and eye-tracking data, computational models of visual salience, and data visualization techniques, all with the aim of advancing understanding of autism and efforts at early diagnosis. This work will be directly informed by interacting with patients with autism and their families.

The selected Simons Fellows will be directly mentored by the program directors and involved in a highly active community of clinicians and research scientists. In addition to this mentorship, the Fellowships are conceived as an opportunity for creative and self-directed problem solving in a new field of inquiry. Training curriculum includes participation in a weekly seminar on autism (1 semester), weekly science meetings (year-long), weekly social neuroscience lab meetings (year-long), various related classes, and a didactic peer network at the Yale Child Study Center, Developmental Disabilities Section. The Fellowships will also provide additional opportunities to participate in conferences and colloquia.

Sponsor Institution: Yale Child Study Center, Yale University

Program Directors: Warren Jones, Ami Klin, and Gordon Ramsay

Additional Faculty: Brian Scasselati, Fred Volkmar, Kasia Chawarska, Rhea Paul, Matthew State, George Anderson, Lawrence Scahill, Kathleen Koenig, Katherine Tsatsanis, Celine Saulnier, James McPartland, and Kevin Pelphrey.

For more information on the Faculty at the Yale Child Study Center Developmental Disabilities Clinic, visit our website: http://childstudycenter.yale.edu/autism/faculty.html

Award Amount: $35,000 per year (plus full healthcare coverage)

Term of Award: 2 years

Submission Deadline: January 6, 2010

U.S. Citizenship: Not Required

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible are college graduates who will have a bachelor's degree by June 2010 (January 6, 2010 Deadline). While candidates are expected to have experience with computer programming and an interest in medical research goals, applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds are encouraged.

Please note that this fellowship is not offered concurrently with graduate studies. However we do hope that for fellows leaving the program, the fellowship will serve as an important stepping-stone towards future medical or graduate studies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please refer to the FAQ page for questions regarding this fellowship and application.

Application Information

For more specific questions, interested applicants should contact simons.fellowship@yale.edu. Additional information about the Yale Child Study Center Social Neuroscience Lab can be found at http://socialneuro.med.yale.edu/index/About_Us.html.

A complete application includes 1 copy of each of the following items:

1. A completed application form
2. A resume
3. Official ranscripts, undergraduate and graduate (if applicable)
4. A 2 page personal statement containing biographic material, relevant experience, and career goals - can be single or double spaced
5. Two sealed and signed letters of recommendation which speak directly to the candidate's potential

Mailing Your Application

Please address your application to:

Simons Fellowship Committee
40 Temple Street
Suite 6B
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 764-6712

Links to Recent Publications

For a list of recent publications, visit the Social Neuroscience Lab website: http://socialneuro.med.yale.edu/index/Publications.html