Undergraduates
The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) offers undergraduate students the opportunity to gain intensive lab research experience learning from some of the world’s best neuroscientists in a state-of -the-art research facility. There are two mechanisms by which undergraduate students may participate in research in MPFI labs:
- Undergraduate students may directly contact research group leaders to inquire about available research opportunities. Students receive either academic credit at the university they are enrolled at or receive hourly payment during the summer term. This is the only mechanism for undergraduate students not enrolled at FAU or for FAU students not enrolled in the MPHP in Neuroscience.
- The FAU Max Planck Honors Program (FAU MPHP) provides honors students with exclusive enrichment opportunities, including courses taught or co-taught with Max Planck scientists and Florida Atlantic University faculty. The program empowers students to work with world-class faculty researchers through a summer research program, and will include the possibility of directed independent research and an honors thesis with program faculty.
All undergraduate training include technologies such as 2-photon imaging, super resolution microscopy, electron microscopy, electrophysiology and optogenetic technology.
FAU Max Planck Honors Program
Students will learn to think critically, propose research questions, design experiments, collect and analyze data, interpret results, communicate research findings, and gain appreciation for the ethical standards of the field. Completion of the program will prepare students for continuation of their education in a graduate program and/ or for the highly competitive STEM job market.
The honors in the major program will be offered across three degrees in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science: B.S. in biological sciences; B.A. in psychology; and B.S. in neuroscience and behavior; and as a track in four concentrations of the Wilkes Honors College: Biology, Biological Chemistry, Neuroscience, and Psychology.
Curriculum and Research Areas
The FAU Max Planck Honors Program provides students with a comprehensive introductory “topics in neuroscience” course; career development workshops taught by preeminent scientists; participation in ongoing Max Planck seminar series and monthly journal club run by postdoctoral fellows and faculty; access to international symposia with opportunities for students to interact with and present their research to Nobel laureates.
As a major component of the program, students will gain hands-on laboratory experience learning the special cutting-edge techniques and technologies used in neuroscience, taught by collaborative teams of renowned local and international scientists. Introducing a broad range of scientific and technical expertise, Honors Trainees will have the unique opportunity to conduct research in high-impact areas including systems, cognitive, computational and cellular & molecular neuroscience.
Admissions
The FAU Max Planck Honors Program will serve a select number of highly qualified students. National merit scholars will have preferred admission into the program. The program will offer exclusive electives, specifically unique to the MPFI’s faculty and research infrastructure. The honors in the major program will be offered across three degrees in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science: B.S. in biological sciences; B.A. in psychology; and B.S. in neuroscience and behavior; and as tracks in four concentrations of the Wilkes Honors College: Biology, Biological Chemistry, Neuroscience, and Psychology.