Neuroendocrinology

0.5-1 Course Unit

Goals: This course aims to familiarize students with recent discoveries in neuroendocrine research with a focus on puberty. Students have an opportunity to consider how neuroendocrine hypotheses are generated and learn how to analyze data for themselves. Students will master this emerging topic and develop writing and presenting skills as they develop their own research ideas. Format: We will spend three class meetings dissecting each of four journal articles from a single lab in chronological order. These three meetings will involve fully understanding the key concepts, methods, results and future directions. The professor will provide background information in short (20-30 min) lectures. Students will be expected to participate in discussions and work collaboratively with other students. At the end of the course, each student will present a proposal of "future directions" based on the papers we have discussed. Student Evaluation: Eighty percent of the final grade will be based on participation in these in-depth journal club discussions. The final twenty percent of the grade will be based on the presentation of Future Directions to the class. Prerequitie: Permission of coure director. Spring, odd numbered years only 0.5-1 Course Unit