The ITN CEREBNET Network
It is training network on a multi-disciplinar field exploiting front-end technologies to addressing critical issues for Neuroscience. In this project we use a multidisciplinary approach to investigate neuronal and circuit functions in the cerebellar network, which plays a critical role in sensori-motor control and is probably also involved in higher cognitive functions. The project will be employing 17 young scientists in PhD and postdoctoral programs and promoting their interchange among our laboratories and industries, both by developing collaborative investigations and by organizing workshops and training courses on scientific issues, techniques, and general skills.
Project objectives
The core neuroscience objectives address the functional mechanisms of the olivo-cerebellar system.
1) How does the granular layer elaborates incoming signals and learns relevant patterns?
2) How does the inferior olive controls the PC and DCN neurons?
3) How do the Purkinje cells and molecular layer elaborate granular layer and inferior olive signals
4) How do the Purkinje cells process the cerebellar cortical output ?
Work performed since the beginning of the project
To start the programme eligible students worldwide were invited to apply for one of the 17 vacancies mentioned on the website of this project (http://www-3.unipv.it/dsffcm/pagine/labs/dangelo/cerebnet.html) as well as on the websites of all partners, Marie Curie website (Euraxess) and FENS and IBRO website. We had 14 ESR positions and 3 ER open positions. We have recruited 13 ESRs, 11 already working and 2 going to start in February. The remaining ESR is going to be recruited by UCL-WI, where they did not find a suitable candidate during the first round of interviews and then readvertized the position and launched a second selection process. We have recruited 1 of the 3 ERs. For the remaining two, we are now launching the calls for 2011. In total we received 138 eligible applications. 45 of these were from female students and 93 from male students. A balance of 32,6% male and 67,4% female hired ESRs is the actual result. So, in the end 10 male students and 4 female students are hired and started the CEREBNET programme. The interchange between partners is also beginning at the level of recruitment, since one student of CNISM and one of ERASMUS-MC were recruited by UCL-NPP. The other student were recruited from different research groups. As a total, 7 students were recruited in Europe and 6 students were recruited from outside Europe.
Main result achieved so far: The official training period of this project started in July 2010 with a kick off meeting in Pavia(IT), at which the students recruited at that time have taken part. Moreover, this was the occasion for all PIs to meet and make the point on scientific and administrative issues. The introduction course was open to every students and ended with a social for the CEREBNET group. Presentations by PIs and students about their researches was followed by a general discussion about student exchanges and collaborations. After a fruitful discussion, the meeting ended with a consensus on how to move forward. In August (15-27), CEREBNET has supported and promoted the EILAT course in Neuroscience, in which 6 CEREBNET teachers have given courses and training to 24 students (4 aggregated to CEREBNET). In these two meetings, some CEREBNET students were still under recruitment and were not yet ready with the VISA, so they could not take part. We have also developed a dedicated website: http://cerebnet.blogspot.com/. The site is intended to put CEREBNET fellows in contact through a weblog, to inform the public (persons, high schools and media) about their study and progress, to update the lab environment about upcoming issues and to answer questions that public, scientist and new generation students might have. We will also advertize upcoming conferences, courses and positions.
