Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) provides UMD students of all backgrounds, disciplines, and levels of experience with the opportunity to engage in scaffolded, multidisciplinary team-based projects.
VIP Team Information
VIP Team
Brain Data Explorers
VIP Faculty Mentors:
Dr. Ana Navarro-Cebrian
Dr. Amanda Chicoli
Department of Psychology
Department of Psychology
Meeting Location, Day & Time:
Location: Suite 1107, Biology-Psychology Building (BPS)
Time: Friday 11:30am - 1:30pm
Description:
In Brain Data Explorers, students will work collaboratively to transform existing neuroscience datasets into resources for scientific discovery. Our team will develop workflows for organizing, preprocessing, and analyzing brain data. These tools will allow students to investigate new research questions efficiently.
Students will receive hands-on training in EEG and fMRI analysis, learn to use software and computational tools, and gain experience working with neuroscience data. Projects will include developing and documenting analysis pipelines, and investigating questions about brain function and behavior.
An important goal is to create a sustainable research environment where students build on each other's work across semesters. New members will learn foundational methods, while experienced students will develop more advanced analyses, mentor their peers, and pursue independent research projects. By sharing methods, tools, and preprocessed datasets, the team will make it easier for future students to develop and test their own hypotheses.
Ultimately, Brain Data Explorers aims to expand undergraduate research opportunities while contributing reusable tools and resources to the neuroscience community.
Methods:
Analysis of electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. EEG spectral analysis, event-related potentials (ERPs), functional connectivity, brain network analysis, and fMRI activation and connectivity analyses
Hands-on experience with MATLAB, Python, R and specialized neuroscience software such as EEGLAB and other open-source neuroimaging tools.
Majors:
Psychology, Neuroscience, Biology, Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, and related fields.
Preferred Interests:
We welcome motivated undergraduate students from diverse academic backgrounds who are interested in neuroscience. Previous experience with programming (MATLAB or Python), statistics, EEG, fMRI, or data analysis is beneficial.
Because developing research skills and reusable analysis pipelines takes time, a commitment of at least three semesters is preferred, although students who cannot make this commitment are still encouraged to apply.