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Pathways to Neurosciences

Pathways to Neurosciences logo

The Pathways to Neurosciences program aims to foster belonging, excellence, and leadership in the next generation of neuroscience trainees.

Our Program

The Pathways program is part of an NIH-funded research study that seeks to collect actionable data about how to effectively increase social connection and feelings of belonging for historically underrepresented trainees in the neurosciences.

Participants will take part in a mentorship and leadership training program that includes the following opportunities:

  • NeuroCircles: Engage in biweekly, faculty-facilitated peer-to-peer mentoring groups to build your academic network and share experiences in science.
  • Pathways Mentors: Pick a faculty mentor with related interests or background to meet one-on-one and discuss mentorship, scientific advancement, and academic networking. 
  • Unwritten Rules: Successful neuroscientists from underrepresented groups will share their experiences in informal talks.
  • Enrichment Funds: Get funding for career development and scientific training experiences, such as travel to another lab to learn a technique or to a relevant scientific meeting.
  • BIOS 225 Diversity & Inclusion in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine): Participate in the "DAIS" spring minicourse, which combines didactics and team projects to enhance diversity.

Note: During the first year of the program, some participants will be assigned to engage in these mentorship and leadership training opportunities while others will be assigned to a comparison group. Comparison participants will be payed to fill out annual surveys about their experiences in science and will have the opportunty to engage in a subsequent round of the program.

Pathways Mentors

View Pathways Mentors (public)

View Pathways Mentors personal statements (available to Pathways trainees only)

Application and Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

  • Self-identify as a member of a demographic group underrepresented in neuroscience such as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC), LatinX, female, disabled, economic disadvantage, LGBTQ+, first in your family to go to college, or other.
  • Be a late-stage graduate student (4th or 5th year in fall 2021) or early-stage postdoctoral fellow (1st or 2nd year).
  • Be doing neuroscience-related research.

Summer 2022 enrollment cycle is closed

Applications open again in Summer 2023.

Sign up for the interest list to be contacted when the next enrollment cycle opens.

Interest list

Contact Us

For questions about the program, please contact: pathways2neuro@stanford.edu.

For questions about the rights of participants in our study or the efficacy of the program, call 1-866-680-2906.