Oversee the implementation of SfN's Higher Education and Training Strategy and make recommendations for updates to the strategy.

• Gather information and promote effective communication for members on relevant trends in neuroscience education, training, research, and workforce needs, as well as potential funding and collaboration opportunities
• Support the membership through year-round programming that addresses career-long training on neuroscience techniques and workforce needs.
• Effectively support the needs and interests of neuroscience trainees, faculty, departments, and programs by leveraging programming at the SfN Annual Meeting that includes networking opportunities for Institutional Program (IP) members, a Neuroscience Departments and Programs (NDP) workshop, a graduate school fair, and a short course focused on the responsible conduct of research and scientific rigor, in addition to year-round programming.
• Create value for, as well as facilitate communication and information sharing for (IP) members engaged in neuroscience training, including neuroscience departments and programs and non-degree granting institutions within SfN’s membership structure.
• Coordinate participation of academic institutions in SfN’s advocacy efforts, including the annual Capitol Hill Day, and support Council’s efforts to inform policymakers and funding agencies about neuroscience education, research, and workforce needs.
• Support efforts to increasingly connect the neuroscience community among scientists in all career stages across the US and internationally.

The Neuroscience Training Committee is part of the Professional Development and Training Committee Cluster, which also includes the Professional Development Committee.

The Neuroscience Training Committee promotes strategies that address education and training needs at multiple career stages, with considerations for: providing career-long training on scientific rigor and emerging techniques; informing evolving neuroscience workforce and training needs; advising Council on workforce policy needs; and increasing the value of IP Membership.

Monitor

• Needs of the neuroscience workforce to inform future programming as detailed below.
• Trends in policies of funding agencies and/or institutions related to workforce and training issues.
• Available information and data and, as needed, recommend input on information gathering efforts in regards to the neuroscience workforce.
• Best practices and policies around neuroscience education and training.

Advise On

• Initiatives to support neuroscience education and training and workforce matters.
• The evolving composition of the modern neuroscience workforce in terms of technological advancements and all career trajectories.
• Topics may be scientific issues, such as scientific rigor, tool and technology diffusion, or career issues such as building careers outside of academia.
• Trends in undergraduate and graduate neuroscience education and training and recommend policies to Council based on:
• members' needs related to the training and education of future neuroscientists
• trends related to "scientific workforce" size and composition
• Strategies for increasing IP membership retention and growth.
• Capturing information reflecting institutional programs through tools such as an IP member survey.

Manage Activities

• Oversee the programming of workshops and other training related activities at the annual meeting.
• Address emerging issues in neuroscience education and workforce and training by promoting dissemination of training and related information on Neuronline.
• Provide support to IP members, including addressing related topics within their programs.
• Provide training to all SfN members through in-person and online programming.
• Conduct a workshop at the annual meeting to promote networking opportunities for IP members.

Coordinate and Communicate

• Between SfN, the training and higher education community, and employers of neuroscientists as available and appropriate.
• With science agencies on workforce and training issues, working in collaboration with the Government and Public Affairs Committee and Council.
• With the Global Membership Committee to develop recommendations related to international training needs and IP membership where appropriate.
• With relevant committees through the Professional Development Cluster regarding potential activities of interest to IP members and to promote activities related to training.
• Involvement in SfN's advocacy efforts and other outreach activities that inform policymakers about neuroscience research and workforce needs.
• With the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN) and other relevant partner organizations.
• With SfN's growing international membership on workforce and training issues.

The committee consists of a chair and committee members who all serve a three-year term. Committee members and the chair are recommended by the Committee on Committees and approved by the SfN Council. Committee members should represent a variety of perspectives, including: representation from SfN IP Membership (undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral program members), representation from outside of academia (e.g. science policy, writing, publishing, advocacy, program administration, teaching, government, or industry), representation that contributes a global perspective, and representation from educators with a broad role in helping shape the field of neuroscience through their curriculum or other professional efforts. Liaisons may be drawn from the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN) and the Association of Medical School Neuroscience Department Chairpersons (AMSNDC). The incoming chair of the NTC and Principal Investigator of the Neurobiology of Disease Workshop (NDW) Advisory Board serve as ex officio members.

The committee has two yearly meetings: the first occurs in the spring, and the second occurs in the fall during the annual meeting. Additional correspondence is conducted by email and conference call, as needed, throughout the calendar year to address issues that arise between meetings of the full committee.