The TRANSdisciplinary Convergence in Educational Neuroscience Doctoral (TRANSCEND) training program seeks to address two major challenges facing our educational system:
(1) designing and delivering education that helps each student reach their full potential and (2) closing the achievement gap that negatively impacts youth from underrepresented groups (URGs).
This NSF funded program is grounded in Educational Neuroscience (EdNeuro), a cross-disciplinary field which promises to revolutionize education by transcending the present one-size-fits-all approach and personalizing learning. Our approach seeks to help realize EdNeuro’s potential by bringing together transdisciplinary research training in Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Education, Engineering, Computer Science and Math. With a strong emphasis on neurodiversity, team science, and co-creation of research and training opportunities with community stakeholders TRANSCEND will prepare diverse cohorts of trainees (50 PhD students, including 25 funded trainees) with the technical and transferable professional skills needed to excel in the 21st century STEM workforce within and outside of academia.
Innovation in EdNeuro
TRANSCEND integrates faculty from 3 colleges/schools and 5 departments, currently siloed within distinct degree programs. Our integrated EdNeuro Bidirectional Approach and Cyclical Model that requires convergence of multiple disciplines, will lead to more ecologically valid research grounded in practice, and rapid translation of research to practice.
Neurodiversity
TRANSCEND centers neurodiverse learners (e.g., with ADHD, dyslexia, and/or autism spectrum disorder) both as a key population of investigation and as trainees. TRANSCEND will prioritize recruitment and retention of neurodiverse trainees, capitalizing on our expansive network including NSF INCLUDES partners.
Team Science
We expand on UConn NRTs that leveraged problem-based learning, and add deliberate and formal implementation of team science approaches while considering diversity (in both demography and expertise) to enhance team creativity and productivity; and to facilitate collaborations, cultural competence, and career readiness. The Graduate School will support efforts to develop new modes of dissertation research based on transdisciplinary teams.
Community
To enhance TRANSCEND’s impact, the program will cultivate a culture of support and sense of belonging through internships; receiving and providing mentorship; and participation of partners, community stakeholders, trainees’ families, and faculty and students from other institutions in program activities. Transformations to graduate training and research will be sustained beyond NSF funding by a planned graduate certificate in EdNeuro. Practices and strategies learned will be disseminated widely for other institutions to follow the TRANSCEND model.
News
- Amid my Ph.D. struggles I learned I am neurodivergenthttps://www.science.org/content/article/amid-phd-struggles-learned-neurodivergent-found-ways-thrive
- Podcast alert! by co-PI Arash Zaghi & Trainee Hayes BrennerPodcast alert! Harmonizing with Autism: An Intimate Conversation with our trainee — Hayes Brenner Podcast alert! Harmonizing with Autism: An Intimate Conversation with our trainee — Hayes Brenner
- New Paper Alert! “Being Neurodivergent in Academia”https://elifesciences.org/articles/93980
- An internship opportunity @NewselaNewsela is hiring an intern for this summer. They are looking for someone with: strong quantitative skills and; an interest in educational technology Please contact Kayleigh Ryherd (she/her), Lead Research Analyst @Newsela, at kayleigh.ryherd@newsela.com for more information.
- Article: Your guide to neurodiversity and other neuro termshttps://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2022/1011/1328464-neurodiversity-neurotypical-neurodivergence-neurotypical/
- NYTimes Article: Temple Grandin/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/09/opinion/temple-grandin-visual-thinking-autism.html
- Square Pegs — a podcast on neurodiversity hosted by co-PI ArashClick the images below to listen: Follow Square Pegs on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SquarePegsPod
- Poster Presentation at #NRT2022NRT 2022 Annual Meeting at VT Poster
- Program FlyerTRANSCEND NRT Recruitment Flyer 2023
Upcoming Events
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No Shave November All Day
11/20
No Shave November
Wednesday, November 20th, 2024
All Day
Throughout the entire month of November, Sammy (Sigma Alpha Mu) will be raising money for the Judy Fund supporting Alzheimer’s research. Check our Instagram story for our venmo!
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Quantum Computing Workshop 9:00am
11/20
Quantum Computing Workshop
Wednesday, November 20th, 2024
09:00 AM - 05:15 PM
UConn Health Genetics and Genome Sciences
Unlock the future of computing with a Quantum Computing Workshop. Presented by UConn Center for Advanced Engineering Education and UConn School of Computing, in partnership with QuantumCT, UConn Technology Commercialization Services, and Connecticut Advanced Computing Center, this two-day workshop will benefit anyone who wants to get a thorough introduction to the various facets of quantum computing.
Program Overview & Learning Outcomes:
Unlock the future of computing with our Quantum Computing Workshop. During this two-day comprehensive workshop, you will:Learn how a quantum computer works
Explore the creation of quantum algorithms
Understand the impact of quantum computing on security
Grasp the basics of quantum communications
Discover popular applications of quantum computingContact Information:
Center for Advanced Engineering Education office. Telephone: (855) 740-4044 | E-mail: engrcaee@uconn.edu
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1st Northeast Power Electronics Symposium All Day
11/21
1st Northeast Power Electronics Symposium
Thursday, November 21st, 2024
All Day
IPB
The Northeast Power Electronics Symposium (NEPES) is hosted by the Connecticut Power Electronics Center of Excellence.
The mission of the Connecticut Power Electronics Center of Excellence (CONPEX) is to maintain and expand excellence in research and workforce development in the broad area of power electronics and its technology domains and applications, with a holistic interdisciplinary approach, to support existing and future industry, government, research, and training activities in this area.
Our Goals & Objectives
- Establishing a world-renowned center in power electronics to address global energy challenges and energy equity in remote and under-served areas.
- Establishing short courses for advanced engineering education both locally, nationally, and globally.
- Creating a workforce training program in an area of state and national needs.
- Establishing a truly unique inter-disciplinary approach to address local and global energy challenges that require power electronic energy conversion.
- Establish a R&D platform to enable inter-disciplinary expertise to address advance power electronic solutions to address upcoming challenges with industry as partner.