NITP Summer Questions and Answers

Questions and Answers:

"How do I know that my application has been received? How can I tell if the reference letters are in place?"

All of the application materials are processed electronically. Each individual who sends in a reference will receive confirmation of its receipt. You should contact the people from whom you have requested letters. You can also contact Mark Cohen directly (mscohen@g.ucla.edu) if you have special concerns about your application.

We will collate the applications and letters shortly after April, 2014 and review them for completeness. If the references are not in place, we will ask you to have them resubmitted, but this will have to take place very quickly, so that we can make our decisions in time for everyone's travel planning.

"Will colleagues I list as my referees be expected to submit Letters of Recommendation, or is there some other format for these references?"

The people you list for references will receive a link to a personalized form page that asks them a bit about themselves, in addition to specific ratings on your familiarity with important concepts and tools. In addition, we ask for a statement as to why you would be a strong candidate for our summer program. When they submit that form, you will receive an email notification. If you haven't gotten such an email, you should assume that we have not received a letter on your behalf. If that hasn't appeared in your inbox a few days before the deadline, we suggest you follow up with them directly. We will not be able to do so for each applicant. This sample letter of reference form may clarify this answer further.

"I wanted to find out what the word limit was for the letter of recommendation and also if it would be possible to email out the form for the letter before submitting my complete application? "

The letters should be long enough to tell us whatever needs to be said, there is really no limit, just be considerate.

"Your mass mailings state that the application deadline is March 31, but the forms indicate a close date of April 15. What's the deal here?"

We have listed the earlier date mostly so that when applicants submit their applications there will be time to get letters of reference. In practice, we will actually accept applications through April 15, after which the application site will be shut down; no applications or letters of reference will be accepted after that date. We strongly encourage you to have your applications submitted by March 31.

"From your description, you are seeking individuals with significant experience in neuroimaging, would you be able to provide more information on this? I would like to know what level of expertise you seek from participants before submitting an application to the workshop. "

We do not have specific requirements, but we are looking for students with diverse backgrounds. Each application will be reviewed individually. You should clarify in your application what background you do have. We will offer some general training, but it is intended primarily as refresher and to give us a common language for the balance of the course. We will also send information on online resources when we have made our acceptance decisions.

"I understand that the Neuroimaging Training Program offers advanced imaging training ... do you have any recommendation for an imaging training for beginners?"

There are several highly regarded courses, though I am not personally up to date on them, so these are ideas, not recommendations:

"I was wondering if this course is open to graduate students outside the UCLA/USA. I am a PhD student at ... "

Of course! We particularly welcome international attendees.

"I anticipate that I will have a postdoc starting in the summer who might be interested in this course. Could you please let me know whether he could participate? "

The course is open to investigators from graduate students through tenured faculty.

"What software package(s) will be used for the hands-on portion of the summer school? "

The exercises will primarily use FSL, but will also use SPM and potentially other packages as well. For fMRI stimulus presentation, we will use the MATLAB Psychophysics Toolbox. We will also demonstrate and distribute a variety of other software tools, including GIFT, BrainSuite, TrackViz, Neurosynth and others.

"Will I be able to use my own computer at the course for the class exercises? "

Actually, we encourage this strongly. We will have available an installation virtual machine containing all executable code used in the course, from which you may make a local copy. A software installation lab will take place on the first day of the course to get you settled. We will have temporary licenses available for MATLAB, but you may wish to purchase your own copy.

"I am a UCLA student/post-doc/faculty, will I be given preference for admission? "

We do not give preference to UCLA community members

"I am a current fellow in the Neuroimaging Training Program, and attendance at the summer fellowship is mandatory, do I need to apply? "

Please do, this will make all of our record-keeping easier. Thanks.

"I have previously attended the summer course, may I apply again?"

In order to fill our NIH mandate to broaden the community, we will not be accepting repeat students.

"What are the visa requirements for your course? "

This is a very complex question handled on a case-by-case basis, and we therefore would appreciate waiting to answer until we have made our admissions decision. If you are accepted we will assist you where possible in getting clearance, writing letters, etc...

"I have special dietary needs (vegetarian, kosher, halal, etc...) Will you be able to accommodate me? "

During the training sessions we will have a variety of light snacks and drinks, and we will have a group dinner. We should be able to meet your needs, but these foods will not be prepared in special kitchens. If this is a critical requirement, we will seek your help in making alternative arrangements.

"What are the lodging arrangements? "

Attendees will be housed on the UCLA campus in the DeNeve Commons, just a few minutes' walk from the classroom. In general, there will be two, same sex, people per room.

"I am interested in attending the summer neuroimaging school, but I have already submitted two papers to a conference that conflicts. How can I access the web simulcast, and do you have archives of previous years? "

We will be using UCLA's services to webcast our program. However, the link will not be posted until shortly before the course begins - perhaps a week. At that time, it will be prominent on the course web pages, as well as at www.BrainMapping.org. Last summer's program can be found online. We are not videographers, but we are improving steadily.

Updated March 5, 2014

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The UCLA Neuroimaging Training Program is funded by generous awards from the National Institutes of Health, grant numbers R90 DA022768 and T90 DA023422


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