Becky Berman

When I think of the CNBC experience, the first thing that comes to mind is, oddly enough, the CNBC 'kitchenette' near my office. I'm there frequently, getting coffee. I may also find leftovers from a recent Brain Bag, or, on a lucky day, a potent rum cake (concocted by one of our faculty, in cahoots with Betty Crocker). But what's so quintessentially 'CNBC' about a kitchenette? Are there hippocampal slices in the fridge, connectionist drink dispensers?

For me, this watering hole is a daily source of scientific collaboration. Here I run into fellow students, postdocs, and faculty; talk with computer scientists, physiologists, mathematicians, linguists, and psychologists. Here, in other words, I participate in one of the many instances of cross-disciplinary interaction that characterize the CNBC. I might join in discussing a recent talk or paper, learn a solution to a problem in the lab, share advice on classes, or find out which films, bands, or exhibits to see in town. Discussion may not lead to an astonishing eureka; but assuredly, it builds community. And this is only a small example of how the structure of the CNBC fosters interaction. The Brain Bag series, colloquia, annual lectures, and retreats all contribute to the sharing of knowledge.

This interaction has been an important component of my own graduate experience. I came to the CNBC with an interest in using two complementary methods to study cognition: functional magnetic resonance imaging and single unit physiology. The resources of the CNBC - not only the physical resources but also the wealth of expertise gathered here - have been fundamental to my training and research. I've been able to pursue projects in several domains, using psychophysics, fMRI, and single unit recording. The benefit of the CNBC community was immediately evident when I began my imaging studies. I started talking with other graduate students and postdocs about various questions and challenges, and we soon organized a journal club. Several of us then developed a short course in fMRI, sponsored by the CNBC. We were able to bring together a range of experts from departments at Pitt and CMU, and provided training to students and postdocs of various backgrounds.

The CNBC's sponsorship of that workshop brings me toanother crucial part of the graduate experience: support of student initiatives. There's student support aplenty, in the form of stipends, travel funds, computers, and the much-appreciated free dinners. But the program really shows it stripes when the students come up with a proposal, and the faculty pitch in with advice, participation, and resources. Such initiatives have led to successful methodology workshops, a statistics course, and our long-standing student-sponsored speaker series. These events attest to the collaborative nature of the graduate education here and to the tangible rewards of the cross-disciplinary program.

Home Program/Department: CNUP/Neuroscience

Advisor: Carol Colby

Year: Nth! (ok - 6th)

Research Interest: Spatial cognition & attention, multisensory processing