Education

Undergraduate

All of our students including undergraduates are assigned to research projects. If they are selected to present a poster or talk at a national or international conference, we pay their way to attend. We have sponsored students to Miami, San Diego, New Orleans, Garmisch (Germany), Ascona, (Switzerland), and Guanzhou (China).

We teach the following undergraduate courses:

Special Topics in Cell Biology and Neuroscience. (Fall Semester)

Advanced Cell Biology and Neuroscience, a departmental course. (Spring Semester)

Byrne Freshmen Seminar: Spinal Cord Injury, Stem Cells: Pushing the Frontiers, Raising the Ethical Questions. (Spring Semester)

Friday Student Seminars: Students interested in exploring study or research opportunities in the W. M. Keck Center are invited to attend our student meetings on Fridays from 3-5:00 pm during the school year. For details and dates, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to sign up for notices of these meetings.

Summer Research Program: This is an eight-week, full-time, non-credit intense academic and laboratory training course for select undergraduates interested in continuing with research and potentially a senior honors thesis. The culmination is the presentation of research projects and results at the Summer Open House. A limited number of students are admitted to this highly competitive program. Interested students must apply by March. To be considered for participation, attend the Friday Student Seminars and ask for a Summer Research Program application.  

Rutgers University Women in Neuroscience (RU-WINS): The purpose of RU-WINS is to bring outstanding women neuroscientists to Rutgers and to train young women in leadership. There are four 4) parts to the RU-WINS program: Women in Neuroscience Lecture and Luncheon Series, Student Research Opportunities, Special Programs, and Student Committees. The monthly lecture series brings outstanding women neuroscientists to Rutgers to present their research to students and faculty. RU-WINS programs are organized by the RU-WINS Fellows who receive experience in organizing these programs. Details of the RU-WINS programs are on the Keck Center Calendar.

Student Society for Stem Cell Research (SSSCR): We also serve as faculty advisors for the SSSCR which holds regular meetings and special events related to the understanding and advancement of stem cell research.

Graduate

Top-ranked students both from Rutgers and other institutions can apply for highly-competitive graduate and doctoral candidate positions. MD/PhD and medical research students also can apply for research positions. Graduate students at the W. M. Keck Center have the unique experience of working with world-renown faculty in a state-of-the-art facility. Students learn the use of standard models and methods including surgery and animal care. Cutting edge research projects are focused on developing possible treatments for spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions with the potential for moving to clinical trials. To be considered for graduate studies at the W. M. Keck Center, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your transcript, CV, field of interest, and proposed schedule.

Post-Doctoral/Visiting Scholar

Post-doctoral fellows can continue their studies and advance their research interests in a setting which encourages innovative thinking and scientific collaboration. Contributions move the field of spinal cord injury research forward and often lead to publications in highly-ranked journals.

Visiting Scholars are senior scientists from other institutions who spend between a month and two years at the W. M. Keck Center. While here they learn spinal cord research methods, share their special knowledge and skills with our scientists, and continue to collaborate after returning to their home institutions. Each Visiting Scholar is treated as a unique guest with a program tailored to your goals and skills. Financial arrangements are discussed with your sponsoring institution and individually tailored.

For international personnel interested in post-doctoral studies or exploring the possibility of becoming Visiting Scholars, Rutgers University will work with you and your present institution on the necessary qualifications and paperwork.

To explore the possibility of post-doctoral or visiting scholars positions, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your CV, transcript, field of interest, and proposed schedule. Although there is not a specific deadline for applications, please allow sufficient time for advance consideration and planning.

Workshops/MASCIS Impactor

Workshops

Each quarter we hold a workshop on Spinal Cord Injury Research Methods. This intense three-day program includes lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on experience. Topics covered are: Introduction to the MASCIS Impactor, Contusion, Anesthesia, and Care, Anatomy and Surgery, Animal Care and BBB Scoring, Euthanasia, Cord Dissection, and Perfusion. Group activities include Dinner at the Pub.

There are no Workshops scheduled at this time. 

Questions, email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

MASCIS Impactor

The MASCIS Impactor is a device designed to deliver graded reproducible spinal cord contusions in rats. Developed over ten years ago, the Impactor is part of a well-defined rodent spinal cord injury model that is used in over 100 laboratories around the world. In addition, more than 50% of recent publications on spinal cord injury research used the MASCIS Impactor. Most of the recommended procedures for the Impactor are based on experience with the model and work done by the Multicenter Animal Spinal Cord Injury Study (MASCIS).

The Impactor is now in its third generation (Model III) with many improvements over previous models. It is available in a model with data recording capability which requires a Windows XP computer. It is also available in a basic model (Model II) which only does the impact, not the recording of data.

Impactor production has ceased, none are available for sale at this time.