Gallaudet鈥檚 first ASL-English Bilingual Summer School in Cognitive and Educational Neuroscience welcomed students for a six-week course designed to encourage them to pursue scientific careers. It is funded through the National Science Foundation鈥檚 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, via a grant (award 2150106) to Dr. Ilaria Berteletti, associate professor in the Ph.D. Program in Educational Neuroscience.

鈥淭his [program] was born from the recognition that we don鈥檛 have a great pipeline to bring in deaf students who recognize themselves as being potential researchers,鈥� says Berteletti, Director of the Numeracy and Educational Neuroscience Laboratory, part of Gallaudet鈥檚 Science of Learning Center on Visual Language and Visual Learning (VL2). 鈥淏ut we have a lot of knowledge, and we saw the opportunity to provide an accessible summer school.鈥�

The goal is to give undergraduates hands-on experience by placing them with VL2鈥檚 laboratories, and making sure that they are familiar with various neuroimaging methods, such as EEG, fNIRS, and fMRI. 鈥淲e want to show them live what it looks like,鈥� Berteletti says. They will also explore ethical considerations in neuroscience. For example, Berteletti says, 鈥淚f I鈥檓 working with a deaf population, I need to make sure the consent form is accessible.鈥� Issues could arise about confidentiality, compensation, or other topics.

鈥淥nce they leave, they will have a better sense of what research means and they will have been inspired to continue,鈥� Berteletti says. 鈥淎nd they have something on their CV to convince a lab to hire them. We are creating this foundation to bring them to the next level.鈥�

Three students from Gallaudet, as well as three from other institutions, were selected to participate this summer. They will each receive on-campus housing, travel expenses, $245 per week for food, and a $600 per week stipend. In addition, they will be able to network with peers and receive guidance from mentors, who can help them navigate future course selection and applying to graduate school.

For Katie McClyman, a psychology major at Gallaudet who just finished her sophomore year, this summer is her chance to explore. 鈥淥ne of the coolest things is just meeting everyone and seeing all the labs. I鈥檝e also enjoyed learning about all the different projects that are being worked on,鈥� says McClyman, who appreciates that everything is being taught in American Sign Language.

Alexandro Taylor-Young, a participant from the University of San Francisco, says he has been 鈥渧ibrating with excitement鈥� since he was accepted into the summer school. He plans to enroll in an M.D./Ph.D. program after graduation, so he is eager to learn more about lab research. 鈥淭his is giving me such a better idea of what a career would look like,鈥� says Taylor-Young, who is especially thrilled to be working under Dr. Laura-Ann Petitto, VL2鈥檚 Science Director, and looking at how the brain processes language. 鈥淚 cited her studies in a paper for one of my psychology classes. I feel like I鈥檓 meeting a celebrity,鈥� he adds.

If this one-year trial is successful, Berteletti plans to apply for additional NSF funding to create a five-year program, which would make it possible for students to return for a second summer. 鈥淭hey would build over two years, dive deeper, and become leaders,鈥� she says.