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Applications

Please send all application materials as a single pdf file to the contact email listed here. Letters should be sent separately as pdfs directly from the referee providing the letter. We strongly encourage applications from under-represented minorities or applicants with disabilities. Applications are due by May 15th.

Appointments will be for 1 year with the possibility of renewal for a second year, depending on satisfactory performance. Instructions for renewal application can be found below.

Graduate Students

The Hearing and Communication Neuroscience Program provides up to two years of support for USC graduate students working on research projects related to hearing and communication. Graduate students typically apply to the HCN program during their first year of graduate study and come from backgrounds representing fields as diverse as neuroscience, bioengineering, physics, psychology, and linguistics.

Applications consist of:

  • A brief cover letter, including contact information and name of advisor
  • A current CV, including any publications and/or abstracts
  • Your undergraduate degree (major, year, institution) and GPA
  • Your GRE scores
  • Your country of citizenship or legal permanent residency
  • Your expected date of completion of your departmental Qualifying exam (dates of both written exam & defense), plus the projected date of application for an NRSA award (F31; the latter is waived for non-US citizens)
  • The list of coursework completed in a USC graduate program; graduate GPA
  • The source of your current or pending support
  • A one-page description of proposed research
  • Two letters of support (one from the advisor)

Postdoctoral Fellows

The Hearing and Communication Neuroscience Program offers training opportunities for Postdoctoral Scholars in the labs of HCN faculty members. Those interested in post-doctoral training should contact faculty members directly to discuss available opportunities.

Applications consist of:

  • A brief cover letter, including contact information and name of advisor (or projected advisor, for those candidates who are not yet working in a preceptor’s laboratory); in-house candidate may apply within the first two years of joining a lab at USC
  • A current CV, including any publications and/or abstracts
  • Your graduate (or medical) degree (major, year, institution) and GPA
  • Your country of citizenship or legal permanent residency
  • A one-page description of thesis work or research experience (N.B. It is not required that the applicant’s prior research experience be in a field related to hearing and communication neuroscience.)
  • A one-page description of your proposed research (developed in conjunction with your advisor (or projected advisor)
  • A roughly 40-minute research seminar on your past/current work, delivered either in-person or online (N.B. Please work with your advisor/projected advisor to schedule this seminar before the application deadline.)
  • Two letters of reference plus a letter of support from your advisor (or projected advisor)

Evaluation Criteria  

The HCN Executive Committee selects candidates based on the strength of their background and application, and the relevance of the proposed research to the mission of the program. In addition, balance across research areas and mentors, active participation in program activities, and gender and ethnic diversity will be considered in choosing trainees. The scholarly record and background of applicants will have the highest priority. If any member of the Executive Committee has a trainee applying for support, they will recuse themselves from deliberations for that candidate and will be replaced by another preceptor. All members of the Executive Committee (including preceptors serving as ad hoc reviewers) will rank pre- and post-doctoral candidates separately, and then meet as a group to choose the best candidates based on their qualifications.

Annual Progress Report (Renewal Applications)

Trainees are required to submit a Progress Report at the end of each training year. For those requesting renewal of their HCN support, this report serves as a component of their renewal application. Renewal of Fellowship support is contingent on satisfactory progress as documented in this report. Please send all materials listed below (except the NRSA application) as a single pdf file to Christopher Shera (christopher.shera[@]usc.edu); the NRSA application should be sent as a separate file. Renewal reports are due May 15; final reports are due at the end of HCN fellowship support (i.e., June 30 for those starting in July).

  • A brief (1-2 paragraph) description of research progress
  • A cumulative summary of your training/educational activities, including relevant coursework and journal clubs
  • A statement of progress towards application for an individual NRSA (or equivalent)
  • A copy of the draft or submitted NRSA (or equivalent) application, including the Applicant’s Background and Goals, Specific Aims, , Research Strategy, Respective Contributions
  • A cumulative list of publications, abstracts, and other presentations during the period of your training support, including HCN-sponsored seminars and events
  • An updated CV

In addition, please have your research supervisor and/or training committee send a short evaluation of your progress.

University of Southern California