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:
- Brief cover letter, including contact information and name of advisor
- CV, including any publications and/or abstracts
- Undergraduate degree (major, year, institution) and GPA
- GRE scores
- Expected date of completion of Qualifying exam (dates of both written exam & defense), plus projected date of application for an NRSA award (F31; the latter is waived for non-US citizens)
- List of coursework completed in a USC graduate program; graduate GPA
- Current or pending support
- 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:
- 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
- CV, including any publications and/or abstracts
- Graduate (or medical) degree (major, year, institution) and GPA
- 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.)
- One-page description of proposed research (developed in conjunction with advisor (or projected advisor)
- Two letters of reference plus a letter of support from advisor (or projected advisor)
Evaluation Criteria
The HNC 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.
Expectations
All trainees must take the HCN Core Course, which is offered in spring semesters in alternate years – most recently in 2022; . All trainees must also take NEUR 538: Ethics and Professionalization, offered every fall. All trainees and their mentors are required to participate in all program activities (such as journal club meetings, annual retreats, etc) THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE TENURE AT USC, not just during the years when they are being supported by the program.
All trainees are required to submit an individual NRSA (or equivalent) application during their first year of training in the HCN program. Trainees can petition the HCN Executive Committee for an exception to this rule if they and their advisor agree that a later application is beneficial for their career progress.
All pre-doctoral trainees must have already taken, or will take in their first year, NEUR 524; trainees may apply to the Executive Committee requesting to substitute BISC 421 for NEUR 524.
Annual Progress Report (Renewal Applications)
Trainees are required to submit a short Progress Report at the end of each training year. For those requesting renewal of their HCN support, this report serves as their renewal application. Renewal of Fellowship support is contingent on satisfactory progress as documented in this report. Please send all materials (see below) as a single pdf file to Christopher Shera (christopher.shera[@]usc.edu). 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 short summary of your training/educational activities, including participation in the HCN Core Course
- A statement of progress towards application for an individual NRSA (or equivalent)
- A 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.