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  Training      
     Specialization in Cognitive Affective Neuroscience (SCAN)
 
All SCAN students will take our courses in Foundations of Cognitive-Affective Neuroscience and Methods in Cognitive-Affective Neuroscience, both of which will start being offered every year starting in 2005-2006. Additionally, SCAN students will have to do one of two things: either take the biology sequence in our Biobehavioral Health department (469, 470), which would be done before taking the Foundations and Method sequence, or take one additional 500-level psychology course related to SCAN.

For the lab rotation, all SCAN students must complete two semesters of research with SCAN faculty other than their advisor. This can be done by working with one person for two semesters or two people for one semester each. This minimum of three courses and two semesters of research match the minor version of the Psychology Department’s breadth/minor requirement. Furthermore, by requiring that these semesters be with faculty other than the advisor, SCAN students will also meet the Department’s one-year-of-research-with-someone-other-than-the-advisor requirement.

Besides these requirements, SCAN students are expected to participate in our every-other-week Brain Bunch talks, and to give a presentation to this group at least once before leaving. In addition to the year lab rotation, SCAN students are expected to have a SCAN-related component to either or both of their Masters and PhD. Furthermore, at least one SCAN faculty member other than the advisor should be on the committee concerned with the project (or projects) that meet this requirement.
 
 
 
 
 
         
  Student Awards
  Rayna Macher and Megan Wagner   Christopher Bailey  
  Congratulations to Rayna Macher and Megan Wagner, winners of first and second place for the "Best Student Poster Award" for the PSU Psychology Dept. Psi Chi Undergraduate Research Exhibition, April 4, 2005. Rayna's poster was entitled, "Computerized vs. clinical testing: Examining validity in cognitive assessment of sports-related concussion." Megan's was entitled, "Daily stressors, coping, and depression in multiple sclerosis."   Congratulations to Christopher Bailey, winner of "Best Student Poster" awards at the two most recent National Academy of Neuropsychology annual conferences. Chris's award-winning poster in 2004 was entitled, "Differential motivation on baseline and post-MTBI neuropsychological performance in collegiate athletes." His 2005 poster was entitled, "Assessment of effort in baseline MRBI neuropsychological testing."  
         
  Lauren Strober   Joe Beeney  
  Congratulations to Lauren Strober, winner of the 2005-2006 Penn State College of the Liberal Arts Award for Excellence in Research. This award was based upon Lauren’s publication of her Master’s thesis entitled: “An examination of four models predicting fatigue in multiple sclerosis.”   Congratulations to Joe Beeney, 2nd place winner for his poster presented at the Penn State University Graduate Research Exhibition, March 26, 2006. This award was based upon Joe’s presentation entitled, “Stress and affective memory bias interact to predict depressive symptoms in multiple sclerosis.”  
         
  Megan Smith   Fiona Barwick  
  Congratulations to Megan Smith, winner of the “Best Student Poster" award at the most recent National Academy of Neuropsychology annual conference in San Antonio, Texas. Megan’s poster was entitled, “Physical Disability and Perfectionistic Concern Over Mistakes Predict Depression in an MS Population: Replication And Extension.”

Megan Smith, was also the winner of the 2005 Psi Chi undergraduate teaching excellence award for her instruction at Penn State. 		  Congratulations to Fiona Barwick, winner of the “Best Student Poster" award at the 2005 National Academy of Neuropsychology annual conference in San Antonio, Texas. Fiona’s poster was entitled, “Impact of anxiety and cognitive dysfunction on social support in MS.”  
         
  Gray Vargas   Maggie Sikora  
  Congratulations to Gray Vargas, 1st place winner in Social and Behavioral Sciences for her poster presented at the Penn State University Graduate Research Exhibition, March 29, 2009. This award was based upon Gray's poster entitled, “Positivity of Everyday Experiences Interacts with Social Support to Predict Depression in Multiple Sclerosis.”   Congratulations to Maggie Sikora for winning 2nd place in the Psi Chi undergraduate symposium. This award was based on research she did as part of her senior thesis that was done in the MS lab. Good work, Maggie!  
         
  Chelsea Morse   Amanda Rabinowitz  
  Congratulations to Chelsea Morse who won 2nd place at the Penn State undergraduate research symposium. This award was based on research she completed as part of her senior thesis in the MS lab. Chelsea will be starting Drexel University's Clinical Psychology graduate program in the fall. Congrats, Chelsea!   Congratulations to Amanda Rabinowitz, 3rd place winner in Social and Behavioral Sciences for her poster presented at the Penn State University Graduate Research Exhibition, March 27, 2010. This award was based upon Amanda’s poster entitled, “Assessing motivation in baseline concussion testing.”  
         
  Kristina Krecko      
  Congratulations to Kristina Krecko who won the Gerald A. Hauser Award for the Best Overall Presentation at the Penn State Undergraduate Research Exhibition on April 7, 2010. This award was based on research she completed as part of her senior thesis in the MS lab. Kristina will be starting medical school at Penn State University’s Hershey Medical Center in the fall. Good luck, Kristina!