Training in Environmental Neuroscience (TENS) Program
Environmental factors are increasingly recognized as key determinants in neurological diseases which are on the rise among underserved populations. Thus, there is an urgent need for scientists, particularly underrepresented minorities, trained in environmental health and neuroscience.
The Training in Environmental Neuroscience (TENS) program, offered at Florida International University (FIU), a Carnegie "R1" research university and Hispanic-Serving Institution, aims to train interdisciplinary scientists at the interface of environmental health and neuroscience.
FIU is uniquely poised to provide this research training through a partnership between the Brain, Behavior, and Environment (BBE) Program and the Cognitive Neuroscience (CN) Program bringing together faculty and students from the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, the College of Arts, Sciences and Education, and the College of Engineering and Computing.
Mission
The mission of the TENS program is to provide talented and motivated predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees with rigorous didactic and laboratory training in contemporary environmental health and neuroscience. Program objectives include:
- Acquire fundamental knowledge in environmental health and neuroscience.
- Become proficient at integrating concepts of environmental health and neuroscience into cutting edge basic, clinical, and translational research.
- Gain the necessary skills and tools to leverage this unique training to achieve their next career objective.
Curriculum
The core curriculum for Ph.D. students depends on their choice of degree programs (i.e., Environmental Health Sciences or Cognitive Neuroscience) and includes coursework in areas including, but not limited to:
- Environmental neuroscience
- Environmental health
- Neuroscience
- Neurotoxicology
- Advanced methods in neuroscience/neurotoxicology
- Research design and analysis
This training is complemented by career development activities, training in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) and Rigor and Reproducibility, and programmatic/networking opportunities. Postdoctoral trainees will also participate in selected components of the didactic program, depending upon their background, and be provided with additional career development activities.
At the end of the program, trainees will have a deep understanding of interdisciplinary environmental neuroscience research, demonstrated ability to carry out independent research in this challenging multidisciplinary area, and achieved state-of-the-art preparation for this rapidly evolving discipline.
Program Features
- Ph.D. students earn a degree in Environmental Health Sciences or Cognitive Neuroscience with a specialization in Environmental Neuroscience.
- Postdocs train in Environmental Neuroscience and career advancing research.
- TENS members are funded through the T32 awarded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
Seminar Series
| Date | Speaker | Title | Location | Home Institution |
| April 7, 2025, 11:30 a.m. | Luca Lambertini, Ph.D. | Placental Mitochondrial DNA Mutation Burden: A Key Mediator of Metal Exposure Effects on Fetal Growth and Neurodevelopment? | AHC5 300 | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai |
| April 14, 2025, 11:30 a.m. | Davide Marotta, Ph.D. | Neurodegeneration and neuroscience studies on the International Space Station (ISS) | AHC5 300 | International Space Station National Laboratory |
For information on past events, please visit our Past Events page.
NIH-funded T32 Fellowship Opportunities
Applications are now being accepted for both predoctoral (up to 5 years) and postdoctoral fellowships (up to 3 years).
- Ph.D. applicants should be eligible for NIH fellowships, as well as be a current Ph.D. student at FIU with a primary faculty mentor that is a TENS faculty member.
- Postdoctoral applicants should be eligible for NIH fellowships and plan to work with a primary mentor that is a TENS faculty member.
Apply Today
If interested in admission to the TENS program, please email tens@fiu.edu with the following information:
- A cover letter
- A curriculum vitae
- Names of at least two persons that can provide relevant letters of recommendation
- A letter from your prospective TENS faculty mentor
Contact Us
Kim Tieu
Professor
ktieu@fiu.edu
Tim Allen
Associate Professor
305-348-8425
tallen@fiu.edu
Roberto Lucchini
Professor of Environmental Health Sciences
305-348-7775
rlucchin@fiu.edu
