Project Mentor
Dr. Kevin Manning
Psychiatry
Undergraduate Research Opportunity Description
| Project Description | We are seeking students to assist in ongoing treatment studies of major depression in older adults. We have two ongoing studies: 1) a naturalistic study (where patients are taking standard antidepressants and are followed over time) and 2) a study that uses cognitive remediation (brain games) to improve cognitive functioning and change underlying neural activity (measured with fMRI) in patients. Interested students would help administer tasks and score/enter data into research databases. There are opportunities to use collected data for scientific conference presentations and papers (e.g., the naturalistic study has been ongoing for 5 years and has a sample of 140 older adults with major depression). |
| Project Direction | Together with Dr. David Steffens MD and Dr. Lihong Wang MD PhD, Dr. Manning is a member of the Geriatric Cognitive and Mood Disorders Research Group. Broadly, our research has to do with understanding the link between mood changes in older adults and the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. We aim to identify biological (neuroimaging) and behavioral (psychological profiles, cognitive performance) markers of dementia risk in older adults. We also explore ways to better treat patients with late-life depression so as to potentially reduce their risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Dr. Manning is a clinical neuropsychologist; at UConn Health he typically assists with diagnostic clarification of dementia syndromes in the Center on Aging. |
| Mentorship and Supervision | Students will work closely with Dr. Manning. He will train all personnel on the study measures and protocol. He will monitor students progress in learning the tasks at hand and provide feedback as needed. |
| Student Qualifications | This is an excellent opportunity for students who are interested in working with older adults and better understanding healthy/pathological aging. The student will learn much about the aging process and age-related disorders (e.g., cerebrovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease). No coursework qualifications are needed. |
| Summer Schedule Options | Research Dates: May 28 to August 2, 2019 Schedule: M-F, 9am-5pm |
| Project Continuation | Fall 2019, Spring 2020 |
| Academic Year Time Commitment | 6- 9 hours/week |
| Possible Thesis Project | Yes |
Application
Submit an online application for this research opportunity at https://quest.uconn.edu/prog/HRP19-12/. The application deadline is Monday, February 4, 2019.
This application requires a cover letter, a resume or CV, and a brief statement of research interests.