Dr. Masashi Yanagisawa, an HHMI Investigator at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, talks to the Research Scholars about experiments conducted in his laboratory on how genetic inactivation of brain neurotransmitters called orexins causes narcolepsy, a disorder characterized by a sudden loss of muscle tone (cataplexy) and uncontrollable sleepiness. In the background are digital videos showing mice, dogs and a child experiencing cataplexy episodes, all due to a defective orexin-mediated neurotransmission. These reveal the molecular clue to sleep/wake regulation, an enigmatic function of our brain. Each week an HHMI or NIH scientist presents a lecture at the Cloister, a highlight of the Research Scholars Program.

	Edwin Cadet
	Kristen Carr
	Dan Fernandez
	Sihong Huang
	Carol Lewis
	Kurt Weiss

Monday Night Science Dinners
One of the highlights of the program is the Monday night science dinner series. Every Monday night, a distinguished HHMI or NIH investigator gives a talk to the Scholars about his or her research. After the talk, the scientist joins the Scholars for dinner, followed by a question-and-answer session. This informal after-dinner session gives you the opportunity to ask the speaker about his or her education and training, career development, and what spurred his or her research interests.

Informal Science Meetings
Every Thursday night, Scholars get together for informal science meetings as a means of learning from one another. After pizza or a light dinner, one or two Scholars present individual research projects to the others. The talks are followed by lively discussion and a sharing of scientific ideas. These meetings give you valuable experience presenting your work, as well as exposure to other areas of research and feedback and suggestions from your fellow Scholars.

HHMI Science Meetings
One of the most extraordinary opportunities available to you is to attend one of the HHMI Science Meetings, where the Institute's investigators and other distinguished scientists convene for presentations and discussions on key scientific topics. The meetings are designed to facilitate informal scientific interactions in a collegial atmosphere and to promote the exchange of information across the Institute's program areas. You are able to attend one science meeting, held at the Institute's Janelia Farm Research Campus, as a special guest.

NIH Lectures
As a Research Scholar, you benefit from the NIH's rich educational environment where as many as 10 or 20 lectures a day are presented on campus: calendar.nih.gov. You can also attend the Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series featuring renowned scientists and Nobel laureates from around the world: www1.od.nih.gov/wals/schedule.htm.

Science Presentations
Science Presentations are held at the end of the program year for the purpose of showcasing the Scholars' research. Students present talks or posters about their research to their peers, advisors, investigators and postdoctoral fellows from their laboratories, and other invited guests.

Photo: Kay Chernush