The Eppendorf and Science Prize in Neurobiology recognizes outstanding neurobiological research by a young scientist, as described in a 1,000 word essay based on research performed within the last three years. The grand prize winner receives $25,000 from Eppendorf, and the winner's essay will be published in the 15 October 2004 issue of Science.
Two finalist essays will be published at Science Online (http://www.scienceonline.org). The awardee and finalists will be recognized at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in October.
Humans rely heavily on their sense of touch, and reduced touch sensation is common in people with diabetes and is a leading factor in lower-extremity amputation. However, scientists know very little about the molecular basis of touch, mainly because studying the sensory nerves that detect touch are deeply embedded under the skin, making it more difficult to study them. Goodman's essay explains her research on the nematode worm's sense of touch. Known as Caenorhabditis elegans, the entire cellular anatomy of its nervous system is known. Scientists hope to apply their knowledge about the nematode's sense of touch to larger and more complex animals.
Goodman grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts, and Bethesda, Maryland, writing scientific software in research labs at the NIH as a high school student. She earned a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from Brown University in 1986. After being awarded her Ph. D. in 1995 from The University of Chicago, she pursued postdoctoral work in C. elegans neurophysiology and genetics at the University of Oregon and Columbia University. Currently, Dr. Goodman is an A
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Contact: Jessica Lawrence-Hurt
jlawrenc@aaas.org
202-326-7088
American Association for the Advancement of Science
14-Oct-2004