The main goal of this seminar will be to study the nervous system from the perspective of neuron-glia interactions. In each class, we will focus on one type of glial cell and discuss its origin, classification and function within the nervous system. Current findings concerning diseases associated with each type of glial cell will be discussed. This course is one of many Advanced Undergraduate Seminars offered by the Biology Department at MIT. These seminars are tailored for students with an interest in using primary research literature to discuss and learn about current biological research in a highly interactive setting. Many instructors of the Advanced Undergraduate Seminars are postdoctoral scientists with a strong interest in teaching.

" The neuropharmacology course will discuss the drug-induced changes in functioning of the nervous system. The specific focus of this course will be to provide a description of the cellular and molecular actions of drugs on synaptic transmission. This course will also refer to specific diseases of the nervous system and their treatment in addition to giving an overview of the techniques used for the study of neuropharmacology. This course is offered during the Independent Activities Period (IAP), which is a special 4-week term at MIT that runs from the first week of January until the end of the month."

Principles of tomographic imaging using ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, and ultrasound. Emphasis is placed on fundamental physics and mathematics involved in image formation, including basic interactions, data acquisition and reconstruction. Planar radiographic imaging, multi-dimensional tomography (X-ray CAT, PET, SPECT), ultrasound, and NMR imaging covered. 22.56J aims to give graduate students and advanced undergraduates background in the theory and application of noninvasive imaging methods to biology and medicine, with emphasis on neuroimaging. The course focuses on the modalities most frequently used in scientific research (X-ray CT, PET/SPECT, MRI, and optical imaging), and includes discussion of molecular imaging approaches used in conjunction with these scanning methods. Lectures by the professor will be supplemented by in-class discussions of problems in research, and hands-on demonstrations of imaging systems.

Introduction to the theory and phenomenology of nonlinear dynamics and chaos in dissipative systems. Forced and parametric oscillators. Phase space. Periodic, quasiperiodic, and aperiodic flows. Sensitivity to initial conditions and strange attractors. Lorenz attractor. Period doubling, intermittency, and quasiperiodicity. Scaling and universality. Analysis of experimental data: Fourier transforms, Poincar, sections, fractal dimension, and Lyapunov exponents. Applications drawn from fluid dynamics, physics, geophysics, and chemistry.

This graduate-level course provides a unified treatment of nonlinear oscillations and wave phenomena with applications to mechanical, optical, geophysical, fluid, electrical and flow-structure interaction problems. A more detailed course outline is given in the syllabus section.

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of nonlinear optimization theory and methods. Topics include unconstrained and constrained optimization, linear and quadratic programming, Lagrange and conic duality theory, interior-point algorithms and theory, Lagrangian relaxation, generalized programming, and semi-definite programming. Algorithmic methods used in the class include steepest descent, Newton's method, conditional gradient and subgradient optimization, interior-point methods and penalty and barrier methods.

Introduction to reactor dynamics including subcritical multiplication, critical operation in absence of thermal feedback effects and effects of Xenon, fuel and moderator temperature, etc. Derivation of point kinetics and dynamic period equations. Techniques for reactor control including signal validation, supervisory algorithms, model-based trajectory tracking, and rule-based control. Overview of light-water reactor startup. Lectures and demonstrations with computer simulation and the use of the MIT Research Reactor.

" Problems in nuclear engineering often involve applying knowledge from many disciplines simultaneously in achieving satisfactory solutions. The course will focus on understanding the complete nuclear reactor system including the balance of plant, support systems and resulting interdependencies affecting the overall safety of the plant and regulatory oversight. Both the Seabrook and Pilgrim nuclear plant simulators will be used as part of the educational experience to provide as realistic as possible understanding of nuclear power systems short of being at the reactor."

This course is an introduction to numerical methods and MATLAB®: Errors, condition numbers and roots of equations. Topics covered include Navier-Stokes; direct and iterative methods for linear systems; finite differences for elliptic, parabolic and hyperbolic equations; Fourier decomposition, error analysis and stability; high-order and compact finite-differences; finite volume methods; time marching methods; Navier-Stokes solvers; grid generation; finite volumes on complex geometries; finite element methods; spectral methods; boundary element and panel methods; turbulent flows; boundary layers; and Lagrangian coherent structures (LCSs).

Introduction to numerical methods: interpolation, differentiation, integration, systems of linear equations. Solution of differential equations by numerical integration, partial differential equations of inviscid hydrodynamics: finite difference methods, panel methods. Fast Fourier Transforms. Numerical representation of sea waves. Computation of the motions of ships in waves. Integral boundary layer equations and numerical solutions.

" This graduate-level course is an advanced introduction to applications and theory of numerical methods for solution of differential equations. In particular, the course focuses on physically-arising partial differential equations, with emphasis on the fundamental ideas underlying various methods."

IEEE-standard, iterative and direct linear system solution methods, eigendecomposition and model-order reduction, fast Fourier transforms, multigrid, wavelets and other multiresolution methods, matrix sparsification. Nonlinear root finding (Newton's method). Numerical interpolation and extrapolation. Quadrature.

Advanced introduction to applications and theory of numerical methods for solution of differential equations, especially of physically-arising partial differential equations, with emphasis on the fundamental ideas underlying various methods. Topics include finite differences, spectral methods, finite elements, well-posedness and stability, particle methods and lattice gases, boundary and nonlinear instabilities.

Introduces the physics and mathematical modeling of linear and nonlinear surface wave interactions with floating bodies, e.g., ships and offshore platforms. Surface wave theory, including linear and nonlinear effects in a deterministic and random environment. Ship Kelvin wave pattern and wave resistance. Theory of linear surface wave interactions with floating bodies. Drift forces. Forward speed effects. Ship motions and wave-induced structural loads.

Principles of operation, algorithms, applications, and limitations of optical detection, storage, processing, transmission and display devices and systems. Topics: review of basic properties of electromagnetic waves; holography; spatial light modulator and display devices; thermal and quantum photodetectors; optical storage media such as disks and 3-D holographic materials; fiberoptic communication systems; optical interconnection device technologies; coherent and incoherent light processors based on Fourier optics, Acousto-optics, and optoelectronic neural networks; role of optics in next-generation computers; applications to image processing, pattern recognition, radar systems and adaptive optics; limitations of optical processors.

Intermediate organic chemistry. Synthesis, structure determination, mechanism, and the relationships between structure and reactivity emphasized. Special topics in organic chemistry included to illustrate the role of organic chemistry in biological systems and in the chemical industry.

Introduction to organic chemistry. Development of basic principles to understand the structure and reactivity of organic molecules. Emphasis on substitution and elimination reactions and chemistry of the carbonyl group. Introduction to the chemistry of aromatic compounds.

The course examines optical and electronic processes in organic molecules and polymers that govern the behavior of practical organic optoelectronic devices. Electronic structure of a single organic molecule is used as a guide to the electronic behavior of organic aggregate structures. Emphasis is placed on the use of organic thin films in active organic devices including organic LEDs, solar cells, photodetectors, transistors, chemical sensors, memory cells, electrochromic devices, as well as xerography and organic non-linear optics. How to reach the ultimate miniaturization limit of molecular electronics and related nanoscale patterning techniques of organic materials will also be discussed. The class encompasses three laboratory sessions during which the students will practice the use of select vacuum and non-vacuum organic deposition techniques by making their own active organic devices.

This course covers modern and advanced methods of elucidation of the structures of organic molecules, including NMR, MS, and IR (among others). The fundamental physical and chemical principles of each method will be discussed. The major emphasis of this course is on structure determination by way of interpreting the data (generally in the form of a spectrum or spectra) that each method provides.

This course covers principles of materials chemistry common to organic materials ranging from biological polypeptides to engineered block copolymers. Topics include molecular structure, polymer synthesis reactions, protein-protein interactions, multifunctional organic materials including polymeric nanoreactors, conducting polymers and virus-mediated biomineralization.