What is a Training Grant anyway?

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA)Institutional Research Training Grants (T32)

• Primary means of supporting predoctoral and postdoctoral research training to help ensure that a diverse and highly trained workforce is available to assume leadership roles related to the Nation’s biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research agenda (since 1974). 

• The objective of the T32 program is to prepare qualified individuals for careers that have a significant impact on the health-related research needs of the Nation.

1) Introductions and Program Overview

2) Individual Development Plan Workshop (~11:15)

3) Take pictures of trainees by class and of new trainers (~11:35)

4) Lunch (~11:50)

5) Luncheon talks by senior trainees (~12:10)

6) Poster viewing (~1:00)

7) Wrap up by 2:00 p.m.

2015 MBTG Retreat Schedule

Christina Hull – Director of the MBTG

Kim Voss – Administrator for the MBTG

Bob Landick – MBTG Steering Committee Member

Dave Pagliarini – MBTG Steering Committee Member

Amy Jancewicz – MBTG SC Student Representative

Tim Gomez – SC MemberJim Keck – SC MemberJade Wang – SC MemberTiffany Lowe – Student RepresentativeSarah Wessel – Student Representative

Introductions

Kim Voss413 Bock Labs

“To develop and enhance the training of the most highly promising graduate students who intend to become leaders in the fields of

cellular, biochemical, and molecular sciences.”

610 MBTG trainees since inception in 1975

32 funded positions

Current trainees by Ph.D. program:

IPiB 25CMB 10MDTP 23CMPath 3

61

NIH T32 GM07215-39

• Establish a knowledge base

• Acquire a scientific “toolbox”

• Strengthen communication skills

• Become part of the scientific community

• Build a reputation/record of accomplishment

• Identify a career

How MBTG enhances your major goals

What are your goals?

Establish a knowledge base

Goal: Master the fundamentals of biochemistry and cell/molecular biology

MBTG input:• Course breadth requirements• Student seminar series• Invited speakers

How MBTG enhances your major goals

Acquire a scientific “toolbox”

Goal: Develop technical/experimental skills in your areas of interest

MBTG input:• “At the Bench” book• Extended research rotations• Supplies funds• Travel funds

How MBTG enhances your major goals

Strengthen communication skills

Goal: Learn to convey ideas in a clear, captivating, and persuasive manner

MBTG input:• “The Presentations Kit” • Student seminar series• Retreat presentations• Steering Committee membership

How MBTG enhances your major goals

Become part of the scientific community

Goal: Make outside contacts and establishyourself in the profession

MBTG input:•Travel funds• Society membership funds • Graduate recruiting at national meetings

How MBTG enhances your major goals

Build a reputation/record of accomplishment

Goal: Making a positive impression on the people who will be your advocates

MBTG input:• Ethics training• Advising• Meetings with visitingspeakers

How MBTG enhances your major goals

Identify a career

Goal: Try to figure out where you want to be in 10-20 years, and how to get there

MBTG input:• Seminars from past trainees/authorities from

diverse fields• Individual Development Plan (IDP) Training• Life Sciences Career Day• Individual Career Advice and Counseling

How MBTG enhances your major goals

PhD timeline for a typical MBTG trainee (Bob)

Overlap in trainer pools of MBTG and PhD programs

1) What thesis projects would be available to me?

2) Would these projects expose me to a variety of different experimental/intellectual approaches?

3) In general, how available will you be to answer questions I might have?

4) What amount of guidance do you provide to a student during preparation of the thesis proposal, literature seminars, thesis, etc.?

5) What are your expectations for the amount of time I should spend each day/week in the lab?

6) What regularly scheduled activities does your lab participate in that provide an opportunity to get outside input on my research project and to hear about the work of other students and postdocs?

Questions for prospective thesis advisors

7) Do you encourage your students to attend seminars and journal clubs?

8) Do students in your lab have the opportunity to attend scientific meetings where they can interact with researchers from other institutions?

9) Do you include your graduate students in professional activities, such as reviewing manuscripts and meeting with visiting speakers?

10) Do you encourage your students that are interested in teaching to obtain practical experience?

11) How long do you think it should take a student to get a Ph.D.?

12) What are your former graduate students doing now?

13) What goals do you have for your graduate students?

Questions for prospective thesis advisors

Steering Committee

Training Program

Current Trainers

Current Trainees

Applying to be a Trainer

914 Seminar Schedule

Links

Why UW Madison

www.mbtg.wisc.edu

MBTG website

Trainees must take a total of four courses: two from the Molecular and Cell Biology category, one from the Macromolecular Biochemistry category, and one additional course from either of these. “Pre-approved” courses are listed below, but other courses can be substituted, with approval (Christina Hull).

Molecular and Cell biologyCellular and Molecular Biology/Pathology (Pathology 750)Cytoskeletal Dynamics (Anatomy 700)Carcinogenesis and Tumor Cell Biology (Oncology 703)Plant Cell Biology (Botany 860)Eukaryotic Molecular Biology (Biochemistry/Pharmacology 620)Topics in Eukaryotic Regulation (Biochemistry/Genetics 703)Prokaryotic Molecular Biology (Microbiology/Biochemistry/Genetics 612)General Virology – Multiplication of Viruses (Oncology 640)Advanced Microbial Genetics (Microbiology/Genetics 607)Regulation of Microbial Gene Expression (Microbiology/Biochemistry 726)Immunology of Infectious Disease (Microbiology 790)

Macromolecular BiochemistryBiophysical Chemistry (Chemistry/Biochemistry 665)Protein and Enzyme Structure and Function (Biochemistry 601)Chemical Biology (Biochemistry 704)Mechanisms of Enzyme Action (Biochemistry 624)Coenzymes and Cofactors in Enzymology (Biochemistry 625)Microbiology at Atomic Resolution (Microbiology/Biomolecular Chemistry 668)Physiology of Microorganisms (Microbiology 625)

MBTG course breadth requirement (Dave)

MBTG course breadth requirementsResponsible conduct of research (Dave)

Trainees must take one course on the Responsible Conduction of Research:

Pre-approved coursesAppropriate Conduct in Science (Oncology 675)Professional Responsibility (Microbiology/Chemistry 901)Professional Development and Responsibility (Biochemistry/Biomolecular Chemistry 701) (701 is restricted to IPiB students)

Other courses that can satisfy the requirement (require approval by Christina Hull)Ethical and Regulatory Issues in Clinical Investigation (Medical History 545)Research Ethics (Medical History 999)Research Ethics and Career Development (Surgical Science 812)

Course #914, crosslisted in Bacteriology, Biochemistry, Biomolecular Chemistry, Medical Microbiology & Immunology

Meets weekly Fall and Spring semesters, Friday @ 3:30 pm in 2131 Biochemistry

Mandatory for 1st - 3rd year grads.; senior trainees encouraged to attend and may volunteer to give extra talks

Graded S/U based on attendance (speakers can get letter grade on request)

Snacks provided!

Peer review of presentations via evaluation form and speakers will meet briefly with the faculty member running the course directly after the talk

Fall semester: 2nd-year trainees give a literature seminar

Spring semester: 3rd-year trainees give a research seminar (chalk talks!)

Occasional guest speakers/past trainees/experts from diverse fields

2015-2016 MBTG Student Seminar Series

1) Travel funds: up to $1000 over 3 year appointment. For meetings, courses, collaborations. Email Kim.

2) Supplies funds: up to $1000 over 3 year appointment. For services or consumables specific to your research. Email Christina.

3) Society memberships: up to $100 each year of 3 year appointment. Email Kim.

MBTG grants to trainees (Kim)

First-year students:1) Keep breathing

Second-year students:1) Thesis committee composition2) Grades for UW course work3) 1/2 page research description4) Letter from thesis advisor

Third-year+ students:1) Trainee progress report form2) Thesis committee report form3) IDP4) Meet with MBTG advisor

DUE TO KIM NOVEMBER 15!

Annual progress report and MBTG advising

Questions?

Trainee Perspective and Q&A (Amy)