The Multidisciplinary Postdoctoral Training Program in Basic Diabetes Research Program provides support for career growth, personal development, and cross-training with other basic science researchers.
The objective of the program is to provide the research experience and skills needed for postdoctoral scientists to gain a modern cellular, genetic, and molecular understanding of diabetes, and to set the foundation for a career in basic diabetes research. The training program preceptors provide a rich research environment and directly supervise the research projects of trainees. All preceptors have peer-reviewed funded grants and serve as role models for their trainees.
The general goals of each research training experience include:
- mastering the basics of designing experiments
- interpreting data
- understanding basic biostatistical principles
- understanding the clinical background for mechanistic analyses
- critically reviewing prior literature
- preparing results for presentation and publication
Our trainees’ studies generate data that usually result in a series of publications. Trainees receive the necessary guidance and training in scientific and grant writing directly from their mentor, as supplemented by the scientific and grant writing courses available at the University. Trainees are required to present their work at local, national or international meetings, including the Annual Postdoctoral Research Symposium, thus enhancing their communication and presentation skills.
In addition to a mentored laboratory research experience, the program is supplemented by a core curriculum that includes lectures on the molecular pathogenesis of diabetes, cell and developmental biology, responsible conduct of research, and research methodologies. Our trainees also attend a variety of interdisciplinary seminars, activities in grant writing, career strategy workshops, and meet with visiting speakers.
