CBATS Opportunities

At CBATS, we focus on sharing talent and resources to encourage clarity and openness in our community with the ultimate aim of flattening leadership hierarchy. We encourage free-spirited thinking and opportunities for trainees and early investigators. Our events reflect this mentality. While CBATS is primarily based in the Department of Surgery, anyone at Michigan Medicine is welcome to get involved and join our research community.

Join the group every other Friday at 4 p.m. to join a research in progress meeting. 

The purpose of these meetings is to help strengthen grant proposals. A member will bring their aims page, the elevator pitch that can make or break a grant, and the group will workshop it. The feedback and guidance help strengthen the proposal.

A core goal of CBATS is to build community, and that includes connecting with the local community outside Michigan Medicine.

On weeks without a research in progress meeting, CBATS holds presentations to highlight research and professional development partners throughout Michigan Medicine, connecting members to new resources to enhance their work.

CBATS takes collaboration beyond meetings to build community among the group. 

The group meets quarterly (virtually, if necessary!) to share food, beverages and build camaraderie. CBATS also works together to hold service projects, such as blood drives.

The Surgeon Scientist Accelerator Track is a program offered through CBATS for residents completing the ADT period of their training program.

Residents can apply to the track for the support of a lab technician for a year to assist them in completing their research as the residents return to their clinical work.

CBATS offers biweekly, virtual fellow classes on Thursdays for surgical residents, post-docs, and research faculty who are involved or interested in basic science. Our teachers include current residents, post-docs, research faculty, lab managers, and surgeon-scientists.

The curriculum is centered on 3 areas:

1. Basic Lab Information: Participants will learn tips and tricks for how to succeed in lab and basic lab info, such as how to use a lab notebook, who is in lab, and where to find help, in addition to lab safety.
2. Basic Lab Techniques: Participants will have guidance in troubleshooting and/or experimental design, including cell culture, DNA procedures, protein protocols, and some more recent experimental procedures, like RNAseq.
3. Logistics: Participants will review the basics of funding, paper writing, and grant preparation.

Classes will also include "chalk talks" to allow fellows to talk about their projects, experimental problems, papers, grant ideas in a space occupied by other fellows. Fellows will get the chance to get to know one another, learn about other labs, and use their knowledge to help other fellows.