So, you want to be a scientist….

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Why not be a MD?

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Graduate Rates for Medical School >95%

Graduation Rates for PhD programs ~55-60%

Why do we fail so often in training PhDs?

What defines success in graduate school?

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Basic Problem: Graduate School focuses on “winning”

(publishing important paper)and not on skill development!

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Developing Philosophy:

1. Development as scientist = development of certain skills.1. Focusing on skill development improves training.2. Skills are developed by attaining goals beyond your current level, but within

reach.

Two Corollaries:

1.Focusing on “big discovery” can be counter-productive to skill development and morale.(often beyond your control)

1.Still want to make big discoveries and do so by continuing to try to solve important questions.

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To Develop a "Training Program"

1. Identify critical skills.

2. Identify methods/exercises/goals to train and develop those skills.

3. Integrate into program of scientific training.

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The Eight Steps to Scientific Enlightenment1. Basic Knowledge Right Breadth

(mile wide - inch deep)

2. Specific Knowledge Right Depth(inch wide - mile deep)

3. Experimental Knowledge Right Methods

3. Design, execute and problem Right Executionsolve experiments in lab.

5. Read, evaluate and integrate Right Integrationscientific literature.

6. Communicate in writing, Right Communicationspeaking.

6. Ability to Have New Ideas Right Creativity

7. Optimism Right Attitude

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Goal: Basic Knowledge of Field (Mile Wide – Inch Deep)

How to Develop: • Undergrad classes• Grad classes• Read textbook

(Actively!)• Teach

How to Maintain: • Seminar• Browse leading journals

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Goal 2: Specific Knowledge in Your Field(Inch Wide – Mile Deep)

How to Develop:• Learn how to read and evaluate scientific paper• Read papers in field

• Write summaries (Active Reading)

How to Maintain:• Continue to read in field• Attend conferences in field

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Goal 3: Basic Knowledge of Experimental Methods

How to Develop: • Classes• Write summary of methods

How to Maintain: • Focus in seminars/reading for useful methods• Browse leading methods journal

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Goal 4: Design and Execute Experiments in the Lab

To Develop: • Do experiments in the lab

• Focus on:• Understanding

methods• Critical controls• Attention to detail

• Importance of statistics

• Importance of speed(cycle of discovery!)

• Importance of open eyes(See what is there, not what

you expect) 11

Goal 5: Read, Evaluate andIntegrate Scientific Literature

Different Skill Levels Method

A) Single Paper

B) Group of Papers

C) Portion of Field

1) Learn how to read scientific paper

2) Review manuscripts3) Simple journal club

1) Realistic journal club2) Write mini-review3) Write introduction to

manuscript

1) Write research proposal

2) Larger review

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Skill 6: Have New Ideas

Different Skill Levels Method

A) Single Paper

B) Group of Papers/Field

C) New Novel Project

1) What to do next?2) What next in seminars?

1) Identify issues 1st, read 2nd, think 3rd

1) Write statement for proper choice for yourself.

2) Practice finding new projects/developing new technologies

Sub-points: 1) New ideas come from existing knowledge base and curiosity.2) Creativity is a choice!

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Skill 7: Clarity of Thought and Communication

Develop: 1) Group meetings 2) Discussions with mentors 3) Journal clubs 4) Writing

• Manuscript reviews• Mini-reviews• Proposals• Research manuscripts• Writing summaries of

papers

"For me, writing is foremost a mode of thinking and, when it works well, an act of discovery."

- Joseph Epstein14

Skill 8:Optimism(with a dose of skepticism )

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“A pessimist see the difficulty in every opportunity, the optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”

Winston Churchill

http://stanleybronstein.com/my-optimism-abounds/

Integration into Path of Development

Year 1 Year 2 Year 4Year 3

• Develop basic knowledge classes, actively read textbooks

• Develop knowledge of methods (classes, individual effort)

• Rotate in labs – find intellectual home

• Do experiments, pay attention to detail, result interpretation

• Develop philosophy of how to choose a project – write your view

• Develop communication skills (rotation talks, lab meetings, J. club)

• Develop writing skills

• Maintain basic knowledge (Seminars, Journals)

• Maintain awareness of current technology

• Do experiments methods, attention to detail,

result interpretation

• Develop communication skills (Rotation talks,

lab meetings, J. club)

• Develop writing skills

• Develop creativity

• Maintain basic knowledge (Seminars, Journals)

• Maintain awareness of current technology

• Do experiments methods, attention to detail,

result interpretation

• Develop communication skills (Rotation talks,

lab meetings, J. club)

• Develop writing skills

• Develop creativity

• Maintain basic knowledge (Seminars, Journals)

• Maintain awareness of current technology

• Do experiments methods, attention to detail,

result interpretation

• Develop communication skills (Rotation talks,

lab meetings, J. club)

• Develop writing skills

• Develop creativity

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Final Thought #1: What is interdisciplinary?

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Having broad mind set of approachesKnowing enough biology/chemistry/physics to see connections and potentially dig into them

Final Thought #2: The Art of Digging

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How to know when to dig?

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Advice for Students: Take charge of your education. Identify what you need to learn and go about doing it. Choose a good mentor.

Advice for Mentors: Work with your students. Identify the skills you think they need. Hold them accountable from Day 1!