Colloquium

Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity (IMDS) for Ph.D.s in Biomedical Sciences
Fall 2007 - Strategies for Success
MCB 595e Syllabus (2 units)

Class Date Topic/Assignment
1 August 24 Introductory comments by Dean Maria Teresa Velez, and Sandi Bartell.  Course overview.  Class organization. Interest survey.
2 August 29 Survey analysis and discussion.  Advanced time mangement and planning.  Preparation of a weekly schedule.  The Pareto Principle questionnaire.  Assignments due September 5:  Detained September schedule.  Bring to class all pertinent information from your department that applies to your doctoral program requirements and guidelines.
3 September 5

Introduction to doctoral timeline prepartion.  Preparation for flexible career.  Choosing a rotation, laboratory, and thesis advisor.  Discussion of monthly schedule.  Assignment, due September 12:  Bring to class a draft of your doctoral timeline.

4 September 12 The structure and content of a research article.  Scientific Writing.  Creating and maintaining bibliographic databases.
5 September 21

H. Gordon, Ph.D., Cell Biology & Anatomy: Paradoxes and other Flim-Flams!  The art of scientific thinking!

6 September 26 Grantsmanship I:  Identifying appropriate predoctoral fellowship funding soruces.  Reviewer criteria.  Presenter:  Dr. Betsey Bair, Director of Research Affairs for the College of Medicine.  Assignment for Octobere 3:  Choose a funding soruce for your project.
7 October 3 Grantsmanship II:  Developing specific aims/critical thinking.  In class assignment:  develop 1 specific aim for your project, then draft materials and methods.
8 October 10 Grantsmanship III:  Group discussion and submissions of specific aims and mehtods sections.
9 October 17 Grantsmanship IV:  Individual oral presentations of grants.
10 October 24

Grantsmanship V:  Individual oral presentations of grants and discussions.

11 October 31 Stress Reduction - Dr. Mary Stafford
12 November 7 Oral presentations and posters:  Scientific bases for Minority Health Disparities.  Assignment for November 14:  Prepare a 5 minute oral presentation on a Minority Health Disparity.  Distribution and discussion of articles on race/science.
13 November 14 Minority Health Dispartiies oral presentations and discussion.
14 November 21 No Class
15 November 28 Research resources, preparation for conferences, and effective networking.  Emerging technologies in the life sciences.
16 December 5 After the Ph.D.? (Free at last?) Panel presentation and discussion of career preparation, goals, and expectations.
17 December 12 Final Exam

Information contained in the syllabus, other than grade and absence policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor. Students are expected to adhere to the code of Academic Integrity, available at: http://dos.web.arizona.edu/uapolicies/