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IMSD Research Objectives
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The objective of this part of the program is to demonstrate to students that science
is a highly rewarding career, both personally and economically. Students will gain
scientific training, including instruction on experimental planning, collection of
data, and interpretation of results. In addition, students will gain self confidence
regarding potential success as scientists. Mentors will encourage students to join a
Ph.D. program upon graduation. Scholars will participate in a hands-on, bench
research project. They will be exposed to common laboratory techniques depending on
the project that they are involved in. Students will be trained to perform
experiments under the supervision of their mentors and laboratory personnel.
Students will be taught how to plan and execute an experiment, including the use of
appropriate controls. Upon completion of the experiment, students will be educated
in data analysis, including statistics and presentation (oral and written). Students
are expected to actively participate in laboratory activities, including, but not
limited to, group meetings and journal clubs. Upon the appropriate training,
students are responsible for their own project under the supervision of their
mentor. It will be desirable, but not necessary, that a presentation at a national
meeting and/or publication will emerge from the student’s project. Travel expenses
for the student will be covered. Students will receive compensation for their work,
calculated on up to 15 hours/week during the academic year and 40 hours/week during
summer (12 weeks). Sophomore and junior students can join the program at any time
during the year. Rising seniors will only be admitted to the program a year prior to
graduation. Students will be supported for the length of the program. The length of
the program for each student will depend on the time of admission and graduation.
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Selection of a Mentor-Research Laboratory
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Students that are admitted into the IMSD program can select anymentor from the list
provided. Meetings with the potential mentors will be coordinated in conjunction
with the student coordinator (Melvin Jimenez). Finally, students will meet with the
Program Director, Dr. Antonio De Maio, to select the most appropriate environment.
The research-mentor laboratory experience is thought of as a dynamic process.
Students have complete freedom to stay in the same laboratory for the whole program
or move to different laboratories to increase their exposure to science. A minimum
of six months in a research-mentor laboratory is required, unless an unpredictable
circumstance requires a student to change labs before the end of the six-month
minimum time period.
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Selection of Mentors for the Program
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The selection of faculty to be research mentors is based on several criteria:
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Interest in participating in the IMSD program.
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Excellent training record. Interested faculty are evaluated on their past training
record regarding undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral fellows. Particular attention
is paid to the post-training record of the trainees. A small number of junior faculty
with little training experience will be included in the program, since this is an
excellent opportunity for them to develop their mentoring skills. We envision this
program as a dual educational enterprise for both students and mentors.
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High level of funding. An important component in the training of students is to
prepare them to write grants. Well-funded laboratories will provide the right environment
to accomplish this objective.
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Outstanding level of publications. An important objective of the program is to place
students in productive laboratories. It is expected that laboratories with a good
number of high-impact publications will be the best environment to guarantee the
success of the student.
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Commitment to train URM students. This commitment will be measured using different
parameters, such as past-training of URM students, participation in the recruitment
of URM students, involvement in URM related activities, and, for those that have
no prior experience, a demonstrated interest in participating.
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