Prospective Postdocs

Professional Development

Training and resources are available to assist in the development of the "survival skills" needed for success in biomedical research and related careers. These abilities include being able to publish research articles, to obtain funding, to make effective oral presentations, and to teach and mentor the next generation. Throughout each year, postdocs and graduate students are offered a series of intensive workshops involving a combination of lectures, discussions, readings, written exercises, and practical experiences to enhance their professional development. These offerings include:

IBS 620 Scientific Writing I - This course will help students to strengthen their scientific writing skills. We will review the standards and expectations of scientific discourse, focusing on the scientific paper as a refined tool for conveying research findings in a clear, objective fashion and positioning the author's within a specific research community. Sequenced writing assignments will address the functions and conventions of the various forms of scientific communication, from short correspondences to full research reports to review articles. The proper use and presentation of graphs and illustrations will also be covered.

IBS 684 Professional Skills and Ethics II - Two-day intensive workshop involves a combination of lectures, discussions, readings and writing exercises, and practical experiences to enhance the professional development of advanced graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty. Topics include career choices, job search strategies and skills, fellowship/grant applications and research ethics.  

Grant Writing Workshop – This is an opportunity for Predoctoral students and Postdoctoral Fellows to develop their grant writing skills. A one-half day workshop entitled, “Write Winning Grants,” focuses on research proposals in the biomedical sciences, specifically as it pertains to NIH funding. Topics include:

• How to Develop an Irresistible, Fundable Idea
• Fundamentals and Principals of Successful Grant Writing
• The Review Process and Its Psychology
• Before You Begin To Write
• Tips on Writing for Reviewers
• Specific Aims: The Master Plan for Your Application
• Practical Exercise Evaluating Model Specific Aims Sections for Strengths and Weaknesses

Dr. Stephen Russell of Grant Writers’ Seminars and Workshops conducts the seminar. Dr. Russell has held grant support from the National Institutes of Health as a principal investigator since the early 1970s, including individual, group, center, and training grants.

National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Workshops - Every year NCBI trainers conduct workshops based on the bioinformatics needs of the University of Miami research community. Past topics have included:

• Making Sense of DNA and Protein Sequences
• Unmasking Genes in the Human Genome
• Structure Analysis Quick Start
• Identification and Correlation of Disease Genes and Phenotypes

Advanced Biomedical Sciences Courses - All bonafide postdocs are eligible to register for advanced biomedical science courses being offered at the University of Miami. A listing of available couses is available on-line.

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