8/14/2019 UWisconsin CID Poster 2008

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Graduate Program Overview

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Recap: CID GoalsThe Neuroscience Training Program (NTP) at the University ofWisconsin-Madison was one the neuroscience partner programs that

participated in the ground breaking Carnegie Initiative on the Doctorate

(CID) starting in 2003. The CID was a multi-year long, nation-wide

project that focused on improving doctoral education in U.S.

universities through the analysis of the participating programs training

activities. The CID recently has ended and the NTP now is assessing

the progress made through the initiative.

During the CID, the GPN created several subcommittees

(Faculty, Student Recruitment and Retention, Training) that efficiently

critiqued and revised the way our program functions. A Coordinating

Committee met monthly to discuss the recommendations of these

subcommittees and send their suggestions to the program-wide

Steering Committee. This system led to several beneficial changes

within the GPN, including a refined structure and timeline for the oral

preliminary exam; creation of a Student Board to increase and organize

communication between the student body and faculty; a written

preliminary exam with questions that integrate the curriculum of the

four core neuroscience courses; and new faculty membership

requirements that attempt to increase faculty involvement within the

GPN.

With the end of the formal CID process, the CID-specific

committees have dissolved; consequently, the efficiency with which

new, graduate education-related ideas are implemented within the GPN

has decreased, and students are less involved in this process. The

Student Board now is attempting to rejuvenate the spirit of the

initiative by increasing the dialogue between the Board and the

incoming Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). Our goal is to create a

process within the GPN that will maintain the advanced

communication among the students, faculty, and administrators of the

GPN that was achieved during the CIDs tenure. Equally important is

to create a lasting culture within the GPN that will foster new,

graduate-student related initiatives in the spirit of the initial CID-

inspired advancements.

UW Madison Neuroscience Training Program (NTP) is

an interdisciplinary, cross campus integrated graduate

program founded in 1971. NTP has received continuous

funding from NIH for over thirty years.

NTP currently has 89 faculty and 60 current grad

students.

Over 135 Ph.D. degrees have been granted with over

90% of students remaining in the biomedical sciences.

Research strengths range from cellular/molecular

studies to behavioral and systems neuroscience.

ABSTRACT

A) Evaluate NTP to identify areas where student and faculty conflicts exist

B) Evaluate advisor/student relationship

C) Develop non-traditional career paths to reflect shift in demand in

Neurosciences

Neuroscience and Public Policy Dual Degree Program:

N&PP Program was created to meet growing need for neuroscientists

with strong research and public policy skills. Prepares students for

careers in science policy, academia, government and the private sector.

La Follette School of Public Affairs Master of Public Affairs (MPA)

degree program is designed to be flexible, thus well-suited for

accommodating N&PP program students. 42 credit program includes

core courses, electives and summer internship, and i s usually completed

during first three years of study in the N&PP program.

Current enrollment is three students, with continuing enrollment of 1

student annually, pending funding.

Applied for NSF Science and Technology Policy grant to support

stipend, tuition and internships for current N&PP students. Program is

member of ANDP (Association of Neuroscience Departments and

Programs)

Features weekly special Neuroscience & Public Policy Seminar

Courses for N&PP Program include:

Intro to Policy Analysis, Public Management, Science Policy

Electives, Bioethics & Law Electives, Public Policy Internship

Results from the questionnaires revealed the following notable

differences in perception between faculty and students on a

number of key issues.

How often advisor promoted the following topics?

Networking

Writing journal articles

Grant writing

Teaching

Postdoctoral advice

CV preparation

Giving job talks

Where do you think student learn the following skills?

Critical thinking and analysis

Literature searches

How to integrate a body of knowledge Teaching Opportunities:

Teaching Fellows in Neuroscience Program (TFN)

Aim of the new program is to allow interested NTP graduate

students to obtain training in teaching while they maintain traditional

research-oriented training leading to a Ph.D. in neuroscience. Includes

coursework in college-level teaching, teaching internship and mentoring

practicum through the Delta program (below).

Delta Program Certificate (part of the NSF Center for the Integration of

Research, Teaching & Learning)

Program serves as community for research, teaching and learning

community made up of faculty, academic staff, post-docs, and graduate

students to help scientists succeed in the changing landscape of science,

engineering, and math higher education. Uses core ideas of teaching-as-

research, learning-through-diversity, and learning community to support

teaching. Includes coursework, internship, participation in Delta

Learning Community and completion of Teaching Portfolio.

Rotation evaluations from both professor and student to identify

potential problems ahead of time.

Did a survey of all past alumni as well as all graduating students upon

program completion to assess what aspects of the program students like

and what areas need improvement

Encourage mediation and open dialogue conversations with program

administrator and director

Expand N&PP Program More opportunities for career planning Outreach events that are specific to Policy,

school debate teams, political groups Waisman Center collaboration for outreach

addiction and mental illness

Additional Professional Development for all Senior level (5th/6th year) professional devel

focusing on post-doc applications, securing fu

and home life

Further NTP-wide social events, to foster co

atmosphere

The Neur osci ence Trai ning Program of UW-Madi soEvaluates its Invol vem ent with the Carnegie Init iatthe Doct orate

H. Gerstein1, H. Daniels2 and T. C. T. Yin1,31Neuroscience Training Program, 2Graduate School, 3Dept of Physiology, University of Wisconsin-Madis

A)Evaluated NTP to identify areas where

student and faculty conflicts exist

B) Evaluate advisor/student relationships

C) Develop non-traditional career paths toreflect shift in demand in Neurosciences

PEOPLE Program

PEOPLE is a pre-college pipeline for students

students, most of whom are the first in their families

college. The NTP participates each summer by runn

long neuroscience courses for 10 th and 11th graders, t

students.

Outreach Programs

Science Expeditions

NTP participates in UW-Madison's Annual Sc

host several hands-on activities at a Neuroscience

graduate students. Approximately 1500 commun

adults) attend each year.

Brain Awareness Week at the Madison Children

Approximately 500 parents and children attend

annually. Multiple stations are set-up around the

navigate via a passport. Following completion

received a certificate and a prize.

Edgewood Science NightAnnual fair held at local middle school. NTP

modeling of neurons and brains. Approximately 7

attended the science night.

Partnered with Science Alliance (science.wisc.e

A UW-Madison campus wide scientific outrea

coordination effort. Promoting interaction and c

for multiple scientific programs.

Science Masters Institute Course on Human B

Yearly course with 20 hours of contact time fo

8th grade science teachers to help them teach a mo

Future Direct