Predoctoral Training in the Pharmacological Sciences

描述（由申请人提供）：本培训基金（TG）的主要目标是促进药理学研究生的跨学科培训。它的第二个目标是促进来自不同部门的教师和学生之间的互动，这些部门对药理学有共同的兴趣。目前的TG是从药学系25年成功的TG发展而来的，为了吸引来自高度多样化背景的学生，TG进行了彻底的修改。这个TG的42名培训师来自10个不同的博士学位授予项目和3个不同的学院，与它对跨学科培训的关注一致。在所有学术水平上，教师的代表性都很平衡。所有高级培训师都有出色的研究生培训记录，并保持着高生产力的研究项目。他们将作为导师，为有前途和潜力的青年教师服务。该课程为培训师和学员之间的互动提供了一个正式的场所。药理学原理（071:135）已经修改，以适应来自不同学科的学员。高级问题解决药理学（071:250）是专门为这个TG创建的。在这门课程中，不同背景的学员在培训师的指导下，以小组形式解决一个药理学问题，并利用药物化学、系统药理学和生理学等方法撰写一篇跨学科的研究论文。药理学研讨会（071:204）作为每周一次的论坛，将学员和培训师聚集在一起。它为受训者提供正式介绍其工作的经验。强调学员早期获得研究经验，这导致平均获得博士学位的时间约为5年。预计这个TG将为在所有符合条件的在校学员中排名前25%的学员提供2年研究生教育的支持。我们展示了一个可持续的、明确的高素质研究生群体的存在。其中，2004年和2005年分别有13名和14名优秀学生提出了申请。对这一培训方案的机构支助特别有力，在前一个奖励期间提供了三个额外的培训时段，并承诺在下一个奖励期间提供一个少数族裔指定的培训时段。前一个奖项的目标是进一步发展课程和建立成功的跨学科项目，现在已经实现了。这个项目现在已经处于良好的位置，可以在最初的成功基础上进行扩展。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The principal goal of this training grant (TG) is to promote the interdisciplinary training of graduate students in Pharmacological Sciences. Its secondary goal is to foster interactions among faculty and students from different Departments that share an interest in Pharmacological Sciences. The current TG developed out of a successful 25-year-old TG in the Department of Pharmacology, which was radically modified to attract students from a highly diverse background. The 42 trainers on this TG are drawn from 10 different PhD-granting programs, and three different Colleges, consistent with its focus on interdisciplinary training. Faculty representation is well balanced at all academic levels. All senior trainers have excellent records of training graduate students and maintain highly productive research programs. They will serve as mentors to junior faculty of great promise and potential. The curriculum provides a formal venue for both trainer and trainee interactions. Principles in Pharmacology (071:135) has been modified to accommodate trainees from different disciplines. Advanced Problem Solving in Pharmacological Sciences (071:250) has been specifically created for this TG. In this course, trainees of diverse background work as a group with mentoring by a trainer to solve a pharmacological problem and write an interdisciplinary research paper that utilizes methodology ranging from Medicinal Chemistry to Systems Pharmacology and Physiology. The Pharmacology Seminar (071:204) serves as a weekly forum to bring together the trainees and trainers. It provides trainees with experience in formal presentation of their work. Early access to research experience by trainees is emphasized, which has resulted in average times to PhD of ~5 years. It is anticipated that this TG will provide support for trainees who are among the top 25% of all eligible trainees on campus for 2 years of their graduate education. We demonstrate the existence of a sustainable and clearly-identified pool of high quality graduate students. Of this pool, 13 highly qualified students applied in 2004 and 14 in 2005. Institutional support for this TG has been particularly strong with the provision of three additional training slots during the prior award period, and a future commitment of a minority-designated slot for the duration of the next award period. The aims of the previous award, which were to further develop the curriculum and establish the existence of successful interdisciplinary program, have been met. The program is now well situated to expand upon its initial success.