How to Succeed inGraduate School:

The Hidden Curriculum

Orientation 2015

Good news…you will have lots of support along the way

Advisory Committee

Advisor

GPD

Good news…you will have lots of support along the way

BUT…you should take charge of your education!

Scientific Skills and the“Hidden Curriculum”

Parker, R. 2012. Skill development in graduate education. Mol. Cell 46: 377-381.

Basic Starting Points

Parker, R. 2012. Skill development in graduate education. Mol. Cell 46: 377-381.

Broad knowledge of disciplineBroad interdisciplinary knowledge of

experimental approaches

Required courses (e.g., Molecular Genetics, Graduate Biochemistry, Cell Biology)

Advanced coursesSeminars, symposia, scientific meetingsJournal clubsReading the literature

Seminars, Symposia, Meetings

Parker, R. 2012. Skill development in graduate education. Mol. Cell 46: 377-381.

Graduate seminarsBGE and HBM; all other graduate programsDepartmental/Institutional seminar seriese.g., BNL, Laufer Center, Cancer CenterSymposia & ColloquiaCancer Center, Laufer Center, ICB&DD, department- and

program-sponsoredScientific meetingse.g., CSHL, discipline-specific

Post-talk meetings!

Research “Mechanics”

Parker, R. 2012. Skill development in graduate education. Mol. Cell 46: 377-381.

Effective oral and written communication (courses, journal clubs, graduate seminar, Center for Communicating Science, TLT Center, workshops and special seminars, group meetings, qualifying exam, poster & oral presentations; dissertation proposal defense, dissertation, manuscript preparation)

Depth of knowledge in field (literature, scientific meetings, seminars)

Read, evaluate and integrate literature (journal clubs, qualifying exam, reading the literature)

Plan and execute experiments (HBM Methods course, journal clubs, mentor, group meetings)

Having New Ideas

Parker, R. 2012. Skill development in graduate education. Mol. Cell 46: 377-381.

Choose important research problemsReflect on the careers of other scientistsBe aware of directions in science, societal needsQualifying exam, dissertation proposal defense

Have new insights – be creative!Be aware of technological developments“Chance favors the prepared mind” L. Pasteur

Recommended reading: McKnight, S.L. 2009. Unconventional wisdom. Cell 138: 817-819

Choosing a Research Mentor

Rotations, rotations, rotations!Two “shoppers”CommunicationThe objective vs. the subjective (GRD 500)

Recommended reading: Alberts, B. 2009. On becoming a scientist. Science 326: 916.

Career Development:Don’t Leave it to the End

Individual Development ProgramWorkshops (Postdoctoral Affairs, department-

sponsored)Special seminarsTLT CenterNetwork (including program alumni)

Reflect on career goal and update CV often!