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© 2003 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Moving Toward the Future: Issues in Graduate & Postdoctoral Interdisciplinary Training in the Biomedical Sciences William R. Galey, Ph.D. Director of Graduate Education Programs, HHMI OSTP Regional Forum on Research Business Models November 12, 2003

Moving Toward the Future November 12, 2003 Why are Graduate & Postdoctoral Training Important to the Research Enterprise ? Graduate students and postdoctoral trainees: 1.do most of the actual research work. Must understand the work they are doing Must be able to communicate & collaborate with research colleagues from partner disciplines 2.are the future researchers. Who will design future research to exploit the new connections with other disciplines

Moving Toward the Future November 12, 2003 NIH NSF HHMI are all initiating or have in place major efforts in interdisciplinary biological research!

Moving Toward the Future November 12, 2003 Future major advances in the Biomedical Sciences will require interdisciplinary research at the interfaces between biology and the physical, engineering, computational sciences and mathematics. The training of graduate students and post doctoral fellows must be appropriate to accomplish this new approach.

Moving Toward the Future November 12, 2003 Issues in Graduate & Postdoctoral Training: The Biomedical Sciences 1.Length of the training period is too long. 2.Training experiences are too narrow. 3.Trainee population lacks Diversity. 4.University structures & policies fail to support interdisciplinary or team science. 5.Barriers exist that impede the participation of well educated foreign trainees and researchers. 6.Trainee support mechanisms are inconsistent and uncoordinated and often inequitable. 7. There is inadequate data to evaluate the biomedical research workforce.

Moving Toward the Future November 12, Length of the training period Degree Duration Age at Completion Bachelors Degree: 4-5 years ~23 Ph.D: 7.2 years ~30 Postdoctoral Training 5-7 years ~35 This is a problem because Compensation is inadequate Interdisciplinary research threatens to increase training Career independence is delayed Trainees are working on the ideas of others during the most creative period of their lives !

Moving Toward the Future November 12, Narrowness of the training experience Career preparation: is primarily for Academic Research Career Little or no opportunity to: Gain & apply interdisciplinary knowledge Work in teams Learn about conducting research in nonacademic environments Gain appreciation for medical relevance of their science Learn teaching skills Scientific specialization within biological sciences Research & training is often focused on detailed study in a very small field of biomedical sciences Research is primarily “reductionistic” rather than “synthesis” or integration oriented

Moving Toward the Future November 12, 2003 Narrowness of training cont. Lack of physical & computational science and mathematics education Few Biology majors are prepared to utilize the more mathematical approaches of the “hard” sciences Lack of education in “medical sciences” Although most Biomedical Science trainees are in Medical School settings Few trainees gain an appreciation for the role of their research to medicine or public health Few trainees understand the most important science-related “problems” facing clinical medicine Lack of interdisciplinary and team-science training Focus of graduate training is on “individual” research achievement rather than “team” oriented research

Moving Toward the Future November 12, Lack of Diversity in trainee population Gender equity is close in Biomedical Science training Much is yet to be done to capitalize on the contributions of a diverse research environment 4. University structure & policies Discourage interdisciplinary study Discourage faculty from attempting team research 5. Barriers to participation of foreign trainees Current visa policies impede entry of outstanding trainees

Moving Toward the Future November 12, Inconsistencies in trainee funding mechanisms by governmental funding agencies Complicate support of trainees working in interdisciplinary research teams Confuse and Complicate stipend levels, benefits, tuition and research supplies issues 7. Inadequate data on the size and employment in the biomedical research workforce.

Moving Toward the Future November 12, 2003 Selected Government Graduate Fellowship Programs FY 2003 Funding Levels and Other Information SponsorProgram NameFields Duration (year) StipendAllowances NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Science & Engineering3$27,000Cost of Ed. $10,500 NIH National Research Service Awards (institutional grants) Biomedical or Behavioral Research 5$19,968 Inst. Allowance $1,650-$$2,750 depends on sponsor + health ins., tuition & fees, travel and training expenses NASA Graduate Student Researchers Fellowship Program Aeronautics and Space Science & Eng 1-3$18,000 Stud. Allowance $3,000 Univ. Allowance $3,000 Dept. of Ed Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Science & Engineering3$18,060Cost of Ed. $11,296 EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowships Environmental research in physical, biological, social sciences, & eng 2$20,000 Tuition & fees $12,000 Expense Allow. $5,000 Dept. of Defense NDSEG Fellowship Program All fields that pertain to national security 3$27,500 Health Ins. $1,000 Tuition & fees

Moving Toward the Future November 12, 2003 Selected Government Graduate Fellowship Programs FY 2003 Funding Levels and Other Information SponsorProgram Name Duration (years) StipendAllowances NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program 3$27,000Cost of Ed. $10,500 NIH National Research Service Awards (institutional grants) 5$19,968 Inst. Allowance $1,650 -$ 2,750 + ( HI., T&F, TR, TE) NASA Graduate Student Researchers Fellowship Program 1-3$18,000 Student Allowance $3,000 TE $3,000 Dept. of Ed Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) 3$18,060Cost of Ed. $11,296 EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowships 2$20,000 T&F $12,000 Expense Allow. $5,000 Dept. of Defense NDSEG Fellowship Program 3$27,500HI $1,000 + T&F Support Limits 1 to 5 years

Moving Toward the Future November 12, 2003 Selected Government Graduate Fellowship Programs FY 2003 Funding Levels and Other Information SponsorProgram Name Duration (years) StipendAllowances NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program 3 $27,000 Cost of Ed. $10,500 NIH National Research Service Awards (institutional grants) 5 $19,968 Inst. Allowance $1,650 -$ 2,750 + ( HI., T&F, TR, TE) NASA Graduate Student Researchers Fellowship Program 1-3 $18,000 Student Allowance $3,000 TE $3,000 Dept. of Ed Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) 3 $18,060 Cost of Ed. $11,296 EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowships 2 $20,000 T&F $12,000 Expense Allow. $5,000 Dept. of Defense NDSEG Fellowship Program 3 $27,500 HI $1,000 + T&F Stipend Amounts $18,000 to $27,000

Moving Toward the Future November 12, 2003 Selected Government Graduate Fellowship Programs FY 2003 Funding Levels and Other Information SponsorProgram Name Duration (years) Stipend Allowances NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program 3 $27,000Cost of Ed. $10,500 NIH National Research Service Awards (institutional grants) 5 $19,968 ~$10,000 NASA Graduate Student Researchers Fellowship Program 1-3 $18,000 Student Allowance $3,000 TE $3,000 Dept. of Ed Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) 3 $18,060 Cost of Ed. $11,296 EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowships 2 $20,000 T&F $12,000 Expense Allow. $5,000 Dept. of Defense NDSEG Fellowship Program 3 $27,500 HI $1,000 + T&F Allowances $6K to $17K

Moving Toward the Future November 12, 2003 Selected Postdoctoral Fellowship Programs FY 2003 Funding Levels and Other Information SponsorProgram NameFields Duration (year) StipendAllowances NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Microbial Biology Microbial biology2-3$36,000 Health ins., etc. $5,000 Research allow. $9,000 Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships Mathematical Sciences 2$48,000 Health ins., etc.$4,500 Research allow. $7,500 Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships Astronomy and Astrophysics 3$50,000 Health ins., etc. $7,000 Research allow. $10,000 Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Interdisciplinary Informatics Interdisciplinary Informatics 2-3$36,000 Health ins., etc. $5,000 Research allow. $9,000 NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowships Biomedical, behavioral, or clinical 3$34,200 Instit. allow. $4,400 (fed) $5,500 (non-fed) AFSOR USAF/NRC-Resident Research Associateship Science and engineering at Air Force laboratories 1-2$55,000 Relocation reimbursement and limited travel

Moving Toward the Future November 12, 2003 How Governmental Agencies might help Provide Solutions to the Identified Problems 1. Set consistent limits on the length of support for trainees receiving Federal money 2. Require Federally supported trainees to receive Career preparation training such as industrial co-ops, teacher training, etc 3. Encourage more rigorous science and mathematical training of trainees 4. Encourage better understanding of medicine by trainees Facilitate PhD training in “clinical aspects” of their science Encourage MD students to enter Basic Science research

Moving Toward the Future November 12, 2003 Immediate Practical Changes Governmental Agencies can Adopt 1.Establish consistency of: Stipends Benefits Tuition and Training Costs Length of support for all doctoral and postdoctoral trainees receiving support from federally sponsored Individual Fellowships Research Assistants funded on grants Training Grants

Moving Toward the Future November 12, 2003 Immediate Practical Changes Governmental Agencies can Adopt cont. 2. Resolve issues surrounding foreign trainee Visa application processing correct technical problems with SEVIS Expedite review process Returning visas for scholars Allow trainees to apply for a “return visa” prior to leaving US or reinstate multiple entry visas for Scholars.

© 2003 Howard Hughes Medical Institute William R. Galey, Ph.D. Director of Graduate Education Programs, HHMI OSTP Regional Forum on Research Business Models November 12, 2003

Moving Toward the Future November 12, 2003 Selected Postdoctoral Fellowship Programs FY 2003 Funding Levels and Other Information SponsorProgram NameFields Duration (year) StipendAllowances NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Microbial Biology Microbial biology2-3$36,000 Health ins., etc. $5,000 Research allow. $9,000 Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships Mathematical Sciences 2$48,000 Health ins., etc.$4,500 Research allow. $7,500 Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships Astronomy and Astrophysics 3$50,000 Health ins., etc. $7,000 Research allow. $10,000 Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Interdisciplinary Informatics Interdisciplinary Informatics 2-3$36,000 Health ins., etc. $5,000 Research allow. $9,000 NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowships Biomedical, behavioral, or clinical 3$34,200 Instit. allow. $4,400 (fed) $5,500 (non-fed) AFSOR USAF/NRC-Resident Research Associateship Science and engineering at Air Force laboratories 1-2$55,000 Relocation reimbursement and limited travel

Moving Toward the Future November 12, 2003 Issues in Graduate & Postdoctoral Training: The Biomedical Sciences Length of the training period Narrowness of the training experience Career preparation Scientific specialization within biological sciences Lack of physical & computational science and mathematics education Lack of education in “medical sciences” Lack of interdisciplinary and team-science training Lack of Diversity in trainee population Unsupportive university structure & policies Barriers to participation of foreign trainees Inconsistencies in trainee funding mechanisms

Moving Toward the Future November 12, 2003 Selected Government Graduate Fellowship Programs FY 2003 Funding Levels and Other Information SponsorProgram Name Duration (years) StipendAllowances NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program 3$27,000Cost of Ed. $10,500 NIH National Research Service Awards (institutional grants) 5$19,968 Inst. Allowance $1,650 -$ 2,750 + ( HI., T&F, TR, TE) NASA Graduate Student Researchers Fellowship Program 1-3$18,000 Student Allowance $3,000 TE $3,000 Dept. of Ed Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) 3$18,060Cost of Ed. $11,296 EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowships 2$20,000 T&F $12,000 Expense Allow. $5,000 Dept. of Defense NDSEG Fellowship Program 3$27,500HI $1,000 + T&F