Bioethics Training is a web-based program found on Knowledge Link at http://knowledgelink.upenn.edu .
You will need your Penn Key and password to log on. For BPP postdocs Bioethics Training will be found under required training. Click on Enroll to start the training. Bioethics Training is a joint effort of Biomedical Graduate Studies, Biomedical Postdoctoral Programs and the Department for Medical Ethics. The program is designed to fulfill the NIH Responsible Conduct of Research Requirements and is MANDATORY for all postdocs to take within their first year at Penn.
Training programs are MANDATORY for all postdocs who work with hazardous substances including: chemicals, human blood, blood products, fluids, human tissue specimens, radiation producing equipment and radioactive materials. Full descriptions of the training requirements, courses, and scheduled dates are available on the EHRS website or by contacting the department directly.
Office of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety(OEHRS)
1412 Blockley Hall/6021
Phone: (215) 898-4453
http://www.ehrs.upenn.edu
Federal law and the Institutional Animal Use Committee require that all persons who work with animals in laboratory research or teaching complete the training session on "Regulations and the IACUC". Training programs are offered on Knowledge Link by University Laboratory Animal Resources. The office also provides resources for assistance with shipping/receiving, husbandry, and technical and clinical veterinary issues.
University Laboratory Animal Resources(ULAR)
8th Floor, VA Medical Center
39th & Woodland Aves.
Phone: (215) 898-6466/67
http://www.ular.upenn.edu/
Descriptions of these Core Elements may be found in the Training Program Template, Appendix III of BPP Policies.
New Postdoc Orientation
Three times a year BPP runs a New Postdoc Orientation with presentations from the following groups:
Research Success Skills Workshop Series
This series is offered every other spring and contains the following topics:
Obtaining Federal Funding Seminar
The Office of the Vice Dean for Research and Research Training sponsors an annual seminar each Fall called the "Art and Science of Obtaining Federal Funding". The purpose is to educate faculty and researchers on various funding opportunities. Topics addressed include procedures on preparing a grant, available sources of support for research, and where to get help at the University.
Office of Research Program Development
267 Anatomy-Chemistry Building/6061
(215) 898-0132
K Award Workshops
Two workshops are offered in this series, the first is a General Know Your K workshop and the second is a workshop tailored specifically to the K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award. Joan M. Lakoski, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Career Development at the University of Pittsburgh and Robert Milner, Ph.D., Director of the Junior Faculty Development Program at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine are the two presenters for both workshops. Below are short descriptions for the two workshops:
General KNOW YOUR K Workshop
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) primary grant mechanism for supporting new and mid-career investigators is the Mentored Career Development Award (a.k.a. K Award). This workshop explores the range of K Award options available, provides an overview of the K Award application process and review criteria, features a K Award application review by a mock study section (that reveals what really goes on behind those closed doors), and includes a step-by-step guide to preparing an outstanding and successful application. These awards are open to US citizens and permanent residents.
Pathway to Independence: K99/R00 Workshop
This workshop provides an overview of the NIH's innovative new program that provides promising postdoctoral scientists the opportunity to receive both mentored (K) and independent research support (R) from the same award. The workshop presenters will provide guidance on the applications for K99/R00 awards. So afterwards K award applicants can use the strategies to enhance their probability of success. This award is open to US citizens, permanent residents, and non–US citizens.
Online Writing Courses
BPP designed a course in conjunction with Penn's English Language Programs that provides a semester long online writing course for native and non-native English speakers. This course is offered three times a year and is open to any biomedical scientist in the world.
Presentation and Public Speaking Skills
Presentation and Public Speaking are addressed through a series of workshops offered every year with Lisa B. Marshall.
For more information on Lisa Marshall visit her website at http://www.lisabmarshall.com or her Art of Speaking Science blog at http://www.artofspeakingscience.com.
The large group seminars expose the post-docs to an effective technical presentation organizational structure, show them how to develop and practice "hallway" mini presentations, and explain effective design strategies for communicating scientific information.
Through the presentation workshops (small groups) postdocs can experiment with and develop their speaking, presentation and interpersonal communication skills in a "communication laboratory". The workshops provide an invaluable and rare experience of presenting scientific work to other biomedical professionals in a supportive, educational environment. Attendees also gain by deepening and broadening their understanding of their colleague’s work.
Biomedical Postdoc Research Symposium
Postdocs have an opportunity to present their research either in a lecture or poster format at this annual symposium in the fall. The event is organized by Biomedical Postdoctoral Programs and the Biomedical Postdoctoral Council.
Programs in development:
Career Advising and Programming
Through a partnership with BPP, the University's Career Services Office provides to postdocs a variety of services including: seminars, one-on-one advising to develop personal search strategies, interview practice sessions and access to career library resources. Seminar topics include:
University of Pennsylvania
Career Services Office
Suite 20, McNeil Building
3718 Locust Walk
(215) 898-7530
http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices
Career Workshop Series
The workshop series is designed to provide updates on current market trends, critical job search skills, types of employment opportunities, as well as to provide insights into the personal experiences of Penn postdoc alumni. The Biomedical Postdoctoral Programs sponsors the Career Workshop Series every other year.
Biomedical Career Fair
The Career Fair is an annual event held in the fall. The Fair allows postdocs to meet employers from a variety of fields (biotech, pharmaceutical companies, education, alternative careers, etc.) who are interested in hiring candidates with advanced degrees and postdoctoral experience.
Business Etiquette Workshop
A workshop conducted by Mary Mitchell that includes the following topics:
Mary Mitchell is a part of The Mitchell Organziation. Her group provides critical training in communications, interpersonal and professional etiquette skills to help business, school, individuals, and government agencies achieve their maximum potential. To find out more about The Mitchell Orgnaization go to their website at http://www.themitchell.org.
Negotiations Workshop
The Negotiations Workshop is conducted by Chatham Sullivan from the Center for Applied Research (CFAR), a management consulting firm. It is a hands-on, interactive workshop where you will explore your own negotiating style and practice negotiating with your fellow postdocs. CFAR takes a practical approach to negotiations and call it "information and skills-based bargaining", which is both easy to understand and to apply. The workshop gives you a set of skills and tools you can immediately apply to the negotiation challenges you face on a daily basis and tools to use when negotiating for a job. This workshop is applicable to all postdocs no matter how long you have been here. The skills you learn here will be ones that you will use for the rest of your life. Attendees of the workshop receive a copy of Richard Shell’s book, Bargaining for Advantage: Negotiation Strategies for Reasonable People. To learn more about CFAR, go to their website http://www.cfar.com.
Career Development Opportunities
Additional experience in scientific writing, business management, intellectual property, teaching, etc. may be necessary for the postdoc to attain his or her career goals. Temporary, part-time, internships or apprenticeships in a variety of fields and skill areas may be of interest to postdocs.
Note: It is strongly recommended that senior postdocs only-3rd to 5th year-participate. Eligibility requires permission from the mentor. Postdocs must concomitantly fulfill their research obligations to the mentor as well as complete the core elements of the postdoctoral training program.
Individual Development Plans (IDPs) provide a planning process that identifies both professional development needs and career objectives for postdoctoral fellows. They also serve as a communication tool between individuals and their mentors. A good outline for an IDP was developed by FASEB (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology). Click here for the link to the PDF version.
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