Pre-Doctoral Pharmacology Training Program

Yale University, New Haven CT

Investigators

Abstract

Project Summary The objective of the Yale Predoctoral Pharmacology Training Program (PPTP) is to train an outstanding and diverse group of graduate students in the pharmacological sciences for research careers in academia, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, or government. The PPTP will accomplish this objective by drawing on the experiences and strengths learned from our previous 45 year-long training program. Our innovative and interdisciplinary curriculum will integrate fundamental pharmacological principles with related areas of modern biological science, including signal transduction, metabolism, neuroscience, and structural biology. Classroom activities in core topics will be complemented with a newly developed course in drug discovery and development that offers hands-on experience in high-throughput screening, proteomics, and functional genomics, as well as interactive workshops conducted by leaders in the pharmaceutical industry. A group of 47 world-class faculty have been assembled from multiple departments, all of whom are dedicated to mentoring and providing a safe and inclusive environment for their trainees. Our mentors will train students in laboratory-based research meeting the highest standards of rigor, reproducibility and ethics. Outside of the laboratory, students will participate in activities to acquire essential skills, including two semesters of teaching and monthly research-in-progress talks. We will promote a cohesive and inclusive PPTP community through regular activities including an annual symposium and retreat, a career development series featuring program alumni, town hall meetings, student organized “research chats”, and a seminar series drawing from leading scientists in pharmacology and related disciplines. Student progress will be assessed through a qualifying examination administered during their second year, and through regular thesis committee meetings occurring through the remainder of their doctoral training. Student feedback will be fully integrated into the delivery of the PPTP training experience in order to optimize program outcomes and to guide future improvements. Additionally, we have developed special assessment tools and surveys that monitor trainee development, which will be augmented by tracking trainee outcomes. The PPTP is unique among T32-supported programs at Yale as it is the only one that provides training in core principles of pharmacology. Experiences provided by our program will equip students for successful careers in biomedicine, meeting a national need for well-trained individuals with expertise in the pharmacological sciences. We request 8 training positions to appoint 4 second year and 4 third year students per year.