Other Activities

IPSTP students participate in a journal club once per month, where one student presents a recent journal article that focuses on in vivo pharmacology, drug discovery, or computational pharmacology. Students are encouraged to pick a journal article outside of their area of expertise so that they can gain insight into novel experimental paradigms and approaches. IPSTP students are asked to consider whether appropriate experimental design was utilized: inclusion of positive and negative controls, use of appropriate statistics, sufficient replicates, and whether analysis was conducted in a blinded fashion where appropriate. They then discuss the limitations of the experimental approaches and whether inclusion of alternative methodological approaches might strengthen the findings. Lastly, an important component of journal club is critical evaluation of the conclusions. In particular, IPSTP students will determine whether the experimental results support the authors’ conclusions and whether alternative conclusions are possible.

IPSTP students participate in this workshop during the summer and fall of their 3rd year to develop an F31 NRSA application. Many also use this training to prepare the written component of their dissertation proposal. Students attend weekly presentations led by IPSTP Preceptors, in which they learn how to articulate their research and training goals. An F31-funded former IPSTP student also participates in the workshop to provide peer-to-peer guidance. Each session addresses a research component and a training component needed for a complete application. Participants have weekly writing assignments, structured so that they systematically tackle the application.

The workshop culminates in a Mock Study Section where IPSTP faculty review the applications as if it were an NIH Fellowship Study Section. This experience gives students a glimpse into the grant review process and timely feedback that they can use to perfect their writing prior to submission.

Student chalk talks are a novel aspect of the IPSTP that every IPSTP Student must participate in at least once. Using only a white board and markers, students will present the background to their project, their newest data and their plans for future research. These informal sessions are attended by all IPSTP students and several IPSTP Preceptors. Presenters can be asked questions at any time; this teaches the presenting student to think on their feet, organize their thoughts and respond to criticism. This activity prepares students for the job market where these types of presentations are increasingly required during the interview process. Chalk talks are also beneficial for the attendees as well: they teach students to ask good scientific questions and how to provide both praise and criticism in a constructive manner. 

MSU requires centralized and standardized Responsible Conduct in Research training for PhD program students. Thus, all of the IPSTP students will complete their initial training through the Graduate School. As a supplement to this training, discussions of research ethics will be contained in several other IPSTP activities, including Boot Camps and journal clubs.  IPSTP Preceptors also run four sessions of continuing education/refresher training for IPSTP students. These sessions primarily take the form of case studies, but also include student-submitted anaonymous questions and case histories once a year.

The IPSTP hosts a day-long retreat each Spring semester at an on-campus location to encourage the faculty and trainees to fully participate in the events. Central to the retreat are two keynote addresses: one from a scientific leader outside of the MSU community and one from a senior MSU faculty member. Both will be encouraged not only to share their science but also to share their career paths and the important things they learned along the way. The IPSTP Annual Retreat also heavily features oral and poster presentations from current and former IPSTP students.  

The IPSTP students organize the event including selecting, inviting, and hosting the external speaker. They also select the student speakers and chair the oral sessions, providing excellent organizational and leadership training opportunities..