2007 Trainee Advisory Committee Report
Trainee Advisory Committee (TAC) Trainee Survey
2004 Survey Report
In 2004, the TAC conducted a Trainee Survey to determine what each
segment of APS trainees (graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and new
investigators) saw as important issues that the Society could begin to
address. The results of that survey have directed many of the Committee’s
activities, as well as those of other APS Committees and Section Steering
Committees.
2007 Survey
In its 2006 report, the TAC requested approval from Council to make the
Trainee Survey one of the regular activities of the TAC. The survey will be
conducted every three years to update APS’ information on the needs of
trainees (graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and new investigators).
The survey is not limited to APS members, but casts a broader net to solicit
information from the many trainees who are involved in APS activities and
meetings.
Experimental Biology 2007
The second Trainee Symposium was co-organized by Jennifer Pluznick, Yale
University and
Erica Wehrwein, Michigan State Univ. The session was entitled, “Multiple
Career Paths for a Physiologist: Understand Your Options and How to Get
There.” The session was very well attended and the presentations received
very high ratings from the participants.
Experimental Biology 2008
The 2008 Trainee Symposium will be “Marketing
Yourself on Paper for Academic Positions.” It is
being organized by Lacy A. Holowatz, Penn State
University and Eric Berglund, Vanderbilt University. It will include
presentations on developing both a research statement and a teaching
philosophy. The TAC is again coordinating with the Women in
Physiology and Career Opportunities in Physiology Committees to plan
complimentary sessions.
Trainee Email Newsletter
The TAC sends out a trainee email newsletter to keep all interested
trainees advised of relevant APS and other news, notice of award
opportunities, postdoctoral position openings, articles of special interest
to trainees, etc. Committee members Chris Madden (Oregon Health & Science
University) and Erica Wehrwein work with APS staff to develop the content,
ensure the newsletter comes out on a monthly basis, and provide content
relevant to the Committee charge. The newsletter issues have a topic focus,
such as fellowships and awards. The TAC also issues a special e-newsletter
issue containing a list of all relevant career sessions for trainees at the
EB meeting. Each Committee member distributed the special list via their
section listservs, as well as the trainee listserv.
Trainee Web Page
The new Trainee web page continues to serve as a visible feature on the
APS website, providing critical information for APS trainees. In addition to
current announcements, it provides quick links to: TAC section contacts and
staff contacts; TAC activities and programs; trainee newsletters (both past
newsletters and requests to receive new ones); trainee associations (e.g.,
National Postdoctoral Association); trainee resources (awards, career
planning, family & career, finding a job, funding resources, lab management,
mentoring, and science policy/advocacy), and mentoring discussion forum.
Professional Skills Courses
Several TAC members have been active participants in the Advisory Board
for the APS Professional Skills Training (PST) project. At the fall Advisory
Board meeting, current and former TAC members Angela Grippo, Erica Wehrwein,
Sean Stocker, Frank Golder, and Ryan Bavis worked with staff to develop the
content for the most recent PST live course on basic presentation skills.
APS Trainee Community
and Professional Service Award
In its 2006 report, the TAC asked for and received Council approval in
concept to develop an APS award designed to recognize and promote trainee
participation in community and professional service. Committee members Chris
Madden, Bryan Helwig, Lacy Holowatz, and Angela Grippo prepared the award
proposal throughout 2006-2007, and the TAC submitted a proposal to Council
for approval. The first award would be made at EB 2008.
Committeee Outreach
New Member Outreach: The TAC wants to reach out to new APS trainee
members (student, postdoctoral). They are working with the APS Membership
Office so that each TAC representative receives information on new trainee
members in their section. They will contact each new trainee member
personally and make them aware of the types of resources and programs the
APS offers to promote their career development.
Undergraduate Student Outreach: At EB 2007 the TAC volunteered to reach
out to the undergraduate students at the APS Undergraduate Student Poster
Session. The committee members distributed the APS “Physiology Researcher”
pins and talked to undergraduate students about careers in physiology and
how professional societies like the APS can help support their career
development. The committee also had a table of information at the poster
session. This was viewed as a very successful outreach effort, and both the
TAC and the Education Committee hope to continue it in the future.
K-12 Outreach: The TAC will work with the Education Office staff in 2007
to encourage APS trainee members to participate in Physiology Understanding
Week activities via messages through their section listservs.
Section Activities
In order to help APS sections to develop or expand their trainee
activities, the TAC members have been gathering information on what each
section does for its trainees. They have shared this information via e-mail,
and many have taken the information back to their section steering
committees. This is stimulating discussion among steering committee members
on possible new trainee activities. Additionally, the TAC plans to organize
this information and post it on the TAC website. Each section’s
trainee-relevant activities will be highlighted for one month on the
website, beginning approximately August 2007.
Trainee Representation on APS Committees
The TAC efforts to promote the inclusion of student members on more APS
committees and task forces have been very successful. Over the past three
years, a number of committees have added or requested a trainee
representative. The following committees now have a trainee member:
Education, Communications, Porter Physiology, Animal Care and
Experimentation, International Physiology, Long Range Planning, Membership,
Public Affairs, and Women in Physiology.
Angela Jean Grippo, Chair
Trainee Advisory Committee
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