The-APS.org/Education/Professional Skills Training/Home Page

Do you want to...?
- Improve your skills at writing and submitting manuscripts?
- Learn how to better respond to reviewer criticisms?
- Know how to select a journal for submission?
- Learn how to be a good reviewer yourself?
- Discover how diversity issues may influence how you write and review manuscripts?
- Learn about resources that can further develop your writing and reviewing skills?
Who can apply?
- Upper level graduate students who have a 1^st-author draft manuscript
- Lower level postdoctoral fellows who have a 1^st-author draft manuscript
- Students/postdocs who are in the following physiology fields are especially encouraged to apply: Cell and Molecular, Comparative, Endocrinology, GI & Respiration.
How will I benefit?

After finishing the program, you will have…
- A detailed plan for improving your draft manuscript
- Hands-on experience at critiquing abstracts and manuscripts
- Network of peers and mentors to share critiques and advice
- Tools and resources for developing future manuscripts and abstracts
What is the cost?

Travel fellowships are available for all students conducting research within the 50 States and U.S. Territories. The fellowship covers:
- Travel (roundtrip budget airfare or mileage) within the United States
- Ground transportation to and from home airport (if applicable)
- Registration
  - materials and instructor support
  - hotel room- double occupancy (note that students are expected to share a room with another course participant)
  - food
  - ground transportation to and from Orlando airport to hotel
How is the Course structured?
- Intensive 2.5-day course (day & evening work, so please, no families during the course)
- Groups of 4 students paired with 1 instructor/mentor from your field
- Taught by experienced biomedical researchers in your field
- Hands-on training at critiquing your presentation skills and those of your colleagues
- Pre-workshop homework required (readings, sending in a draft abstract and/or poster)
What is my commitment?
- Attend the entire short course on “Writing and Reviewing for Scientific Journals”
- Complete all the required readings before the course
- Send in a complete draft manuscript of which you are the 1^st author by December 1^st
- Send in a critique of an supplied abstract by January 2^nd
- Complete a journal exploration assignment before the course
- Complete all the required work during the course
- Thoughtfully complete all the evaluations: before, during, and after the course
- Participate in all aspects of the course as fully as possible
How do I apply?
- APPLICATIONS due November 30, 2008 with payment
- Go to http://www.the-aps.org/awardapps
- Fill in your profile information
- Submit the requested material:
  - The title and key words for your first-author manuscript
  - 2-page biographical sketch
  - 1-page letter stating why you want to attend the course
  - Letter from your research advisor agreeing for you to attend and discuss your manuscript
- Submit payment via fax (download payment form)
FAQs