In 2003, The American Physiological Society and the Association of Chairs of Departments of Physiology compiled a list of important professional development skills for physiology trainees. It is important to note that the list was developed with specific purposes in mind. The primary purpose of this list is to serve as a professional development tool for physiology trainees and their mentors.

It is important to note that this document was not designed to serve as a list of standards for graduate or postdoctoral training. In the process of becoming a physiologist, some, but not all, learning experiences are provided by graduate departments and postdoctoral employment. Others must be sought individually and customized to the specific needs of the trainee.

Second, it does not represent a "one-size-fits-all" checklist for professional development. This list was developed with the wide variety of career areas that trained physiologists enter in mind.

Finally, it does not provide a detailed list of the core biomedical science knowledge or laboratory techniques needed for a successful research career in physiology. These differ by the specific academic department and, of course, by the specific research field and topics selected. These are, however, important topics that trainees should discuss with their mentors and departmental advisors.

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