Good communication skills are required regardless of what career path is chosen, scientific or not. Every person needs to know how to express him/herself in speaking and writing. Whether presenting a symposium, coaching an employee, being interviewed for a job, or simply talking with a neighbor or colleague, being able to communicate clearly is critical. Being able to express ideas clearly and succinctly in writing also is essential whether it is in a grant proposal, job application cover letter, or letter to the editor. The researcher, for example, may have made a landmark discovery, but the work never "speaks for itself." It requires good written and oral communication skills to share findings with the wider scientific community. As with most skills, communication skills develop through practice. Communication skills are the hallmark of professionals in all fields, including all areas of physiology.
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Major Skills
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A Trainee will understand the importance of and work to develop |
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A. Interviewing (Interviewee)
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- Skill in preparing for diverse types of interviews
- Knowledge of how to conduct oneself at interviews
- Knowledge of appropriate post-interview actions
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B. Presentations
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- Ability to organize ideas in a useful fashion
- Ability to use graphics effectively to communicate ideas
- Knowledge of how to develop poster presentations
- Knowledge of how to develop various types of oral presentations
- Ability to convey complex information in appropriate fashion to audiences with different levels of physiology knowledge
- Ability to speak before large and small groups
- ability to assess audience response to determine how will ideas are being conveyed
- Ability to make persuasive arguments in oral presentations
- Ability to handle audience questions
- Ability to speak clearly in English
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C. Technical writing
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- Ability to organize ideas in a useful fashion
- Ability to write logical instructions
- Ability to write at all levels: brief abstracts to book-length manuscripts
- Ability to use graphics effectively to communicate ideas
- Ability to revise one's own work to make a document or presentation clearer or more persuasive
- Ability to edit and proofread
- Knowledge of publication process for scientific journals and other publications
- Ability to cite and critically analyze the scientific literature in written work
- Ability to convey complex information in appropriate fashion to audiences with different levels of physiology knowledge
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D. Grant writing
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- Knowledge of how to identify various funding sources
- Knowledge of types of grants and different approaches to writing them
- Ability to develop clear and testable hypothesis, objectives, and research plan
- Proficiency in developing grant budgets
- Knowledge of grant review processes
- Ability to use scientific literature effectively in writing grant proposals
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E. Peer review
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- Ability to give and receive appropriate constructive criticism in writing and evaluating manuscripts and other types of writings
- Ability to give and receive appropriate constructive criticism in giving and evaluating oral and poster presentations
- Ability to give and receive appropriate constructive criticism in writing and evaluating grant applications
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Highlighted material indicates skills that students would be more likely to develop after their graduate training.
The links below provide readings, presentations, courses, and/or websites to assist in developing these skills.