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