Predoctoral Training in the Pharmacological Sciences

The Pharmacological Sciences Training Program (PSTP) at the University of Iowa seeks to achieve interdisciplinary and integrated training of graduate students in Pharmacological Sciences. The result will be successful PhDs who are well prepared for career and leadership positions in pharmacology in academia, government (e.g. regulatory agencies), pharmaceutical companies, biotechs, research institutes, and science-related fields. In addition to training PhDs well-positioned for career success, our outcomes include publication of first-author and collaborative papers, success in obtaining individual, nationally- competitive fellowships, at or below-average time to degree, and establishing a supportive environment conducive to intellectual growth and scientific development. This program is built upon a foundation of an existing Interdisciplinary T32 in Pharmacological Sciences established in 2004, and we build on elements of this program with new programmatic, evaluation, and curricular plans, which bring greater focus on mentorship, team science, rigorous and reproducible research, and career development. The pool of trainees eligible for this program at the University of Iowa is talented and deep. Drawing from 53 mentor laboratories in 13 degree-granting programs across 3 colleges (Medicine, Pharmacy, Liberal Arts & Sciences), we aim for 6 trainees per year to join our program, each appointed for two years (their 2nd and 3rd years of graduate study) for a total of 12 trainee positions. We request funding of only 9 positions, however, because the three participating colleges have pledged support of one matching position each. Our 6 proposed trainees are selected annually from a large pool of strong applicants (5-year average: 19). This PSTP aims to be a highly effective mechanism for interdisciplinary training in the Pharmacological Sciences regardless of departmental affiliation. Even after financial support ends, trainees remain actively engaged in the PSTP through and past graduation. Our core course sequence, Principles of Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics & Pharmacogenomics, provides trainees a deep understanding of classical and modern pharmacology. Additional courses are required, such as Advanced Problem Solving in Pharmacological Sciences, in which trainees work as a team to design collaborative research plans, while Basic Biostatistics and Experimental Design, and Mastering Reproducible Science focus on rigor and reproducibility, a theme threaded throughout all activities of the PSTP. Science Communication in the Digital Age and PSTP-organized career workshops are offerings that broaden the development of career skills to better prepare our trainees for the job market. These courses lead to cohort-building for our trainees from different programs, as they progress through classes and program activities together including research retreats, summer brown bag discussion luncheons, as well as semi- weekly interactions during Pharmacology Seminar.