Doctoral Research and Rotations

Trainees are selected so that their doctoral projects lie in the general area of synthesis, dynamics, and structure of biologically relevant molecules. The trainees will graduate with qualifications for research careers in academic and institutional research or in relevant branches of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. The students will learn

• How to identify scientific problems central to a given research area;
• How to formulate these problems in a manner susceptible to experimental or theoretical solution;
• How to design appropriate experiments or calculations;
• How to organize and carry through the program of experiments or calculations;
• How to interpret the results;
• How to organize and present the material for publication and dissemination.

In addition, students will learn how to carry out these tasks with proper attention to their ethical responsibilities as scientists.

Research Rotations

In order to provide trainees with a grasp of the power of the concepts and methods of the other research option areas, and to encourage the collaborative adoption of these concepts and techniques in their doctoral research and later careers, trainees carry out two six-week research rotations in laboratories emphasizing other research area options than that of their doctoral research. Rotations commonly take place in other Chemical Biology training laboratories at the University of Kansas, but may also involve other research groups at Kansas, at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, at other institutions, or in industry. The main criterion for an acceptable rotation is that it be a bona-fide broadening experience for the trainee, and special encouragement is given to rotations across the interface. The research rotations are arranged by the trainees, their research mentors, and the rotation mentor, and are subject to approval by the Steering Committee. It is highly desirable for rotations to lead to productive collaborations among mentors in the training program, and rotations with promise in this direction are viewed with special favor by the Steering Committee.