CATER Training Program Requirements
One of the challenges of interdisciplinary training is that trainees in different departments have very different expectations about the number of courses they will take and when they will take them. For this reason we have decided to CATER to the needs of the students by developing a didactic sequence of course in the second and third year of training. The courses are designed to, as much as possible, substitute for existing requirements rather than add new ones. Thus, students that complete the training program requirements will still receive a Ph.D. in Bioengineering or one of the departments at the School of Medicine.
Mechanisms and criteria for selection of trainees into CATER
Students entering the CATER program will generally be 2nd year graduate students and will receive funding for the next two years of study. All students must have maintained at least a 3.25 GPA during the 1st year of training in order to be eligible for CATER funding.
There are two mechanisms by which students gain entry into the CATER Training Program. The first is via successful admission into the University of Pittsburgh Bioengineering department and completion of the 1st year course requirements and the second is by admission into the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Training Program (INTBP) and completion of the 1st year course requirements. It is during the second and subsequent years of graduate school that students will be eligible to receive training funding support via the proposed training program.
In May of each year, the CATER Trainee Admissions and Evaluation Committee will invite from all Bioengineering and INTBP graduate students, as well as CATER training faculty nominations of qualified students using the standard nomination forms that include relevant academic information, a brief personal statement and research proposal by the student, and letters of reference. The committee will evaluate the candidates based on:
- Research background and interests relevant to program goals
- Letters of reference
- GPA
- Personal statement
- Program affiliation
- Diversity of student body
Special consideration will be given to pre-doctoral trainees that are jointly mentored by CATER training faculty members or participate in collaborative research projects by the training faculty. Financial support will be provided for two years, provided satisfactory progress is certified after the first year of funding by the Trainee Admissions and Evaluation Committee. Student evaluation at the end of the first year will consist of a review of the coursework, participation in seminars and other training activities (preparation of manuscripts, presentation of data at conferences), written critique by the faculty mentor, and research topic. CATER trainees will continue to participate in all non-course related training activities, regardless of the source of stipend support, and will submit annual progress reports throughout their graduate career.
Course Requirements
Courses required for all students during the first year of the CATER program include a course on stem cell biology to introduce the concepts, use and ethical considerations of stem cells in future therapeutic or regenerative interventions; and a course on cell therapy which is designed to teach fundamentals of cell based therapy. During the second year of the CATER program, students are required to take one of two courses that focus on angiogenesis. A final required course entitled “Functional Tissue Engineering” represents our penultimate tissue engineering course that builds upon our prior engineering and biological based courses to teach students the latest methodologies and technical challenges in tissue engineering. To address quantitative analysis education for life scientists we have developed a course which is required for CMP students. They must take the Foundations in Bioengineering between their second and fifth year (ideally in Year 2 to replace the elective, but this will depend on an individual student’s background).
B.3.E. Other Pre-doctoral Training Activities
Research Seminars
CATER Research Seminars: This semimonthly seminar is designed to give graduate students the opportunity to present original research data from their dissertation projects on an annual basis to an audience of student peers, postdoctoral associates, and faculty. This seminar is also the primary means through which an esprit de corps will be built. Required for all trainees.
Pathology Seminar Series: This seminar series is sponsored by the Department of Pathology and has been in existence for over 20 years. The purpose of this seminar series is to provide a coordinated and comprehensive forum for basic and clinical research related to human development and disease. Seminar speakers consist predominately of invited extramural speakers. Attendance is required for all faculty, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, residents and clinical fellows. Lunch is generously provided for each seminar by the Department of Pathology. Required for all Pathology CATER trainees and optional for all Bioengineering CATER trainees.
Bioengineering Seminar Series: Selected bioengineering-related topics are presented in a weekly one-hour lecture format by members of the bioengineering community of both the university and other institutions. This seminar series is run jointly with the Department of Bioengineering and the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Required for all Bioengineering CATER trainees and optional for all Pathology CATER trainees.
Research Meetings
Department of Pathology Retreat: This annual event is held in the summer and is attended by faculty, students, residents and fellows in the Department of Pathology and collaborating faculty and students from other departments. The graduate students are required to submit an abstract and present their data at this retreat, with the majority as poster presentations. However 6 are invited to give oral presentations (selected from the abstracts submitted). Each oral and poster presentation is evaluated by a panel of judges, and awards are presented to the top three presentations. All trainees will be required to attend this retreat and present their data. Required for all CATER trainees.
McGowan Institute Annual Retreat: This annual event is organized by McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine at an off-campus location to give the faculty members and their research group members an opportunity to participate in the networking sessions amongst faculty and nationally recognized guests. Graduate students are required to present a poster (with abstract) as part of their retreat participation. Each trainee will be evaluated and judged on their poster presentation by a panel of faculty judges. Outside experts in the field of regenerative medicine are invited to provide presentations at this retreat, offering an excellent opportunity for CATER trainees to network and potentially identify post-doctoral training opportunities. The retreat is held during the (late) winter. Required for all CATER trainees.
Professional Scientific Meetings
An integral part of the CATER Training Program is attendance and presentation of original research data at relevant regional, national and international conferences. All CATER pre-doctoral trainees are expected attend and present at one least national / international scientific conference per year. The selection of the national / international conference is made by the trainee and mentor. Attendance at these meetings may be supported by the training grant and individual faculty research grants. Trainees are encouraged to apply for travel funds when available for scientific conferences.
Specialized Workshops:
Animals in Research:
The Office of Research Conduct and Compliance (ORCC) offers several workshops to train faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the proper design and conduct of animal research, relevant regulatory policies and procedures, and the preparation of protocols for IACUC review and approval. Workshop material is also available via the internet for training between workshop presentations. Required for all CATER trainees.Research on Human Subjects:
Also offered several times per year by ORCC, these workshops are designed to train faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in current regulatory and ethical issues pertaining to the use of human subjects, in research and the preparation of protocols for review and approval by the IRB. Required for all CATER trainees.Radiation Safety Training Seminar:
This workshop is offered by the Office of Radiation Safety to train personnel in the basics of the use of radioisotopes in research, appropriate regulatory policies and procedures, and practical aspects of radioisotope procurement, monitoring and disposal at the University of Pittsburgh. Required for all CATER trainees.Biological and Chemical Safety Workshop:
This workshop is offered several times per year the University Biological Safety Officer to train personnel with respect to biological and chemical safety in research, the relevant regulatory policies, and the proper procedures for the storage and disposal of chemical and biological agents. Required for all CATER trainees.Survival Skills and Ethics Workshops: This nationally recognized series of intensive workshops involves a combination of lectures, readings, written exercises, and practical experiences to enhance the professional development of graduate and postdoctoral trainees. Workshops are held each Spring semester, one Saturday per month. Successive sessions focus on writing research articles, grant writing, responsible scientific conduct, creating intellectual property, and management skills. Required for all CATER trainees.