Career Development

Interim Advisor
When students begin their studies, they will initially be advised by an interim academic advisor whose role is to advise the student about courses and laboratory rotations until a dissertation advisor is selected. The advisor is responsible for proposing modifications to the standard plan based on specific needs of the student and for representing the student for faculty evaluation. This includes guiding students to appropriate remedial work required in the first year. Students are required to meet with their advisors early upon entry into the program and at roughly ten-week intervals thereafter. One focus of these meetings is the selection of the next research rotation; in addition, a general discussion of the student's progress within the program is expected. Students are encouraged to get to know interim advisors and consult with them more frequently than is formally required. An informal evaluation occurs at the beginning of the second term when the interim advisor discusses the student's performance during the first term and completes the advisor's mid–year report. Beyond the first year, the dissertation advisor and the dissertation committee will assume the advisory role. Students are required to meet formally with their dissertation committees at least once a year so that the dissertation committee can report progress annually to the oversight and evaluations committee.

Training in writing grants and long-term research design

The comprehensive exam at the end of the second year is designed to help students develop grant writing and longer-term research design skills. It includes (1) a research proposal in an area not directly related to the student's PhD thesis work and (2) a brief thesis proposal.
Grant-writing workshops are offered by the Survival Skills and Ethics program: http://wwwsurvival.pitt.edu/.
Other training in scientific writing is available at http://www.technical-writing.net/sitemap.html

Ethics training

Scientific ethics is an important requirement for a career in science and is usually overlooked in most graduate programs. The required course is Scientific Ethics (INTBP 2290). This course ensures that students are prepared for making informed decisions when questions of ethics arise.

Career development training

Students are encouraged to participate in numerous career-development workshops offered throughout the year: http://www.survival.pitt.edu/
A web-source for postdoctoral fellowships will be provided to optimize the chances of obtaining postdoctoral positions. Additional career development information is available at the following weblink: http://www.health.pitt.edu/oacd/postdoc.html
Students will be integrated into the career development activities of local, national, and international societies promoting molecular biophysics and structural biology.
Students are encouraged to participate in conferences and symposia, both local and non-local, to apply for travel fellowships, and to take advantage of young investigator awards, poster awards, and presentation awards that are available to young scientists.

Opportunities for women scientists

Women have comprised approximately 50% of students in biological and biomedical science graduate programs for many years at both universities; however, the number of tenured female faculty members has remained low. The University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University have demonstrated a clear commitment to increasing the number of women in senior academic positions, and the successful recruitment and development of female scientists at these institutions is reflected in the makeup of the MBSB faculty. Female trainees are encouraged to participate in the Organization of Women in Science (OWIS), join the Women@SCS committee which provides students with the opportunity to interact with successful female role models. In addition, the "Survival Skills and Ethics workshops and career development programs sponsored by the Office of Academic Career Development include specific attention to gender specific issues. The Academic Resources Center at Carnegie Mellon University also provides a guide to resources Interested students are invited to explore the following weblinks:

Programs for minority students

The Molecular Biophysics & Structural Biology Graduate Program actively seeks talented minority students. The Office of Diversity Affairs offers a number of relevant activities to ensure success of students in the Program including academic support and counseling, peer tutorial services, and guidance in professional networking. Carnegie Mellon University has published the diversity resource guide.