What do T32 Directors Want

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What do T32 Directors Want?

• Kathryn Chaloner
• Professor and Head Department of Biostatistics,
• University of Iowa
• kathryn-chaloner_at_uiowa.edu
• biostatistics_at_uiowa.edu
• NIH NIGMS T32 Statistics for Microbiology,
  Infectious Diseases and Bioinformatics
• June 10-12th, 2009
• MORE Directors Meeting, Colorado Springs

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Abstract

• The primary requirement for support on a T32
  predoctoral grant is admission to a relevant PhD
  program. This is usually a decision made by an
  admissions committee made up of faculty members.
  Requirements for admission to the University of
  Iowa Biostatistics PhD program are described and
  are very similar to most programs. Specific
  requirements may be waived in individual cases.
  The most important considerations are letters of
  recommendation from faculty, the difficulty of
  courses and the grade point average, and the
  personal statement. A summer research experience
  adds great strength to an application, but is not
  typically expected as there are relatively few
  such opportunities in biostatistics. Requirements
  for admission to the University of Iowa
  biosciences programs are also described and are
  similarly flexible. Applicants can apply to a
  specific PhD program, or to an umbrella"
  biosciences program where they apply to a
  specific program at the end of the first year. In
  contrast to the Biostatistics PhD application,
  research experience in a laboratory as an
  undergraduate is expected, and the applicant is
  expected to be able to discuss their experience
  in an interview.

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NSF National Alliance for Doctoral Studies in
theMathematical Sciences

• Alliance of math faculty at minority schools and
  mathematical science
• departments at some majority PhD granting schools
  working together to
• ensure that any underrepresented student who
  wishes to pursue
• a doctoral degree in the math sciences is given
  the tools,
• nurturing and encouragement needed to ensure that
  he or she
• will be prepared for a PhD program in an Alliance
  graduate
• department.
• www.mathalliance.org
• Facilitate enrollment in summer REU programs,
  provide small grants to
• students, discuss undergrad curricula issues,
  Field of Dreams Conference.
• Undergraduate conference September 25-27th 2009,
  funding for travel,
• lodging and registration for underrepresented
  minority and disadvantaged
• undergraduates.
• NSF, NSA, ASA, AMS, IBS, UI, ISU, UNI, ITF, ACT,
  SAS

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University of Iowa

• Twenty nine T32 awards at UI.
• Include MD/PhD, some postdoc only.
• T32 in Statistics for Microbiology, Infectious
  Diseases and Bioinformatics requires admission
  to UI PhD program (in biostatistics, statistics,
  microbiology, biology, or biological sciences).
• Biostats students learn microbiology and do lab
  rotations. Microbiology/biosciences students
  learn statistics. All students work together in a
  seminar.
• Other T32s require admission to relevant PhD
  program.

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Admissions to Biostatistics PhD (Similar to
Statistics)

• Three semesters of calculus, one of linear
  algebra (math major is desirable but not
  required, math skills required, proofs)
• Programming in a language (C or other, but can
  make up)
• GRE (general, not subject) minimum of 1200,
  average for admission is 1325 (Q 775, V 550
  MS admit average lower)
• Emphasis on letters from faculty, personal
  statement, difficulty of course work, GPA (grades
  in math and science)
• Preferred major is biology or math ideal is
  double major in math biology (some kind of
  biology)
• Communication skills
• Commitment to work hard

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UI Biostatistics/Statistics PhD

• In Biostatistics 70-80 applicants, 50-60 from
  US, 1-3 enroll straight to PhD, 6-10 enroll in MS
  (may go on to PhD), all have aid, 50 of offers
  accepted
• 2-6 PhDs in Biostatistics and 2-6 PhDs in
  Statistics awarded each year
• A lot of overlap and coordination between
  programs
• 2-3 years course work (includes MS), 1.5 to 3
  years thesis work
• Average time to completion of degree 5.3 years
• Comps (same exam for all), choose PhD adviser
  after comps
• Financial aid as fellowship/teaching
  assistant/research assistant tuition plus
  stipend
• Lots of time in the computer lab
• Job opportunities in academia/industry/government
  (national shortage of biostatisticians, MS and
  PhD)

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Microbiology/Biosciences/Biology PhD

• Desired coursework (grades in science courses are
  important).
• Biology coursework ( 20 s.h.)
• 1 year physics, organic chemistry
• 1-2 semesters calculus, biochemistry, genetics
• GRE gt 1200, (V 550, Q 680), GPA 3.4
• Also desired
• Summer research experience at research university
  (be prepared to discuss at interview, more than
  one experience is best)
• Communication skills
• Independent problem solving
• Interest and drive
• Biosciences 250 applicants, 50 accepted, 25 to
  35 enroll
• At UI
• EITHER enter a specific program (biology,
  microbiology, immunology, molecular physiology
  and biophysics, etc.)
• OR enter an umbrella biosciences program for one
  year, at the end of which be admitted to a
  specific program.

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Biosciences at UI

• One year of core coursework and laboratory
  rotations. After first year, choose/match with an
  adviser and lab
• Additional course work, comprehensive exam
  (focused), lots of time in the lab
• Financial aid.
• 5 year typical time to degree in biosciences (T32
  leads to faster graduation)
• 6.3 years in Biology (TA support)
• Lots of time in the laboratory

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What Should Student Applicants Look For?

• Look for a good fit
• Visit
• Ask questions
• What proportion of students pass comps?
• What proportion of students admitted complete a
  PhD?
• What is the median or average time to degree?
• If there are no answers, then that is
  information.
• Look for programs with RA support (NIH grants) as
  well as TA support
• Don't take the best financial offer - take the
  best fit
• A good fit is where you feel comfortable and
  students are mentored
• Do students provide peer support? Or do they
  compete?
• Going from a small institution to large
  institution can be difficult, similarly minority
  to majority
• Look for the program to commit to your success

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What Can Student Applicants do to Prepare?

• Be prepared with coursework
• Take GREs (required for fellowships, T32 progress
  reports).
• Address weaknesses in record.
• Seek summer enrichment
• Enroll in summer REU (www.mathalliance.org).
• Enroll in Summer Institute for Biostatistics
  (www.nhlbi.nih.gov/funding/training/redbook/sibswe
  b.htm)
• Biosciences at Iowa
• www.medicine.uiowa.edu/BIOSCIENCES/summer/program
  s.asp

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• The End