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Welcome to Pritzker Summer Research Program. University of Chicago. Objective #1: Conduct research. Prepare you to conduct mentored- research projects Mentor Mentor ’ s staff and faculty collaborators Cluster group leaders Peers Offer input on progress Sounding board.
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Welcome to Pritzker Summer Research Program University of Chicago
Objective #1: Conduct research • Prepare you to conduct mentored- research projects • Mentor • Mentor’s staff and faculty collaborators • Cluster group leaders • Peers • Offer input on progress • Sounding board
Objective #2: Consider research career • Learn what medical research career are like • Collaborative • Working on research teams • Deadline–driven • SRP deadlines • Creative but Unpredictable • Your hypothesis may change based on findings • Flexibility • Work at your own pace • Offsets medical practice
Role of the Mentor • Critical piece of the SRP program • Goal is to have productive working relationship • Find out the best way to interact with your mentor and the mentor’s team • Facilitate the research you are doing • Responsible for specific “needs” related to you project (i.e. specific software, materials, etc.) • Sometimes hard to understand how it all fits together til the end…
Common Issues in SRP • Mentor NOT available • Plan ahead • Find out who the other resources in the ‘lab’ are • Make it easy for them (phone, email, meet them in clinic)
Cluster Groups • Cluster Group • Student liaisons help arrange meeting & communicate (Who is your Student Leader?) • Faculty leaders support and guide your progress through SRP • Assignments, troubleshooting, etc
Cluster Group Names • Groups named by dominant themes, leader expertise & NIH Mission • Due to project variety, some project assignments based on methods or expertise of leader but not reflected in title • Example: Hospital Care/Aging • Many projects related to hospital care • Several (not all) funded by NIA T35 • but also includes 3 med ed oriented projects • Attend first group before asking to switch
Project not working? • It is OK if… • Hypothesis is disproven • p value is >0.05 • enrollment is low • results are slow • If a project is NOT working… • Meet with mentor to troubleshoot • IRB issues? Methodological problem? • Change direction?
Conquering Fear of Statistics • FIRST use your mentor and resources of your mentor’s lab, Dept, colleagues etc. • May have a statistician for the project • Or someone they curbside for stats questions • Revisit notes from Dr. Lauderdale’s class • If your mentor needs help… • biostatistics assistance available to faculty (and their students) • Save for when you need it –at critical point • Costs $$$ after 2h of use (to your mentor) • http://biotime.uchicago.edu/
STATA and other software • During the Winter, STATA is provided FREE of charge (thanks to Dr. Lauderdale and her team) to avoid licensing fees • licenses would expire by Summer • Your mentor is responsible for providing you with the statistical programs & resources you need to carry out research • Usually done via computer in their lab with software
Want STATA on your own? • Visit the Library! • Beware PHI & leaving research info on the computer • Load on PERSONAL computer • Student fee $85 for license 3rd floor bookstore
Epic Training • Do you need Epic access? LORI ORR & KATE BLYTHElorr@bsd.uchicago.edu kblythe@bsd.uchicago.edu
Objective #2: The Paper • Provide a framework for scientific writing • Today: References (Deb Werner) • Hypothesis Introduction • Monday July 1st • Methods • Results • Discussion Caution: There may be seasoned writers & researchers in the room
Objectives • Articulate framework of scientific paper • Review common pitfalls • Prepare you to assemble final paper for SRP
Before you write • Who are you writing for? • Goal: to identify ‘target’ journal • Readership • Impact factor • Review references for possible journals • Journals your mentor publishes in • Ask your mentor Who is the “audience” of your work?
Next… • Download instructions for authors • VERY detailed • Follow format • Word limit • Table/Figure • Reference • Subheadings • First page specify the journal format you are using
Can’t decide? • Use JAMA original research as default • Chicago-based, high impact, general audience • Maximum word limit of 3000 words • 5 Tables/Figures • Double spaced • Easy on the eyes for the reviewers (including me!)
This is not ‘creative writing’ “Your audience (other scientists usually) are not interested in flowery prose, they want to know your findings.”
IMRaD • Unlike a novel, newspaper article or an essay…a scientific paper has a required structure and style • By international consensus "Introduction Methods Results and Discussion" or IMRaD Hengl, T. and Gould, M., 2002. Rules of thumb for writing research articles.
Introduction • Opening line • Start broad with something that interests your audience “the hook” • But not too broad • “Sleep is a required biological function” • Could frame it as a problem with scope • “Sleep deprivation is a common problem worldwide” • Funnel method to end • with your specific aim and your hypothesis
Introduction • Routinely 2 to 3 paragraphs • Think about the 3 main items that someone needs to know to understand your aim • Each of these items could be a separate paragraph • Create topic sentences for each paragraph carefully that introduce the next idea • Need good ‘flow’ • Transition words and phrases between ideas
Similar idea In addition Furthermore Moreover also Likewise Similarly As a result For example Opposite idea However Nevertheless In contrast Regardless Transitions Words Monitor frequency of use to avoid overusing same word to start sentences
Strategic References • Avoid “reference rehash” • “Chang et al showed X. Towle et al demonstrated Y. Boone et al demonstrated Z.” • OK to do this for 1-2 landmark studies • Goal is to synthesize prior work • “Prior studies have showed…” • “Some studies showed that X…. In contrast, other studies showed Z.”
Create tension or ‘gap’ • Given that other studies have taken place, why is your study needed • Highlight potential links to therapy, policy, scientific discovery “To date, no study has explored…” “Currently, it is unclear..”
Pitfalls of Introduction • Too long • Reference rehash or overload • Not making the case for the study – WHY? • Jargon or abbreviations not explained • Too broad • Poor flow
Aim and Hypothesis • End of the introduction • The specific aim of this paper is to… • We hypothesize that… • What is a hypothesis?
Good Hypothesis? • Medical students with a good summer research experience will enter different careers than those who have a bad summer research experience
Better Hypothesis? • Pritzker medical students who are report high satisfaction with the Summer Research Program will be MORE LIKELY to pursue research careers than those Pritzker students who report low satisfaction with the Summer Research Program
Even Better Hypothesis? • Pritzker medical students who are report high satisfaction with the Summer Research Program will be TWICE AS LIKELY to pursue research careers than those Pritzker students who report low satisfaction with the Summer Research Program
Uploading Assignments • http://srp.uchicago.edu
Logistics • Note down presentation date/time • Invite mentor, family & friends • Payment –roughly $5500!! • Made in 2 installments • mid & end of summer • Requires assignments completed
What are the hours? • Expectation is full-time • Natural ebb & flow • May feel like its easy now… • “Crunch time” as final paper & presentation nears • Plan ahead
Too much free time? • Talk to your mentor • Related project • Troubleshoot difficulty • Work ahead to prevent crunch time • Paper • Power point (Aug lecture)
START Program • Scholars in Translational Aging Research Training Program • sponsored by the National Institutes on Aging • Hear about different research & clinical topics related to aging • Monday mornings starting in July • Sign up sheet GOING around OR email kblythe@bsd.uchicago.edu
SRP S&D? (n=65/66 Aug 2011)
SRP Questions • That your mentor or cluster group leader can’t answer… • AND are not on FAQs • Email Kate Blythe for ALL logistical questions • Project/mentor issues: email Dr. Arora with cc to Kate Blythe