# Presentation: 230514

## Moving Toward the Future: Issues in Graduate & Postdoctoral Interdisciplinary Training in the Biomedical Sciences

- William R. Galey, Ph.D.
- Director of Graduate Education Programs, HHMI

- OSTP Regional Forum on Research Business Models

- November 12, 2003

**Notes:**
These are issues being faced by training institutions and those who fund graduate and postdoctoral training.
Are my own opinions developed as I have  explored the opportunities for a new initiative by HHMI in the area of biomed grad education
Are not necesssarily the beliefs of the HHMI administration or Trustees.

## Why are Graduate & Postdoctoral Training Important to the Research Enterprise ?

- Graduate students and postdoctoral trainees:
- do most of the actual research work.
- Must understand the work they are doing
- Must be able to communicate & collaborate with research colleagues from partner disciplines
- are the future researchers.
- Who will design future research to exploit the new connections with other disciplines

## NIH
 NSF
 HHMI
are all initiating or have in place major efforts in interdisciplinary  biological research!

-  NSF
-  HHMI
- are **all** initiating or have in place major efforts in **interdisciplinary**  biological research!

##          Future major advances in the Biomedical Sciences will require interdisciplinary research at the interfaces between biology and the physical, engineering, computational sciences and mathematics.     	The training of graduate students and post doctoral fellows must be appropriate to accomplish this new approach.

## Issues in Graduate & Postdoctoral Training:The Biomedical Sciences

**Length of the training period is too long.**
**Training experiences are too narrow.**
**Trainee population lacks Diversity. **
**University structures & policies fail to support interdisciplinary or team science.**
**Barriers exist that impede the participation of well educated foreign trainees and researchers.**
**Trainee support mechanisms are inconsistent and uncoordinated and often inequitable.**
**7.   There is inadequate data to evaluate the biomedical research workforce.**

## Length of the training period    
           Degree               Duration         Age at Completion
Bachelors Degree:        4-5 years                       ~23
Ph.D:                             7.2 years                       ~30
Postdoctoral Training    5-7 years                       ~35

     This is a problem because
Compensation is inadequate
Interdisciplinary research threatens to increase training
Career independence is delayed
Trainees are working on the ideas of others during the most creative period of their lives !

-            _Degree_               _Duration_         _Age at Completion_
- Bachelors Degree:        4-5 years                       ~23
- Ph.D:                             7.2 years                       ~30
- Postdoctoral Training    5-7 years                       **~35**
**     ****This is a problem because**
- Compensation is inadequate
- Interdisciplinary research threatens to increase training
- Career independence is delayed
**Trainees are working on the ideas of others during the most creative period of their lives !**

## 2. Narrowness of the training experience
Career preparation: is primarily for Academic Research Career
  Little or no opportunity to:                 
		      Gain & apply interdisciplinary knowledge 
                 Work in teams
                 Learn about conducting research in   			nonacademic environments
                 Gain appreciation for medical relevance of 			their science 
		      Learn teaching skills                 
Scientific specialization within biological sciences
Research & training is often focused on detailed study in a very small field of  biomedical sciences
Research is primarily “reductionistic” rather than “synthesis”  or integration oriented

- _Career preparation: is primarily for Academic Research Career_
-   Little or no opportunity to:
- 		      Gain & apply** interdisciplinary** knowledge
-                  Work in **teams**
-                  Learn about conducting research in   			nonacademic environments
-                  Gain appreciation for medical relevance of 			their science
- 		      Learn teaching skills
- _Scientific specialization within biological sciences_
- Research & training is often focused on detailed study in a very small field of  biomedical sciences
- Research is primarily “reductionistic” rather than “synthesis”  or integration oriented

## Narrowness of training cont.

- _Lack of physical & computational science  and mathematics education_
- Few Biology majors are prepared to utilize the more mathematical approaches of the “hard” sciences
- _Lack of education in “medical sciences”_
- Although most Biomedical Science trainees are in Medical School settings
- Few trainees gain an appreciation for the role of their research to medicine or public health
- Few trainees understand the most important  science-related “problems” facing clinical medicine
- _Lack of interdisciplinary and team-science training_
- Focus of graduate training is on “**individual**” research achievement rather than “**team**” oriented research

## 3. Lack of Diversity in trainee population
Gender equity is close in Biomedical Science training 
Much is yet to be done to capitalize on the contributions of a diverse research environment
4. University structure & policies
Discourage interdisciplinary study
Discourage faculty from attempting team research
5. Barriers to participation of foreign trainees
Current visa policies impede entry of outstanding trainees

- Gender equity is close in Biomedical Science training
- Much is yet to be done to capitalize on the contributions of a **diverse** research environment
**4****. University structure & policies**
- Discourage interdisciplinary study
- Discourage faculty from attempting team research
**5. ****Barriers to participation of foreign trainees**
- Current visa policies impede entry of outstanding trainees

## 6. Inconsistencies in trainee funding mechanisms by governmental funding agencies
Complicate support of trainees working in interdisciplinary research teams 
Confuse and Complicate stipend levels, benefits, tuition and research supplies issues
7. Inadequate data on the size and employment in the biomedical research workforce.

- Complicate support of trainees working in interdisciplinary research teams
- Confuse and Complicate stipend levels, benefits, tuition and research supplies issues
**7. ****Inadequate***** *****data on the size and employment in the biomedical research workforce.**

## Selected Government Graduate Fellowship ProgramsFY 2003 Funding Levels and Other Information

| Sponsor | Program Name | Fields | Duration (year) | Stipend | Allowances |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NSF | Graduate Research Fellowship Program | Science & Engineering | 3 | $27,000 | Cost of Ed.  $10,500 |
| NIH | National Research Service Awards (institutional grants) | Biomedical or Behavioral Research | 5 | $19,968 | Inst. Allowance $1,650-$$2,750 depends on sponsor + health ins., tuition & fees, travel and training expenses |
| NASA | Graduate Student Researchers Fellowship Program | Aeronautics and Space Science & Eng | 1-3 | $18,000 | Stud. Allowance  $3,000
Univ. Allowance  $3,000 |
| Dept. of Ed | Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) | Science & Engineering | 3 | $18,060 | Cost of Ed.  $11,296 |
| EPA | Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowships | Environmental research in physical, biological, social sciences, & eng | 2 | $20,000 | Tuition & fees $12,000
Expense Allow. $5,000 |
| Dept. of Defense | NDSEG Fellowship Program | All fields that pertain to national security | 3 | $27,500 | Health Ins. $1,000
Tuition & fees |

**Notes:**
NSF:  cost of education allowance paid to the Fellow’s institution in lieu of tuition and fees
NIH:  140 awards annually
NASA:  90 awards annually, student allowance for travel and Univ. allowance is discretionary award made to the research advisor
Dept. of Ed:  about 48 awards annually
EPA:  100 awards annually; up to $37,000 per year of support; expense allowance for direct benefit of the student’s education and research, such as health insurance, books, supplies, data analysis, publication costs, computer, and travel to scientific meeting
Dept. of Defense:  no. of awards depends on funding ~200 annually

## Selected Government Graduate Fellowship ProgramsFY 2003 Funding Levels and Other Information

| Sponsor | Program Name | Duration (years) | Stipend | Allowances |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NSF | Graduate Research Fellowship Program | 3 | $27,000 | Cost of Ed.  $10,500 |
| NIH | National Research Service Awards (institutional grants) | 5 | $19,968 | Inst. Allowance $1,650-$2,750 + ( HI., T&F, TR, TE) |
| NASA | Graduate Student Researchers Fellowship Program | 1-3 | $18,000 | Student Allowance  $3,000
TE  $3,000 |
| Dept. of Ed | Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) | 3 | $18,060 | Cost of Ed.  $11,296 |
| EPA | Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowships | 2 | $20,000 | T&F $12,000
Expense Allow. $5,000 |
| Dept. of Defense | NDSEG Fellowship Program | 3 | $27,500 | HI $1,000 + T&F |

- Support Limits
- 1 to 5 years

**Notes:**
NSF:  cost of education allowance paid to the Fellow’s institution in lieu of tuition and fees
NIH:  140 awards annually
NASA:  90 awards annually, student allowance for travel and Univ. allowance is discretionary award made to the research advisor
Dept. of Ed:  about 48 awards annually
EPA:  100 awards annually; up to $37,000 per year of support; expense allowance for direct benefit of the student’s education and research, such as health insurance, books, supplies, data analysis, publication costs, computer, and travel to scientific meeting
Dept. of Defense:  no. of awards depends on funding ~200 annually

## Selected Government Graduate Fellowship ProgramsFY 2003 Funding Levels and Other Information

| Sponsor | Program Name | Duration (years) | Stipend | Allowances |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NSF | Graduate Research Fellowship Program | 3 | $27,000 | Cost of Ed.  $10,500 |
| NIH | National Research Service Awards (institutional grants) | 5 | $19,968 | Inst. Allowance $1,650-$2,750 + ( HI., T&F, TR, TE) |
| NASA | Graduate Student Researchers Fellowship Program | 1-3 | $18,000 | Student Allowance  $3,000
TE  $3,000 |
| Dept. of Ed | Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) | 3 | $18,060 | Cost of Ed.  $11,296 |
| EPA | Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowships | 2 | $20,000 | T&F $12,000
Expense Allow. $5,000 |
| Dept. of Defense | NDSEG Fellowship Program | 3 | $27,500 | HI $1,000 + T&F |

- Stipend Amounts
- $18,000 to $27,000

**Notes:**
NSF:  cost of education allowance paid to the Fellow’s institution in lieu of tuition and fees
NIH:  140 awards annually
NASA:  90 awards annually, student allowance for travel and Univ. allowance is discretionary award made to the research advisor
Dept. of Ed:  about 48 awards annually
EPA:  100 awards annually; up to $37,000 per year of support; expense allowance for direct benefit of the student’s education and research, such as health insurance, books, supplies, data analysis, publication costs, computer, and travel to scientific meeting
Dept. of Defense:  no. of awards depends on funding ~200 annually

## Selected Government Graduate Fellowship ProgramsFY 2003 Funding Levels and Other Information

| Sponsor | Program Name | Duration (years) | Stipend | Allowances |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NSF | Graduate Research Fellowship Program | 3 | $27,000 | Cost of Ed.  $10,500 |
| NIH | National Research Service Awards (institutional grants) | 5 | $19,968 | ~$10,000 |
| NASA | Graduate Student Researchers Fellowship Program | 1-3 | $18,000 | Student Allowance  $3,000
TE  $3,000 |
| Dept. of Ed | Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) | 3 | $18,060 | Cost of Ed.  $11,296 |
| EPA | Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowships | 2 | $20,000 | T&F $12,000
Expense Allow. $5,000 |
| Dept. of Defense | NDSEG Fellowship Program | 3 | $27,500 | HI $1,000 + T&F |

- Allowances
- $6K to $17K

**Notes:**
NSF:  cost of education allowance paid to the Fellow’s institution in lieu of tuition and fees
NIH:  140 awards annually
NASA:  90 awards annually, student allowance for travel and Univ. allowance is discretionary award made to the research advisor
Dept. of Ed:  about 48 awards annually
EPA:  100 awards annually; up to $37,000 per year of support; expense allowance for direct benefit of the student’s education and research, such as health insurance, books, supplies, data analysis, publication costs, computer, and travel to scientific meeting
Dept. of Defense:  no. of awards depends on funding ~200 annually

## Selected Postdoctoral Fellowship ProgramsFY 2003 Funding Levels and Other Information

| Sponsor | Program Name | Fields | Duration (year) | Stipend | Allowances |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NSF | Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Microbial Biology | Microbial biology | 2-3 | $36,000 | Health ins., etc. $5,000
Research allow. $9,000 |
|  | Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships | Mathematical Sciences | 2 | $48,000 | Health ins., etc.$4,500
Research allow. $7,500 |
|  | Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships | Astronomy and Astrophysics | 3 | $50,000 | Health ins., etc. $7,000
Research allow.  $10,000 |
|  | Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Interdisciplinary Informatics | Interdisciplinary Informatics | 2-3 | $36,000 | Health ins., etc. $5,000
Research allow. $9,000
 |
| NIH | NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowships | Biomedical, behavioral, or clinical | 3 | $34,200 | Instit. allow.  $4,400 (fed) $5,500 (non-fed) |
| AFSOR | USAF/NRC-Resident Research Associateship | Science and engineering at Air Force laboratories | 1-2 | $55,000 | Relocation reimbursement and limited travel |

**Notes:**
Health Insurance, etc. allowance covers fringe benefits and partial reimbursement of expenses for space equipment and general-purpose supplies

## How Governmental Agencies might help Provide Solutions to the Identified Problems

- 1. Set consistent limits on the length of support for trainees receiving Federal money
- 2. Require Federally supported trainees to receive
- Career preparation training such as industrial co-ops, teacher training, etc
- 3. Encourage more rigorous science and mathematical training of trainees
- 4. Encourage better understanding of medicine by trainees
- Facilitate PhD training in “clinical aspects” of their science
- Encourage MD students to enter Basic Science research

## Immediate Practical Changes Governmental Agencies can Adopt

**Establish consistency of:**
- Stipends
- Benefits
- Tuition and Training Costs
- Length of support
-   			for all** doctoral** and** postdoctoral **trainees receiving support from** federally sponsored**
- Individual Fellowships
- Research Assistants funded on grants
- Training Grants

## Immediate Practical Changes Governmental Agencies can Adopt cont.

**2. Resolve issues surrounding foreign trainee**
- _Visa application processing_
- correct technical problems with SEVIS
- Expedite review process
- _Returning visas for scholars_
- Allow trainees to apply for a “return visa” prior to leaving US
-  or
- reinstate multiple entry visas for Scholars.

## William R. Galey, Ph.D.
Director of Graduate Education Programs, HHMI

- Director of Graduate Education Programs, HHMI

- OSTP Regional Forum on Research Business Models

- November 12, 2003

- Thank You !

## Selected Postdoctoral Fellowship ProgramsFY 2003 Funding Levels and Other Information

| Sponsor | Program Name | Fields | Duration (year) | Stipend | Allowances |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NSF | Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Microbial Biology | Microbial biology | 2-3 | $36,000 | Health ins., etc. $5,000
Research allow. $9,000 |
|  | Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships | Mathematical Sciences | 2 | $48,000 | Health ins., etc.$4,500
Research allow. $7,500 |
|  | Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships | Astronomy and Astrophysics | 3 | $50,000 | Health ins., etc. $7,000
Research allow.  $10,000 |
|  | Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Interdisciplinary Informatics | Interdisciplinary Informatics | 2-3 | $36,000 | Health ins., etc. $5,000
Research allow. $9,000
 |
| NIH | NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowships | Biomedical, behavioral, or clinical | 3 | $34,200 | Instit. allow.  $4,400 (fed) $5,500 (non-fed) |
| AFSOR | USAF/NRC-Resident Research Associateship | Science and engineering at Air Force laboratories | 1-2 | $55,000 | Relocation reimbursement and limited travel |

**Notes:**
Health Insurance, etc. allowance covers fringe benefits and partial reimbursement of expenses for space equipment and general-purpose supplies

## Issues in Graduate & Postdoctoral Training:The Biomedical Sciences

- Length of the training period
- Narrowness of the training experience
- Career preparation
- Scientific specialization within biological sciences
- Lack of physical & computational science  and mathematics education
- Lack of education in “medical sciences”
- Lack of interdisciplinary and team-science training
- Lack of Diversity in trainee population
- Unsupportive university structure & policies
- Barriers to participation of foreign trainees
- Inconsistencies in trainee funding mechanisms

## Selected Government Graduate Fellowship ProgramsFY 2003 Funding Levels and Other Information

| Sponsor | Program Name | Duration (years) | Stipend | Allowances |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NSF | Graduate Research Fellowship Program | 3 | $27,000 | Cost of Ed.  $10,500 |
| NIH | National Research Service Awards (institutional grants) | 5 | $19,968 | Inst. Allowance $1,650-$2,750 + ( HI., T&F, TR, TE) |
| NASA | Graduate Student Researchers Fellowship Program | 1-3 | $18,000 | Student Allowance  $3,000
TE  $3,000 |
| Dept. of Ed | Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) | 3 | $18,060 | Cost of Ed.  $11,296 |
| EPA | Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowships | 2 | $20,000 | T&F $12,000
Expense Allow. $5,000 |
| Dept. of Defense | NDSEG Fellowship Program | 3 | $27,500 | HI $1,000 + T&F |

**Notes:**
NSF:  cost of education allowance paid to the Fellow’s institution in lieu of tuition and fees
NIH:  140 awards annually
NASA:  90 awards annually, student allowance for travel and Univ. allowance is discretionary award made to the research advisor
Dept. of Ed:  about 48 awards annually
EPA:  100 awards annually; up to $37,000 per year of support; expense allowance for direct benefit of the student’s education and research, such as health insurance, books, supplies, data analysis, publication costs, computer, and travel to scientific meeting
Dept. of Defense:  no. of awards depends on funding ~200 annually