Interactions among researchers are common at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and trainees are afforded the opportunity to acquire technical skills and collaborate on research with scientists in other campus laboratories. Trainees may request permission to guest audit a limited number of appropriate courses with tuition paid from the grant, contingent on availability of funds. Trainees also may informally attend portions of courses with the advance permission of the instructor. Funds are not available from the grant to enroll in courses for credit. Trainees are strongly encouraged to interact with the faculty and other trainees of the Center.
Emphasis is placed on the leadership role of postdoctoral trainees within the program.
Opportunities for oral presentation of research are stressed. Presentations at national meetings are encouraged through travel support from the training grant. Postdoctoral trainees submit a research proposal with their advisor to an outside funding agency during the first year. This process provides the trainee with practical experience in grant writing and promotes turnover of senior postdoctoral trainees to independent research support during their second year in the program. Failure to obtain the funding will not jeopardize the second year of support.