Postdoc program details
The training program features numerous activities that include regular exposure to:
Interest Groups and Journal Clubs
Trainees participate in at least one Jackson research interest group, such as the long-standing GIG (Genetics Interest Group). All members contribute to the discussion and present slide or chalk talks ranging from literature reviews to reports on their research data or ideas. These groups provide a sounding board for the trainee's ideas, which corresponds favorably to an in-house, peer evaluation. In any given calendar year, there are also several journal clubs ranging from topics such as Immunology/Hematology to Chromosome Structure, attended by graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty members.
Courses and Meetings
Postdoctoral trainees at the Laboratory have access to four advanced courses in mammalian genetics taught by distinguished international geneticists. In addition, The Jackson Laboratory hosts a suite of international scientific meetings and workshops each year which focus on cutting-edge research and technologies.
Seminar Series
All postdoctoral fellows are strongly encouraged attend a Guest Seminar Series held weekly throughout the academic year, including leaders in their fields. The trainees may, as a group, invite several speakers a year - organizing the visit and acting as hosts.
Visiting Scientists
The Training Office sponsors a series of career opportunity presentations for postdoctoral fellows. Postdoctoral trainees at Jackson also have exposure to the numerous scientists from other institutions that visit the Laboratory for extended periods.
Grant application training and support
All postdoctoral trainees at Jackson prepare and submit at least one fellowship grant application for extramural support. This gives the trainee valuable experience necessary for competition in the job market. Staff of the Training Office assist the trainees to find appropriate funding sources and in the preparation and submission of applications. All postdoctoral fellows who are preparing grant applications have the opportunity to participate in a peer review grant workshop, organized by the Training Office.
National & international meetings
The Training Office provides supplementary support – beyond what the sponsor may provide - to help postdoctoral fellows attend extramural scientific conferences, giving them additional opportunities to both present their work and to explore new ideas and opportunities.
Preparing manuscripts
Our trainees develop their research skills by communicating their work and results in the form of well-written manuscripts. The trainees' respective sponsors have primary responsibility for this training; however, all manuscripts (including those prepared by trainees) go through an interactive in-house manuscript review process with review by two independent faculty members.
Ethics Workshops
Trainees attends ethics workshops yearly in at least four of the seven areas suggested by the National Institutes of Health. These workshops are presented by a mixture of internal and external faculty. In addition each trainee receives a copy of the book “Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research” from the Office of Research Integrity.
