VBMS 879

This course is designed to provide new graduate students with the professional skill set associated with being a successful scientist. Through a combination of lectures, discussions, presentations and assignments, the students will learn about time management and productivity, the scientific method and scientific inference, ethics and biases in science and the peer-review and publication process. Students will develop their communication skills (written and oral) with a focus on audience targeting. Students will learn the foundations of interpersonal and managerial skills and the importance of self-sufficiency and independence to nurture success. Each student will draft a professional plan to prepare for the life beyond graduate school.