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Training & Professional Development

A. Required Ethics Instruction

During the first year of research training, each MERIT Scholar must complete the following instruction in ethics:

    * Principles of Scientific Integrity (GRD 717: Harold A. Kincaid, PhD). A survey of ethical issues and principles in the practice of science. Topics include the nature, extent, and causes of fraud in science; UAB policies on fraud; ideals of good science; responsibilities of authorship and peer review; bias and sloppy practices; potential problems raised by the commercialization of research; scientists as public policy advisors; and ethical issues involved in animal experimentation and in clinical trials.

    * IRB training: MERIT Scholars who perform research on human subjects must complete an approved training course on human subjects protection and will update their training annually. There are a number of avenues for fulfilling this training requirement, including on-line opportunities and seminars. For example, MERIT Scholars may fulfill this requirement via completion of the web based training program Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI).

    * IACUC training: MERIT Scholars who are involved in research that utilizes animals must complete IACUC training via on-line coursework combined with individualized instruction from IACUC veterinarians. Specifically, IACUC training will review the humane use of animals in research together with related ethical issues.

B.  Professional skills development

Throughout their training experiences, MERIT Scholars are encouraged to receive training in new skills that differ from and/or complement those that they learned as graduate students. Each MERIT Scholar will also be encouraged to interact with the mentor’s research team, including other postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and collaborators, through laboratory meetings, journal clubs, and departmental seminar series. In addition, each MERIT Scholar will be provided with opportunities to develop professional skills, including presentation and publication skills, workshops and seminars offered through the UAB Office of Postdoctoral Education.