vii. Guest Speaker Series

The Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, Medicine, and Pediatrics each have an extensive outside guest speaker series. These lectures provide an opportunity for our trainees to be exposed to a wide variety of notable scientists and research areas relevant to infectious diseases and immunology.


viii. Laboratory Research

The foundation of this training program is basic research. Therefore, the program director's most important responsibility is to assure an appropriate laboratory placement for each trainee. Laboratory placement of each fellow is done after careful evaluation of: 1) the fellow's own interests and 2) the availability of an appropriate mentor who has space and time to take on a fellow. This process begins before the fellow arrives in Rochester. Each applicant is mailed a description of the laboratory activities of participating faculty, as well as other members of other relevant departments, such as microbiology and immunology. During this period of time, the program director keeps in phone contact with the fellow. As the fellow narrows the list of projects which appeal to him/her, the program director puts the appropriate faculty directly in contact with the fellow so that more detailed information can be exchanged. Our intention is that the fellows will have selected a mentor prior to arriving in Rochester so as to minimize "down time." After arriving in Rochester, the fellow may do a short (4-6 weeks) rotation in one or two laboratories, if necessary, to help finalize placement.

Once a potential mentor has been identified, the fellow and mentor will be asked to provide the following information regarding the proposed project: 1) the significance of the project; 2) specific goals for the individual fellow; 3) major techniques to be mastered; and 4) a description of how the fellow will fit into the ongoing activities in the laboratory. This information will be reviewed by the program director with the fellow and mentor to make sure there is a clear understanding of the research project planned for that individual. A scientific advisory board will be responsible for reviewing overall adequacy of laboratory placement of fellows to assure that each fellow receives the best training possible.

Click here to see the contacts: URMC Deparment of Pediatrics

This informaion is reposted with thanks to University of Rochester Medical Center.

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