It's Time For A Change in the Way We Educate Physiology Ph.D.
Candidates.
Tallitsch, Robert B.
Department of Biology, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois 61201-
2296.
APStracts 2:0018S, 1995.
ABSTRACT
Graduate students in physiology programs today are faced with a job market
that is significantly different from that which many of us faced 25, 10 or
even 5 years ago. As a result, physiology educators need to change the content
and style of their programs in order to prepare their graduates for their
futures. Programs must continue to prepare their graduates for research post-
doctoral positions, but they also should prepare them for employment at
smaller institutions that have higher teaching demands and that encourage, but
do not require, research. Changes are suggested in the way Ph.D. candidates
are taught, and in the way professors mentor students seeking employment at
smaller institutions. Obtain a bachelorOs degree, then on to graduate school.
Four to six years to complete both the masterOs and Ph.D. degrees, then on to
a post doc. After two to three years of hard work as a post-doc, building the
publication list, and developing additional research techniques, it is time to
move on to a tenure track position as an assistant professor at a Opublish or
perishO research institution. The assistant professor position is accepted
hoping for one or more significant extramural grants, followed by tenure and
subsequent promotions. The majority of those reading this followed such a
basic game plan with little modification. In addition, the general nature of
our graduate training was remarkably similar as well. Graduate students were
mentored daily along each and every step of their training. Major professors
and laboratory post docs assisted in the selection of elective courses.
Received 12 March 1996; accepted in final form 20 August 1996.
APS Manuscript Number S011-6.
Article publication pending J. Neurophysiol.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 19 September 1996