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Professional Skills 1 – Presentations and Productivity - GSND 0596Q

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
There is a set of skills that scientists must possess that are not typically taught as part of a graduate program curriculum, yet these skills are fundamental for the success of future graduates. These skills include the ability to write, present and critique scientific articles; to efficiently manage time, manage information and personnel; to secure employment, to master the process of writing and submitting grants, to appreciate the importance of communicating their results to the public and to know how to conduct themselves at scientific meetings and seminars.  In the absence of any formal seminars on these topics, most graduate students learn these skills by trial and error, which is inefficient at best. Therefore, the Professional Skills courses will provide guidance to graduate students in these important subject areas.

Professional Skills 1 will be taught using a hybrid model, where parts of the course will be taught synchronously online with workshops and other parts of the course will require in-person attendance for small group sessions.  

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

o achieve the objectives of this course, students will be required to complete practical exercises in writing abstracts, preparing a CV, preparing a PHS Biosketch and preparing and presenting 10 minute platform-type oral presentations.

COURSE FORMAT:

The course will use a combination of lectures and small group workshops.
Class meets Sept. 01 – Oct. 13, 2023
Class will meet on Mondays and Fridays from 3:00–4:20 pm and on Wed. from 4:00 – 5:20
Lecture hall: Cancer Center G-1196 or Cancer Center small conference rooms.
Most lectures will be provided in person, with some presented over Zoom.
All lecture Powerpoints will be provided online prior to the scheduled lecture. Lectures may be recorded.
Class attendance is expected.

FACULTY AND STAFF:

Course Director:
            Steven Levison, PhD  - Pharmacology, Physiology Neuroscience, CC-H-1226
Email: levisosw@njms.rutgers.edu

Instructors:
Mark J. Keitges, Ph.D.
Director, Graduate English Language Learners
Email: mailto:mk1522@english.rutgers.edu

Dane Parker, PhD -  Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, CC – G-1208
Email: dp964@njms.rutgers.edu

Deborah Lazzarino, PhD, - Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, MSB-C690
Email: lazzarda@njms.rutgers.edu

            Doreen Bahdeka, PhD, - School of Graduate Studies, MSB-H645
Email: doreen.badheka@rutgers.edu

COURSE TEXTBOOKS:
None

ONLINE RESOURCES:
Other resources are available from HHMI:  http://www.hhmi.org/resources/labmanagement/

EVALUATION METHODS & COURSE GRADING
This is a 1 credit pass/fail course. Grades will be determined by the instructors based on student’s performance on three assignments:
Assignment # 1: Scientific Abstract
Assignment # 2: Preparing a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a PHS Biosketch
Assignment # 3: 10 minute oral presentation

CANVAS COURSE ACCESS:
To access all course information log onto CANVAS: https://canvas.rutgers.edu/

ABSENCE FROM COURSE EXAMS:
SGS has issued a MISSED EXAM POLICY for students enrolled in their programs. Below are the valid excuses for missing a quiz or exam in this course (verbatim from the SGS Exam Policy):

Each of these reasons will require some form of documentation to be submitted to verify the absence. For the full policy, please follow this link: http://njms.rutgers.edu/sgs/current_students/docs/new/ExamPolicy.pdf

 

CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT (COURSE EXAMINATIONS):
All students have a fundamental responsibility for maintaining academic integrity and intellectual honesty in their academic and professional endeavors. They are expected to observe generally accepted principles of scholarly work, to submit their own rather than another's work, to refrain from falsifying data, to acknowledge the published work of others in an appropriate manner, and to refrain from receiving or giving aid during examinations or other work requiring independent effort. When submitting written material, students take full responsibility for the originality of all work not otherwise identified by appropriate acknowledgments and imply that both the ideas and words used are their own. All students are expected to respect the property of faculty and other students, and not use research equipment or laboratory supplies of others without permission.
Specific examples of appropriate behavior in examinations exams are given below:
Examinations: The purpose of an examination is to assess a student's knowledge of a topic defined within a course or courses. Unless given explicit written instructions to the contrary, a student must work without assistance on an examination.

NOTE: These policies also hold true for ALL exams administered remotely.
To view the full policy for the Code of Professional Conduct in the School of Graduate studies regarding examinations, research and oral presentations follow this link: http://njms.rutgers.edu/sgs/current_students/ac_integ.php

ACADEMIC WARNING POLICY:
http://njms.rutgers.edu/sgs/documents/policys/SGS_Academic_Warning_Policy.pdf
Each program shall clearly inform students of the criteria for satisfactory academic performance.  Academic standing will be reviewed each semester by the Program’s Academic Standing Committee. Students who receive less than an average grade of “B” in the designated Core course(s) or have a GPA less than 3.0 will receive an academic warning notice. Students performing below satisfactory levels of proficiency as outlined by the program may also receive a written warning notice. The written warning states the problem(s), outlines those measures needed for improvement and sets a deadline for compliance. Letters informing students of an academic warning will be sent within 30 calendar days of the end of the semester. A request will be made to students receiving academic warning letters to meet with the Program Director and/or the Academic Standing Committee.

COURSE ADD/DROP POLICY:
Policy for the Addition of a Course:
Students may add courses with the approval of the instructor (when required) and the program director. A student wishing to add a course after the general registration period has closed, must complete the “Add/Drop/Withdraw” form and have appropriate approval of the course instructor (when required) and program director prior to the start of the course. Registration will not be permitted beyond the first week of a course. Credit will not be given for courses in which the student was not registered.

Add Course Form Link: https://na2.docusign.net/Member/PowerFormSigning.aspx?PowerFormId=96fcae95-bc67-45fb-8da3-11300ded2e99

Policy for Dropping a Course:
Students may drop courses with approval of the instructor (when required) and the program director. Students submitting a completed “Add/Drop/withdraw” form to the SGS Registrar’s office within 10 academic days of the start of the course will receive a full tuition refund and the course will not appear on their official transcript. The drop period of 1-10 *academic days, is distinguishable from the withdrawal period in that the drop period is without penalty. A completed and approved Add/Drop/Withdraw” form(s) must be received by the Registrar’s office within the time periods set forth above in order for a course(s) to be “dropped”.

Drop Course Form Link: https://na2.docusign.net/Member/PowerFormSigning.aspx?PowerFormId=c45635ca-6a1e-4936-b436-337b211b8433
*An academic day is defined as a day that the SGS campus at which the student is enrolled is open for business.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS AT RUTGERS SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES:
Rutgers School of Graduate Studies is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities to students with documented disabilities (e.g. mental health, attentional, learning, chronic health, sensory, or physical). To ensure access to this please contact Student Affairs, to engage in a confidential conversation about the process for requesting reasonable accommodations in the classroom setting. Students are encouraged to register with the Office of Student Affairs as soon as they begin their program. Accommodations are not provided retroactively. Rutgers School of Graduate Studies encourages students to access all resources available through the School for consistent support and access to their program.
More information can be found online at
http://njms.rutgers.edu/education/student_affairs/student_support/disability_services.cfm .
Rutgers University welcomes students with disabilities into all of the University's educational programs. In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, a student with a disability must complete the ODS registration form: https://webapps.rutgers.edu/student-ods/forms/registration and contact the RBHS Office of Disability Services at 973-972-5396 or cindy.poorepariseau@rutgers.edu to make an appointment for an intake interview.  You will also be asked to provide documentation of your disability:
https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/documentation-guidelines .
If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, the Office of Disability Services will provide you with a Letter of Accommodations. This Letter will be used to notify appropriate school personnel about the accommodations you are qualified to receive. To begin this process, please complete the Registration form on the ODS web site at: https://webapps.rutgers.edu/student-ods/forms/registration .

 

TEACHER-LEARNER POLICY RUTGERS SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES:
The Rutgers SGS Newark Health Science Campus strongly believes that teaching and learning should take place in a climate of mutual respect where students and faculty are equally responsible for maintaining a professional and collegial environment. An environment where students are evaluated based upon accomplishment, professionalism and academic performance. We are committed to maintaining a positive learning environment and the highest standards of behavior in the teacher-student relationship.
To view the full Teacher-Learner policy for the School of Graduate studies, please follow this link: https://njms.rutgers.edu/sgs/current_students/docs/Teacher%20Learner%20Policy.pdf

 

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