The University of Wisconsin K12 Program provides research training for qualified individuals who wish to develop an independent program of research in benign urology. We anticipate that the research focus can arise from a wide range of disciplines and that scholars will have a varied history of research training. Therefore, training needs will differ, and the extensive menu of educational options available at the UW can be adapted to address individual needs and career goals.
Scholars will participate in laboratory meetings and journal clubs typically held by the laboratories in which they are training. While the respective training plans of scholars will be customized, all trainees will participate in a required core career development seminar series developed by the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. These two-hour seminars are held monthly and include topics designed to optimize success in a research career.
In addition, K- or R-series grant writing groups are formed as needed and function as mock study sections. Scholars are also encouraged to utilize services available through the UW Writing Center. All trainees are required to complete Training in Responsible Conduct of Research as prescribed by the NIH.
Other formal training programs available to scholars include:
- Graduate Program in Clinical Investigation culminating in MS and PhD degrees
- Certificate in Fundamentals of Clinical Research that is available to graduate and professional students
- Certificate in Type 2 Translational Research
These resources may be of particular interest to those trainees who plan to incorporate clinical investigation into their research program or who simply wish to obtain a better understanding of the translational applications of their research. Multiple non-credit seminars and workshops are available to scholars. Three examples include The Clinical Research Study Design (CRSD) Workshop Series, developed to meet a training gap in biostatistics for clinical fellows; The Short Course in Clinical Research, developed to provide an introduction to performing scientifically sound clinical research; and The Advanced Short Course, aimed primarily at fellows and junior faculty assuming leadership and/or collaborative roles in clinical and translational research projects. Funding is also available to support attendance by scholars of external educational courses and national meetings. It is vital that scholars have the opportunity to present their work at national/international meetings to develop the contacts that will allow them to successfully develop an independent career in benign urology research.
The overarching goal of the program is to equip scholars with the skills to be successful independent investigators who choose to spend a significant portion of their career in research. It is expected that entering scholars will hold a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, DVM, etc.) and have sufficient post-doctoral training and experience to utilize the mentoring and training provided by the K12 program to move to independence.