Program Requirements: MTPCI

Professional effort

Unless other terms have been negotiated prior to matriculation into the program, Postdoctoral MTPCI Scholars are expected to devote 60% of their full-time professional effort to the training and clinical research activities related to the program. The remaining effort may be devoted to other clinical or academic pursuits consistent with the award.

Research project

All applicants must be conducting clinical and translational research. Clinical research is defined as patient-oriented research, that is, research conducted with humans subjects or on material of human origin such as tissues, specimens and cognitive phenomena, for which an investigator or colleague directly interacts with human subjects. Translation is defined by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) as the process of turning observations in the laboratory, clinic and community into interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public — from diagnostics and therapeutics to medical procedures and behavioral changes. Projects completed as part of this program may consist of pre-clinical, clinical, implementation, or public health research.  More information on the translational spectrum may be found on the NCATS website.

Mentorship

Developing a successful clinical and translational research career requires strong relationships with mentors and a research team. Each scholar must have at least one research mentor. This primary research mentor will be the scholar’s main source of research supervision and career development. It is expected that scholars meet weekly with their primary mentors and that the mentors will be available for consultation and support concerning the scholars’ current projects and future progress. Mentors are expected to provide formal feedback to the scholars at least annually.

In addition to the scholar’s research mentor, the MTPCI will appoint a program mentor for each scholar to further assist in scholar’s career development during the Postdoctoral MTPCI. Meetings with program mentors will be held every six months throughout the duration of the program.

Scholars will also form a mentorship committee and meet with them at least twice per year. Meetings of the mentorship committee will be held each semester (two times per year) throughout the duration of the program to review the scholar’s progress.

Didactic coursework and research seminars

MTPCI Scholars must complete a minimum of 17 credit hours of didactic coursework. They have the option to pursue additional coursework and obtain an MTPCI Program Certificate (20 credits) or a Master of Science Degree (33 credits).

Thesis

MTPCI scholars are required to complete a research paper submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal in order to fulfill the MTPCI thesis requirement. The scholar’s mentorship committee must approve the thesis prior to submission. Completion of the MTPCI is contingent on demonstration that a manuscript was submitted for review.

Individual development plans

MTPCI scholars must establish an Individual Development Plan annually in consultation with their mentors and advisory committee.

All Individual Development Plans should include:

• Individual development goals for the next 1-5 years
• Career objectives for each goal – For each objective, the scholar should indicate what individual products (degrees, publications, presentations, grants, etc.) are expected
• Research activities and projects that will assist the scholar in meeting the objectives
• An overview of the courses, workshops and other educational/training activities that the scholar plans to pursue
• A timeline should also be constructed to display the individual objectives, educational activities, coursework, research activities, and products

Research Training Symposium & Poster Session

The Washington University School of Medicine hosts the Research Training Symposium and Poster Session annually in October. All MTPCI scholars are strongly encouraged to submit an abstract and present a poster at the Symposium each year of their appointments. Scholars are given the option to have their research considered for an oral presentation.

CRTC Career Development Retreat

Scholars are required to attend the annual Retreat hosted by the CRTC. During this late-afternoon event, speakers will be highlighting topics relevant to Scholars’ Career Development and Research.

IRB approvals

Scholars are required to provide to the Program current IRB approvals for their research project(s).

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)

Scholars are required to complete the course Ethical and Legal Issues in Clinical Research (M17-510) during their time in the program as part of their training in the Responsible Conduct of Research. Scholars must also comply with Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Guidelines for the duration of the program.

Grant citations 

CRTC scholars are to acknowledge the receipt of any grant funding in all publications, Biosketches, and Other Support documents.  

All NIH-funded articles must also have a PMCID. Failure to cite the appropriate grant award and obtain a PMCID for articles supported by the Postdoctoral MTPCI Program may result in a loss of funding.

Learn more about grant citation requirements »

Research progress

Scholars are to keep the Program informed of their individual progress including published manuscripts, abstracts, submitted grant applications and awards in a timely manner. Additionally, at least once each year, all Scholars are required to provide progress report detailing their research-in-progress.

Program evaluations

Scholars are expected to complete required program evaluations twice per year. These evaluations are administered online and are mandatory for all scholars.