title: From student to steward: the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience at Georgetown University as a case study in professional development during doctoral training.
abstract: A key facet of professional development is the formation of professional identity. At its most basic level, professional identity for a scientist centers on mastery of a discipline and the development of research skills during doctoral training. To develop a broader understanding of professional identity in the context of doctoral training, the Carnegie Initiative on the Doctorate (CID) ran a multi-institutional study from 2001 to 2005. A key outcome of the CID was the development of the concept of 'stewards of the discipline'. The Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience (IPN) at Georgetown University participated in CID from 2003 to 2005. Here, we describe the IPN and highlight the programmatic developments resulting from participation in the CID. In particular, we emphasize programmatic activities that are designed to promote professional skills in parallel with scientific development. We describe activities in the domains of leadership, communication, teaching, public outreach, ethics, collaboration, and mentorship. Finally, we provide data that demonstrate that traditional metrics of academic success are not adversely affected by the inclusion of professional development activities in the curricula. By incorporating these seven 'professional development' activities into the required coursework and dissertation research experience, the IPN motivates students to become stewards of the discipline.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Neurology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ullrich
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Sonya B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Dumanis
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Tanya M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Alexis M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jeannotte
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Summer J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rozzi
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Caitlin M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gale
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Neurology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Jagmeet S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kanwal
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Maguire-Zeiss
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Barry B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA; paf22@georgetown.edu.
authors.forename: Patrick A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Forcelli
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D009488:Neurosciences / Q000193:education*; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D024382:Professional Role; D011641:Public Relations; D012106:Research; D013663:Teaching; D014495:Universities / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: PhD; communication; graduate school; leadership; neuroscience; professional development; public outreach; teaching; training