Molecules to Mankind: Bridging Laboratory and Population Training

Abstract

ABSTRACTAim/PurposeToday’s biomedical researchers are expected to apply understanding of basic biology to improve human health. Meeting this goal requires mastery of both laboratory and population sciences, each of which has its own knowledge base, techniques, and training paradigms.BackgroundEmory University’s “Molecules-to-Mankind” (M2M) doctoral pathway was established in 2009 to be an evolving model of interdisciplinary PhD education. M2M supplements fellows’ home programs, ensuring they receive training in both population and laboratory sciences.MethodologyThe present paper describes the M2M program in detail. Surveys of faculty and fellows were also carried out, and the results are presented herein.ContributionThe M2M program follows a unique model by which doctoral students receive training in both population and laboratory sciences. The present paper describes this model, such that the information can be disseminated to other educational institutions interested in implementing similar programs.FindingsThis unique model facilitates engagement of stakeholders including the fellow’s home program, dissertation advisor, and Emory’s professional schools. Recruited across biomedical PhD and MD/PhD programs, fellows have diverse research experiences and represent “spokes” bound together by the M2M “hub.” This hub’s central feature is a weekly seminar class where fellows and faculty members gather for open discussion with interdisciplinary speakers with successful research careers, emphasizing speakers who have tied laboratory and population sciences in their own work. This forum provides an encouraging environment for dialogue on all aspects of biomedical research from the science itself, to the speaker’s career path, and the logistics of garnering institutional support and building transdisciplinary collaborations. A decade since its inception, M2M has a proven track record of shaping early-stage careers for its 49 alumni to date.Recommendations for PractitionersEngaging trainees outside their home doctoral programs can have positive implications on overall quality of education.Recommendation for ResearchersAs interdisciplinary models grow ever more important in biomedical sciences, it is important to further examine the best teaching methods for training the next generation of scientists.Impact on SocietyInterdisciplinary training at the doctoral level is important to produce future cohorts of engaged and versatile scientific leaders.Future ResearchFuture research should continue to explore novel methods of training graduate students at the doctoral level.