Professional development takes many forms throughout a student’s graduate career and as such, many formal and informal professional development opportunities exist. The best advice to students is to be proactive in seeking out resources at the right time.
Campus Resources
- Graduate School Office of Outreach and Professional Development
- Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research
- Office of Postdoctoral Studies
- Multicultural Graduate Network (MGN)
- UW-Madison Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Funding
Travel Funds from the ERP Program
The ERP Program is able to provide $300 of travel assistance to students who are attending a regional or national scientific meeting. To receive funding, please submit a copy of the letter of acceptance by the conference hosts and a copy of your submitted abstract to the program office. Students are limited to one travel award per fiscal year. Funds may be used to pre-pay airfare, hotel and conference registrations. Contact the program coordinator if you have additional questions.
Fellowships, Travel Awards and Scholarships
Presentation Skills
- Handout Supplement to Preparing to Give a Memorable Scientific Talk. Provided by Dr. David Abbott
- Preparing and Delivering Electronic Presentations. Published for the 87th Annual Endocrine Society Meeting
- Scientifically Speaking: Tips for Preparing and Delivering Scientific Talks and Using Visual Aids. Courtesy of the Oceanography Society 1995
Thesis Preparation
- Writing a Thesis – Dr. Ian Bird
- Writing and Preparing Your Thesis Dissertation – courtesy of S. Joseph Levine, PhD, Michigan State University (original text at http://www.LearnerAssociates.net)
- Guidance – How To Write A Dissertation – courtesy of Purdue University
- UW-Madison Graduate School PhD Thesis Preparation Guidelines
- UW Madison Graduate School MS Thesis Guidelines
Career Development
- Life Beyond Graduate School: The Academic Career Path – Dr. Jyoti Watters
- Life Beyond Graduate School: A Career in Patent Law – Dr. Mitch Jones
- Science’s Nextwave – Career Development for Post-docs and Junior Faculty
- Preparing Future Faculty
- The Job Search Process from Graduate Student to Job Applicant: Putting the Pieces Together– Tiffany Bachmann
- Science Orientated Career Books
- A Ph.D. Is Not Enough: A Guide to Survival in Science, by Peter Feibelman. ISBN 0201627175
- Career Renewal: Tools for Scientists and Technical Professionals, by Stephen Rosen and Celia Paul. ISBN 0125970609
- Alternative Careers in Science: Leaving the Ivory Tower , by Cynthia Robbins-Roth. ISBN 0125893760
- Put Your Science to Work: The Take-Charge Career Guide for Scientists – Practical Advise, Proven Techniques, by Peter Fiske and Arron Louie. ISBN 0875902952
- So What Are You Going to Do With That? Finding Careers Outside Academia, by Susan Basalla and Maggie Debelius. ISBN 0226038823
- At the Helm – Leading Your Laboratory, 2nd Edition. Kathy Barker. ISBN 9780879698669
Resources for Teaching and Outreach
- Delta Program for Teaching and Learning – A National Science Foundation funded program to provide graduate students, post-docs, academic staff and faculty members with the tools and resources to be better teachers.
- Wednesday Nite @ the Lab – Weekly outreach program to connect UW-Madison faculty and their research to the Madison community.
- Science Alliance – Sponsor of the Science Expeditions and other science orientated outreach events.
Grant Funding and Management
- Helpful links to seeking funding as a graduate student
- Institute for Clinical and Translational Research Scientific Writing Workshop
Responsible Conduct in Research
- Graduate School Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School Ombuds Office
- National Institutes of Health web page on Bioethics Training
- Book: Scientific Integrity, 3rd. Edition, by Francis Macrina. ISBN 1555813186
Laboratory Management
- Making the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific Management for Postdocs and New Faculty
(Available from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute)
General Information for Graduate Students
- Science’s Nextwave section for current graduate students. Resources to answer some of your most perplexing questions about graduate education.
- Mentoring: Adviser, Teacher, Role model, Friend: On Being a Mentor to Students in Science and Engineering Published by the National Academies Press