The laboratory based research concentration will have the goal of facilitating timely transition to a basic science fellowship at the end of neurology residency. Along those lines, we have established several guidelines and expectations of the program. One of the goals is to produce a fundable K08 type application to be submitted in the R4 year by October for potential funding beginning July of the year after graduating; it is important that the research experience take place in the R3 or early in the R4 year. Criteria for admission to the program will be to produce a well thought out, focused research plan that grows from an area of neurologic interest and asks questions using basic scientific approaches (this need not be the exact research plan that is contemplated, nor does it even need to be in the exact area of planned research). This proposal should be 5-8 pages and include Aims, Background, Research Plans and References. This proposal would be akin to a graduate student “Prelim” proposal (examples are available from Sam Pleasure on request). The goal is to establish that the candidate is capable of substantial focus and critical thinking prior to entering the program. If needed a committee of three faculty members will read the applications, may meet with the applicants and will decide on a final candidate. On entering the program, the candidate will have substantial conversations with Dr. Pleasure and others to help identify a suitable research mentor (the goal is one extended research experience, although two 3 month experiences may make sense in some contexts) and will join that lab for the research experience in their R3 or early the R4 year. During the research experience the candidate’s primary responsibility will be research and attending basic science seminar series and retreats. This period will be best used to settle on a fellowship lab and to develop a preliminary area of focus that will serve as the platform for writing K08 and other fellowship applications for submission in the R4 year.
