Orientation 1, Class of 2016
Discovery Director: Maureen Powers, Ph.D.
Discovery Course Coordinator: Sherice Henry, M.S.
Orientation 1:
* Overview and Goals of Discovery
* Types of Discovery projects
* Mentor Criteria
* Brief overview of Timeline (more detail next time)
• How to identify and work with a mentor
Dr. Valerie Biousse, Ophthalmology
* Discovery Panel Discussion, students and residents
Orientation 2:
* Specifics of Timeline, expectations and deliverables
* How to write a Research Proposal
* How to define a Hypothesis
For additional information:
Discovery main web page: https://secure.web.emory.edu/med/prod/FMA/
Discovery student web page:
https://secure.web.emory.edu/med/prod/FMA/index_stu.cfm
To email: use “Contact Us” button at the top of either page.
Who needs to participate in Discovery?
* MD/PhD students do NOT do Discovery
* MD/MPH students do NOT do Discovery
* MD/MSCR students need to plan to do Discovery
Acceptance to the MSCR program is not decided until after
Discovery deadlines.
* Students who wish to do a 1 year fellowship or year of research
ARE considered to do “Extended Discovery”
So what exactly is Discovery?
Discovery is 5 months of hypothesis-driven research or scholarly activity.
Discovery is most often biomedical research. This can be basic, translational or
clinical research.
Discovery is carried out under the direction of a mentor.
Discovery can encompass alternative types of research. Students can undertake
Projects in Creative Writing, Business, Law, Public Policy, Medical History, etc.
But projects MUST:
* have relevance to medicine.
* involve a scholarly undertaking and have scholarly outcome.
If you have an idea for an alternative project, contact Dr. Powers to discuss.
Goals of Discovery
Design and carry out a focused, hypothesis-driven study.
Work closely with a faculty mentor. Your mentor is key to your success.
Analyze data.
Report your findings in the form of a scientific/medical manuscript or appropriate
Scholarly work.
Present your work at Medical Student Research Day.
Gain an understanding of medical research and investigation.
Discovery Scheduling
Discovery follows the Applications phase, starting in March 2015.
Discovery can be scheduled as 5 month continuous block of time OR as
4 months followed by a final month at a later time to complete analysis .
Discovery can start in March, April, May, June or July of 2015. August only
With permission of the Director.
Discovery must be completed by December 31st, 2015.
Final papers will be due January 14, 2016.
Medical Student Research Day will be held April 21, 2016.
Discovery Scheduling (continued)
Discovery mentors should be chosen by December 16, 2014 .
Depending on the start date, Research Proposals will be due mid-January
to March.
Pilot program with GaTech Biomedical Engineering
This will pair an Emory mentor with an idea for a useful new device with a
Discovery student and a team of GaTech BME senior undergrads who will
develop a prototype.
The Discovery student will continue on with testing of the prototype in
clinical or laboratory applications.
The Discovery student would most likely need to start in March or April to
Interface with the BME students in their Capstone course.
Will probably pilot this with 3 or 4 Discovery students.
Discovery can be carried out:
Here at Emory with a qualified Emory Mentor.
At another US SOM or agency. This Away Mentor must still meet the requirments
For mentors. A local Emory mentor will also be needed.
At an international site on a project directed by an Emory faculty member.
At an international site with an international mentor. This can get complex so
Plan ahead/talk to Dr. Powers. A local Emory mentor will be needed.
Discovery Grading
Discovery is given a letter grade .
Discovery is a 5 month course and consequently counts for 5 X a 1 month rotation
in calculating your GPA.
Meeting deadlines is important and will count into your grade .
The final paper deadline is FIRM! No extension for this deadline (January 14, 2016) .
Discovery Grading breakdown
Final Paper
50% .
Mentor’s Evaluation
15%.
SoCRATES exam and participation
10%.
2 page Research Proposal
10%.
Timliness/meeting deadlines
15%.
Discovery Mentor Qualifications
Faculty member (Emory or other institution).
At least 5 peer-reviewed publications.
Status as PI on some form of peer-reviewed funding WITHIN PAST 3 YEARS.
(2012-2014).
Funding can be from a private foundation, federal agency (NIH, NSF, CDC),
Pharmaceutical company, internal Emory peer-reviewed grant.
Mentor’s contract.
Other
IRB and CITI requirments.
Funding possibilities.
Pre-Discovery course on OASIS.
Personal student panel on OASIS – fill in information once you are matched with
a project and mentor and over time as relevant.