The Northeast Superfund Research Program (SRP) Training Workshop was held on April 2nd and April 3rd, 2015, at Boston University Medical Campus in Boston, MA. The workshop was jointly organized by the SRP Centers at Boston University, Dartmouth College, and Northeastern University (PROTECT Center).
The first day of the workshop, attended by 29 trainees, began with trainee presentations by each of the SRP centers that were represented: Boston University, Brown University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, and Northeastern University. Each group took turns introducing their overall center’s research mission, as well as the individual projects and accomplishments of their trainees. Following these introductions, the workshop featured several presenters, each engaging with the trainees from a different perspective, but all focused on encouraging individual reflection and growth:
- The Keynote speaker, and former Dartmouth SRP trainee, Courtney Kozul-Horvath, Ph.D., DABT (Safety Assessment Expert, Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research) spoke about her diverse and highly successful career and how she has utilized the opportunities and networks around her to advance, while also balancing time with family and personal priorities.
- Angela Jackson, M.D. (Associate Dean for Student Affairs & Associate Professor of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine) presented, “Career Planning – How to Plan and Implement your Career Aspirations,” which engaged trainees in hands-on career planning exercises, including writing down and sharing their skills, knowledge, interests, and values.
- Steve McGonagle (Professor of Engineering Leadership and Industry Relations Director, Gordon Engineering Leadership Program at Northeastern University) presented, “The DISC Personality Type – Impacts on Interactions,” which applied the results of a brief DISC personality test (completed by trainees beforehand) to a workshop on how different personality types can translate into leadership skills and group dynamics.
- Dr. Thomas Sheahan, (Professor and Senior Associate Dean, College of Engineering at Northeastern University) and Dr. Katherine S. Ziemer (DiPietro Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University) presented, “Individual Development Plans (IDP) & Your C.V. – Professional Development & Presentation,” which included a review of the PROTECT IDP program for trainees, followed by a collaborative review and critique of resume best practices.
On the second day of the workshop, Friday, April 3rd, trainees participated in a workshop led by the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. The workshop is focused on improving the communication skills of scientists to enhance public understanding of scientific research. Using creative tools, like improv, workshop leaders encouraged trainees to practice stepping back from their research to see the big picture of their work.