Application for Trainer Status

MDTP is always interested in adding new trainers fulfilling the following criteria:

• Tenure-track faculty at UW-Madison.
• Vigorous high-quality research program.
• Commitment and ability for providing an outstanding research training environment and serving as a mentor to train graduate students.
• Research focus match with the broad span of areas encompassed by MDTP and sought by MDTP students.
• Evidence of or potential for program participation and collegial interactions such as by attendance at student seminars, service on thesis committees, scientific collaborations, etc.
• Potential for other contributions to the program such as by service on program committees, teaching in courses taken by MDTP students, etc.
• Graduate training experience or potential.
• Ability to support research training of students as shown by research funding or potential.
• (It is recognized that new faculty often have not established as extensive a training or funding record as more senior faculty, and this aspect is considered in evaluating applicants.)
  

MDTP trainers have privileges and responsibilities:

• Eligibility to serve as lab rotation and thesis advisors for outstanding graduate students.
• Role in program governance. The core departments of Bacteriology and Medical Microbiology & Immunology have particular roles in the support and governance of the program, but faculty trainers outside of these departments also serve as representatives on all program committees including Steering, Admissions, and Recruiting.
• Participation in the MDTP core course in the first 2 years by presenting at least two guest lectures.
• Financial responsibility for support of MDTP thesis students in your lab at the program stipend level which is adjusted annually.
• If an MDTP rotation student joins your lab for thesis research, obligation for an approximate "payback" to the program for support of the student (stipend, fringe benefits, tuition remission) during the rotation in your lab. Typically, one month's support is assessed.
• Enabling MDTP thesis students in your lab to fulfill program requirements including major and minor coursework, teaching practicum, and student seminar requirements.
• Being subject to periodic trainer review approximately every 5 years. If you are interested in renewing trainer status, you must provide information to the program. Your application for renewal will be evaluated for program participation, training record, and ongoing funding status.
  
• Adherence to all requirements for trainers and students as outlined in the program guidelines.
  

Application deadline and timeframe for review: The process of becoming an MDTP trainer involves a faculty member's application and then review by the program Steering Committee and 2 core departments. The application deadline is May 1 for a single annual review process. This timing is designed to allow review by the Steering Committee and then both core departments for a decision to be reached prior to Fall orientation and the rotation period for new students. Only rarely will exceptions to the deadline be considered, such as when new faculty join the university and there is adequate justification to evaluate the application outside of the normal cycle. In such a case, the review process may take more time than usual.

The application consists of 3 components:

1) Completed questionnaire (click here to download as MS Word .doc file or request a hardcopy of the form).
2) NIH-style biosketch or more extensive CV.
3) List of research funding such as NIH-style "other support" page.
These materials must be submitted as email attachments (preferable) or by campus mail to the program coordinator at micro@bact.wisc.edu; or mail to 1326 Microbial Sciences | 1550 Linden Drive | Madison, WI 53706.

Review process: The Steering Committee's review of application materials may result in 3 outcomes:

1) Recommendation to approve trainer status. This decision is forwarded to the two core departments which independently review the application. Approval of the program Steering Committee and both core departments is required for trainer status to take effect.
2) Invitation to the applicant for an informal meeting with the Steering Committee to get acquainted and discuss the program, the applicant's research, and components of the application before the Steering Committee votes on whether to recommend approval of trainer status to the core departments. This outcome is common for new faculty.
3) Decision not to recommend trainer status, which ends the process.