Contact Us
Dr. Charles P. France
NIDA T32 Program Director

Melissa Wiley
Grants and Contracts Specialist
NIDA T32 Program Coordinator

Email: drugabusetraining@uthscsa.edu
Phone: 210-567-6969
Fax: 210-567-0104

Department of Pharmacology
UTHSCSA
7703 Floyd Curl Drive
Mail Code: 7764

  • Postdoctoral Training in Drug Abuse Research:

    Behavior and Neurobiology

    As part of their commitment to the training program, trainees will participate in the following program activities.



    Research

    The primary activity of trainees is interdisciplinary research conducted under the mentorship of one or more faculty mentors.

    Didactics

    In the first year of support under this program, all trainees enroll in the following two courses:
    Ethics in Scientific Research (INTD 6002): This course discusses topics relevant to ethics in scientific research.
    Basics of Research Design (PHAR 5020): This course teaches fundamentals of research design and how to analyze the scientific literature in order to better facilitate the conduct of experiments and the preparation of grant applications.

    Seminars

    Trainees attend weekly seminars in the departments of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Psychiatry. Trainees also attend a monthly Addiction Seminar.

    Chalk Talk

    Once per month trainees attend a two-hour Chalk Talk session where a mentor, visiting scientist, or guest lecturer makes an informal presentation on various topics including their research program and career path.

    Journal Clubs

    Depending on their research area, mentor, and interests, trainees attend and participate in one or more regularly scheduled journal clubs. All trainees attend the biweekly Addiction Journal Club.

    Drug Abuse Retreat

    Trainees attend an annual one-day, off-campus retreat that features a visiting lecture by a prominent drug abuse researcher as well as oral presentations by trainees and other members at UTHSCSA.

    Grant Writing/Reviewing Workshops

    Trainees participate in a monthly grant writing/reviewing workshop where grant applications, critiques of grants, and responses/revisions to critiques and grants are reviewed and discussed. While supported under this training program, trainees are encouraged to submit a grant application (e.g., F32).

    Getting-a-Job Boot Camp

    When trainees are within 6 months of completing their participation in the program, or as soon as they begin to seek outside employment, they will participate in a Getting-a-Job Boot Camp. The goal of the Boot Camp is to help trainees improve presentation and interview skills specifically for obtaining an independent position.