Support is requested for five years of summer research training support at the New England College of Optometry (NECO) for ten students selected from OD programs here and at other Colleges of Optometry. The goal of this training is to help students in a professional program gain a strong sense of research, including critical literature review, experimental design, data collection and analysis, presentation and write-up of results, and how new research findings are translated into clinical practice. Trainees should gain a greater understanding of how to conduct vision research and an ability to judge the quality of research-based reports. A goal of the program is for some trainees to decide to pursue research careers in part or in full on the basis of their training. Applications for the fellowships are solicited by local publicity as well as information sent to the other Colleges of Optometry. Trainees are selected on the basis of strong academic records and recommendations. Based on past performance, the level of experience of the trainees is likely to range from some exposure to research as an undergraduate to extensive laboratory experience. Each trainee is assigned to the laboratory of a mentor on the basis of common interests. The mentor guides the trainee in all aspects of research and is her/his primary advocate and evaluator. The mentors are all experienced investigators with ongoing research funded either by the National Eye Institute or other sources. The program will continue for a 10- week period each summer. A research seminar attended by all trainees will be held each week. This seminar will include lectures on the ethics of research; constraints and considerations on the use of human and animal subjects; and research design and statistical analysis. It also will acquaint the trainees with ongoing research at NECO and outside of the College, covering topics such as ocular aberrations, ROP, and circadian rhythms of eye growth. At the end of the ten-week program, all trainees will present their work to the group and submit a written report.
Goals of the short term research training program at NECO are to help students in a professional program gain a strong sense of research and for some of the trainees to decide to pursue research careers after graduation. Trainees in the program will get a greater understanding of how to conduct vision research and an ability to judge the quality of research-based reports.
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