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Phase IV

​Goals and Requirements Phase IV:
 
Research Track Course Guide
 
In order to complete Research Track requirements during your fourth year you need to complete the following:
  1. Attend and present at a national/international meeting in the NAFTA zone (United States, Canada, and Mexico). Students can attend other conferences, but it will not complete the Research Track requirement and may not be supported financially by the track.
  2. Submit a first-author manuscript and evidence of submission Submit by December 1st (NOTE THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN GRADES FOR IDPT 8601 OR IDPT 8602)This is what the students' fall Research Track grades is based on.
  3. All research track students will present at the MSA Capstone presentation in March of graduating year.
  4. Optional – Students present a poster format at the annual campus Student Research Forum—December of Phase IV.
 

Electives

Students may spend up to 12 weeks (three 4-week rotations) in a full time elective research experience during Phase IV. Research Track students may need to complete elective rotations in their mentor's lab in the Aurora/Denver Area during Phase IV.
  • Students will receive grades for these courses in addition to the Research Track grade.
                      • It is recommended that students complete the first four week rotation in the first few months of Phase IV (August or earlier);
                      • It is recommended that students start second 4-week rotation at least three months after the first rotation.
It is recommended that both the first and second rotation should be completed before Dec 1 of Phase IV. You will receive a stipend of $4000 ($2000 per month).  
 
Course IDPT 8601: Recommended: May-August – goal should be to have first submission by the end of this month.
 
Course IDPT 8602: Recommended: Sept-December (generally 3-4 months after first month) – appropriate for rewriting and resubmission.
 
Course IDPT 8602 may be repeated once for credit; however, there is no stipend for the second month.
 
How do you sign up for the elective?
 
  1. Complete elective registration form; within 30 days of starting elective.
  2. Have mentor sign off on elective registration form.
  3. Send mentor-signed elective registration form to coloradoresearchtrack@ucdenver.edu or drop off at the program coordinator's office (Building 500 – E1322D)
  4. The completed elective form will be sent by email to Student affairs for registration. The student registering will be included in the email.
 

Grading:

How will students be graded in the Research Track?

There are two major components to a student’s Phase IV grade in the research track:

  1. Each student will receive a grade (Pass/Fail) at the end of each semester based on their progress through the course requirements, this grade will be reflected in the Research Track course (IDPT 8095).
  2. Elective courses IDPT 8601 and IDPT 8602 are graded as Honors/High Pass/Pass/Fail.

For full description of grading policy, please refer to the Phase I Essentials Core and Phase IV Electives General Information in the University of Colorado School of Medicine Policies and Procedures MD Program (White Book)​

​​​The Research Track courses (IDPT 5095, IDPT 6095, IDPT 7095, and IDPT 8095) are Pass/Fail courses.

Rubrics are available on the Research Track website (www.coloradoresearchtrack.org) and on Canvas.​

Grading for Research Track (IDPT 8095)

  • To pass the Research Track course, students must submit a first-author manuscript to a national or international scientific journal by December 1st of Phase IV.
  • To pass the Research Track course, students must submit an abstract and present at a national non-student meeting (Remember abstract deadlines are often 6 months before a meeting) * Refer to travel information
  • Students are not eligible to attend a national meeting during ICCs, during the week of the match, or during graduation exercises.

For the 2016-2017 academic year, dates you are not eligible to attend a national meeting:

  • February 27 to March 17, 2017
  • May 8-19, 2016
  • May 26, 2016

Please be throughtful in planning which meeting to attend. Meetings which occur between Nov 1 and Jan 31 of each year may conflict with residency interviews. Dates which are risky:

  • Nov 1 2016 - Jan 31 2017​

Grading for Electives – Due the last day of the rotation

  • Rubrics for IDPT 8601 and 8602 are available in the respective course guides.
  
During phase IV each student is required to travel to a national conference. Use the Phase IV travel check off list​ to assist with guidelines.
 

Withdrawing from the Track

If a student is unable to continue with the Research Track, the student must meet with the Research Track Director to review issues and it will only at that time where a decision will be made if the student is to continue with the program. If a decision has been made that the student is to drop the research track program, the student must contact the MSA director to start a plan for a new MSA project. Student’s that transfers from the research track are not eligible to use the project from the research track to meet MSA requirements.
 

Stipends

The stipends are supported by a grant or department. During phase I and IV research track students receive two 1-month $2000 stipends for participation in IDPT 8601 and for the first enrollment in IDPT 8602.
  
Additional Resources:
HEALTH SCIENCE LIBRARY - the Research Track program has  librarian who can help with research for the background sections of proposals and with systematic reviews.  Librarians can assist with:
  • Problem identification and focus
  • Question formulation
  • Search strategy
  • Identifying resources for literature review
  • Organizing and managing citations
  • Manuscript style requirements
  • Scouting journals for publication

Research Track students can contact the librarian to schedule a FREE individual consultation. Most consultations are scheduled for an hour and provide training and help in customizing your research strategy for PubMed, Google Scholar, or other resources such as EMBASE (European and international medical journals), Cochrane Library (evidence based systematic reviews), genetic/molecular biology or legal/historical/ethics resources. After the initial consultation librarians are available via email, phone or in person for follow up.  

Contact:

Basic Science Research   (303-724-2121)
Clinical Research John D Jones Jr  (303-724-2117)  
Global Health John D Jones Jr  (303-724-2117)  
Humanities & Social Sciences Lilian Hoffecker (303-724-2121)

Public Health & Epidemiology Ben Harnke (303-724-2146)

Students can also contact the Library via the Ask Us! link on the Library’s homepage. Please provide information on your research topic or identify your thematic area as part of your Ask Us! request.

The campus writing center is an excellent resource to help you with your rough and final draft papers. The writing center is available as follows:
  •  Anschutz Medical Campus, Health Sciences Library 1204,
    • Tuesday through Friday 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m
    • Sun 3:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
  • Auraria Campus, First floor of the Auraria Library
    • Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
    • Friday 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
    • Sunday 1:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
  • Online Drop Box, The Online Drop Box is an asynchronous service whereby students submit a document and receive feedback in about four business days.  CU Anschutz students might be especially interested in our Principles of Scientific Writing handout.  More handouts available on the How-To Guides page.​

Biostatistical support - The Research Consulting Laboratory is available for teaching on statistical approaches without charge to Research Track students (look under MSA clinics). Please be sure to identify yourself as a Research Track/MSA student.