Scientific Enrichment Program
The goal of the Scientific Enrichment Program is to enhance the C-SiG environment by promoting education and fostering research synergy through communication among its members.
The Scientific Enrichment Program also helps provide the center with an intramural and extramural identity. Our educational programs act as a catalyst for fortifying the center's research environment because they bring new information and scientific approaches to our research teams. They also provide communication among the center, Mayo Clinic and the Digestive Diseases Research Core Centers scientific communities.
Our educational programs also are pivotal in developing new research directions. They provide extramural speakers and seminars on new technological advances and offer a forum for communicating service updates by C-SiG core directors.
The education programs enhance the scientific milieu by providing constructive feedback to C-SiG members and by motivating and supporting young investigators to pursue research in digestive, liver and pancreatic diseases.
Numerous educational opportunities are available through the Scientific Enrichment Program.
Weekly seminars
The center sponsors several seminars, including a center-wide seminar series and a series for each of the three research themes. The goal of these seminars is to regularly promote both intratheme and intertheme interactions.
Visiting Scientist Program
Hosting national scholars gives C-SiG members the opportunity to develop new research initiatives and network with prominent scientists. The visiting professors hold formal presentations and meet with faculty members and fellows.
The Visiting Scientist Program complements the ongoing Visiting Faculty Program in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
The division program often focuses on inviting individuals for a variety of purposes, such as clinical expertise, stature, programmatic issues and scientific excellence. The Visiting Scientist Program focuses on individuals complementing current C-SiG investigative efforts, including topics related to our research themes.
Annual minisymposium
The annual minisymposium provides an opportunity for center members to exchange ideas, establish new collaborations and hear about scientific developments.
Each year, one or two external keynote speakers are featured. Pilot and Feasibility Program recipients and the Named Supported Investigator present their research results. The C-SiG core directors provide updates on new services. Three meritorious posters are awarded, one from each research theme.
Cosponsored workshops and symposia
We work with intramural partners to provide additional educational opportunities relevant to our research themes and disease focus areas.
Recent topics of cosponsored workshops include single cell analyses, multicellular model systems, extracellular vesicles and spatial biology.
Minisabbatical
The minisabbatical program allows center members to spend 1 to 2 weeks working in an extramural academic or industrial laboratory setting to learn new techniques, to acquire knowledge about new model development, or to finalize a collaborative investigation where the presence of the principal investigator is essential for data interpretation and finalization of the project.
In addition, reverse minisabbaticals also are offered. These provide an extramural investigator with funding for one or two weeks to bring a new technology to Mayo Clinic, help develop new models, troubleshoot technical problems, or finalize collaborations that have a mature data set.
One minisabbatical is funded per budget year, with a $4,500 maximum.
Career development retreat
A retreat is held each fall for fellows and graduate students involved in digestive diseases research.
At the retreat, fellows and students with mature projects give brief research talks and receive scientific input.
More importantly, the retreat focuses heavily on career development. During breakout sessions, faculty members give talks and lead discussions about selecting a research project and mentor, identifying and negotiating for jobs at academic medical centers, and building a satisfying career, among other aspects of the academic career.