Immersive Learning Awaits
Interdisciplinary Scientific Immersion at Washington University in St. Louis provides incoming Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology and Biomedical graduate students with an immersive experience to interdisciplinary research. This comprehensive 3-week experience is designed to introduce incoming graduate students to the world of scientific research through experiential learning. Led by faculty facilitators and senior students, participants spend two weeks exploring distinct research topics and one week building on science communication along with other essential skills. The program occurs at the start of a student’s time at Washington University in St. Louis and offers students invaluable preparation for the academic journey ahead.
Students were able to…
Explore several research topics, guided by faculty facilitators and senior students
Develop ideas for future research questions
Learn to read scientific papers and analyze conclusions critically
Gain preparation for the future requirements, like discussions, grant writing, qualifying exams, conference presentations, and thesis proposals
Create a one-page document (Specific Aims Page) outlining past and future research, akin to a grant proposal
100% of students reported making new friends
Post-Immersion students gained skills and confidence in key areas.
Scientific Reasoning
Bio-science Knowledge & Skills
Writing and Communications
Managing Their Self & Others
Program Overview
Interdisciplinary Scientific Immersion takes place over a three-week period at the start of the academic year in August. The first two weeks familiarize students with scientific research in graduate school, while the third week emphasizes enhancement of scientific communication skills. The program culminates with a DBBS-wide retreat that showcases student poster presentations and alumni career panels.
This immersive experience requires most of an incoming student’s weekly work hours for all three weeks of the program. Participating students will not be affiliated with a rotation lab during this time. Although it’s not for credit or graded, full participation each week is expected to maximize benefits for students and their groups.
Program Outcomes
Students were surveyed before and after the Immersion Program with a variety of questions in four main categories. The data is ordered from Pre-Immersion to Post-Immersion.
Communication Week
The Interdisciplinary Scientific Immersion program has introduced a new emphasis during the third and final week, shifting its focus to Scientific Communication. Students learn to communicate research ideas effectively through written and verbal means, leaving with an ability to convey scientific ideas to diverse audiences.
Activities Include:
•Written Communication: Editing exercises to improve clarity and content
•Verbal Communication: Preparing short presentations and receiving feedback
•Visual Communication: Creating graphical abstracts
•DBBS-Wide Retreat: Concluding the week with senior student posters and Alumni Career Panels
Sample Schedule
(Scientific Immersion 2024)
Week One: August 5 – 9
Week Two: August 12 – 16
Week Three: August 19 – 23