Guidelines: School | Scientist

Interested scientists and schools of pharmacy should complete application forms available from participating co-sponsors.

Upon receipt of the application forms, AAPS will match the scientists with the schools. The scientist and school will arrange a mutually agreeable schedule for the visit, which usually should last for 1.5 days. The school may request the discipline of choice and the scientist may request the school of choice. The scientist should be prepared to make at least two presentations: one for undergraduate students with special emphasis on career opportunities in the pharmaceutical companies; and the second for graduate students and faculty with emphasis on pharmaceutical research. Additional lectures or interaction with the students and faculty are strongly encouraged.

Guidelines - School

The following guidelines and objectives were formulated by the program co-sponsors. The "Guidelines" incorporate many of the suggestions made by past participants of the program. We welcome any suggestions you may have for improvement.

OBJECTIVES
The program is designed to provide a solid educational resource based on the following objectives:

1. Expose undergraduate pharmacy students to research in the pharmaceutical sciences and to encourage them to consider pursuing graduate study and an advanced degree;
2. Expose students to career opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry;
3. Provide colleges of pharmacy and their faculties with access to industry scientists with working expertise;
4. Increase communications and to foster information exchange between academia, industry scientists and students; and,
5. Convey to students and faculties the complexities, challenges, and costs associated with drug discovery, development, production, quality-control, and marketing.

GUIDELINES

1. Length of Visit - Usually 1.5 days. Special programs and occasions which will take more than 1.5 days need to be worked out with the scientist well in advance of the visit. Please agree upon the length of the visit with the scientist ahead of time.
2. Cancellation - If it is absolutely necessary to cancel a visit, contact the scientist and try to reschedule the visit. If the scientist and college agree, the visit can be postponed to the next academic year, but you must notify AAPS of this plan. If the scientist cancels the visit and you still wish to participate in the program with another scientist, contact AAPS as soon as possible and we will attempt* a new match.
3. Scheduling - AAPS will notify you of your assignment in September. The college is responsible for contacting the scientist with in one month of receiving the assignment. It is assumed that you will contact each scientist that is assigned to your college. Visits can occur any time during the academic year. The most successful visits are those that are well-planned. Discuss with the scientist ahead of time a schedule and responsibilities while at your school. Provide the scientist with information about your college, programs, etc. Request information about the scientist and his/her company. The college should provide the scientist with a written agenda for the visit at least a month in advance of the visit.
4. Rho Chi - In 1988, the Rho Chi Executive Council proposed that the Rho Chi chapters be included in this program in those Colleges of Pharmacy where a Rho Chi chapter exists. This is supported unanimously by the program co-sponsors since this society on many campuses singularly promotes research and graduate studies. The chapter has offered to serve as the college host to the scientist visiting their campus. The coordinator for your Visiting Scientist Program should contact the Rho Chi Chapter in order to organize the visit. Where possible, the involvement of other student organizations in similar joint efforts is encouraged.
5. Presentations - The scientist is requested to make at least two presentations. One presentation should be to undergraduate students and should focus on careers in pharmaceutical sciences and the industry. Scientists are encouraged to personalize this presentation with their own perception and experiences. The second presentation should be to graduate students and faculty and should focus on research. Additional lectures and informal meetings are encouraged with undergraduates, graduates and faculty.
6. Program Promotion - The college should post an announcement of the scientist's visit in order to get the maximum attendance from students and faculty. Faculty should announce the program frequently during their classes. A mechanism for informal meetings between the scientist and students and faculty should be established.
7. Evaluation - Within two weeks of the visit, complete the evaluation that you are provided with and forward to AAPS. Please let us know if the experience has met your educational objectives.
8. Tracking Sheets - The College Coordinator is required to complete and return The Visiting Scientist Tracking Sheet. This enables the AAPS office to know that scientists have been contacted and visits have occurred. "Tracking Sheets" are sent at the time the assignments are made.
9. Costs - The college is responsible for all local costs including meals, lodging and local transportation. The college acts as the host and is expected to treat the scientist as a guest. The scientist's company gives the scientist time and assumes all travel costs to and from the college.
10. Number of Visits - There is no set number of visits. We will comply with the requests to the best of our ability, depending on the a number of scientists available.

* The schools are asked to identify their choices in research areas and scientists are asked to provide their areas of expertise. The scientist can request up to three colleges. Although we make every attempt to match the school and scientist based on this information, we cannot always meet each request.

Guidelines - Scientist

The following guidelines and objectives were formulated by the program co-sponsors. The "Guidelines" incorporated many of the suggestions made by past participants of the program. We welcome any suggestions you may have for improvement.

OBJECTIVES
The program is specifically designed to provide a solid education resource based on the following objectives:

1. Expose undergraduate pharmacy students to research in the pharmaceutical sciences and to encourage them to consider pursuing graduate study and an advanced degree;
2. Expose students to career opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry;
3. Provide colleges of pharmacy and their faculties with access to industry scientists with working expertise;
4. Increase communications and to foster information exchange between academia, industry scientists and students; and,
5. Convey to students and faculties the complexities, challenges, and costs associated with drug discovery, development, production, quality-control, and marketing.

GUIDELINES

1. Notification of Visit - AAPS will notify you of your school match in September. The school will make the initial contact with you within one month.
2. Length of Visit - While there is no set time limit, a visit of 1.5 days is average. Some visits are too short and, therefore, ineffective. Some colleges like to involve the scientist for 2-3 days. Please agree upon the length of the visit with the college ahead of time.
3. Cancellation - If it is absolutely necessary to cancel a visit, contact the host college as soon as possible and try to reschedule the visit. If you and the college agree, the visit can be postponed to the next academic year, but you must notify AAPS of this plan. If the school cancels the visit and you still wish to participate in the program with another school, contact AAPS as soon as possible and we will attempt* a new match.
4. Scheduling - The most successful visits are those that are well-planned. Discuss the schedule of your visit with your academic host ahead of time. Get a copy of your schedule and give the school information on you and your company. Contact the school two weeks before your visit to make any last-minute adjustments to your schedule or to get a copy of your schedule - if needed.
5. Presentations - Please make at least two presentations. One presentation should be to undergraduate students and should focus on careers in pharmaceutical sciences and the industry: What are the opportunities like in your field? Why did you choose this career? What is enjoyable about your career? You may want to provide some details of a project which you have been personally involved, but this should not be a scientific lecture. Literature from your company may be useful. The second presentation should be to graduate students and faculty and should focus on your science/research. We also encourage additional lectures and informal meetings with undergraduates, graduates and faculty.
6. Costs - It is your company's responsibility to make available the time for the visit and to pay your travel cost to and from the college. Your will not receive honoraria for participation. The host-college is responsible for on-site costs including food and lodging for the duration of the visit.
7. Evaluation - Within two weeks of your visit, please complete the evaluation provided to you and forward it to AAPS. You may send a copy of the evaluation to the college, if you wish.

*The schools are asked to identify their choices in research areas and scientists are asked to provide their areas of expertise. The scientist can request up to three colleges. Although we make every attempt to match the school and scientist based on this information, we cannot always meet each request.