PGY-1

During intern year, up to four weeks of elective time can be used for research.

The resident will meet with the PSTP director (Joshua Salvi, MD, PhD) and their assigned senior mentor and Research Career Mentor in support of finding a scientific mentor(s) and choosing a research setting that best complements and advances their research interests.

By the end of PGY-1, the resident should establish a research mentor to work with during the residency.  The mentor is expected to help the resident select an appropriate project, remain focused on a limited feasible set of goals, and navigate the ever-present temptations to participate in low-yield activities (e.g., workshops or meetings without clear training value, publications in non-peer-reviewed journals or books, etc.).

PGY-2

During PGY-2, residents have six dedicated weeks plus one half-day per week throughout the year for focused research time. At this stage residents can demonstrably take advantage of this time to further their specific research goals.

During the six weeks of dedicated research time, residents spend nearly four days per week working with their chosen mentor and research group. Residents can continue longitudinal research projects during a half-day offered to them throughout the entirety of PGY-2. By the end of PGY-2, the resident should establish a research project within their chosen group and mentor. Many residents choose to participate in one existing project (as a collaborator and potential co-author on any resulting manuscript), while laying the groundwork for their own primary work (as Primary Investigator and first-author on any resulting reports) which can flourish in PGY-3 and PGY-4.

Wednesday Didactics (4 hrs/wk), half-day outpatient Clinic (5 hrs/wk), and call duties (variable) remain core professional requirements for all members of the PGY-2 class. PSTP residents are expected to fulfill these requirements during research blocks.

PGY-3

During PGY-3, all residents (PSTP and otherwise) are expected to spend one day per week (10 hrs) pursuing academic or research interests during the eight months of the year not on the MGH Consult-Liaison Rotation.  How they spend this time is typically left up to residents, in consultation with their Research Career Mentor, Scientific Mentor, Training Mentor, the Residency Director, and other supervisors.

During these eight months, residents granted allocated research time typically spend two days per week (20 hrs) working with their chosen mentor and research group.  Wednesday Didactics (4 hrs/wk), Outpatient Clinic (2.5 days/wk) , and call duties (variable) remain core professional requirements for all members of the PGY-3 class, and are still required of PSTP residents during research blocks.

PGY-4

Up to 35 hours per week are available to spend in research activity.

Funding opportunities for PGY-5 and beyond are readily available within and beyond the Harvard Psychiatry Research Grants Programs and will be pursued under the guidance of residents’ Research Career and Scientific Mentors.

All Years

· Community events

· Journal clubs

· Research seminars

· Research-oriented didactics

· Annual meetings with Scientific Advisory Committee

· Meetings with PSTP Director