PPCR 5-Day Immersion Course

The 5-Day Immersion Course will offer lectures, small group discussions, individual office hours, manuscript/grant writing classes and practical exercises. Students will review their group projects and work towards an oral or poster presentation. The goal of the live course component is to allow students to interact directly with Harvard faculty, discuss specifically their questions as they relate to the course, their project or their own research and to give them an opportunity to practice the acquired knowledge.

This 5-Day Immersion Course is a live on-site program. Harvard faculty will give live lectures and offer office hours. Participants are also required to participate in group discussions and complete practical exercises. Participants will also work on their group project and present it during the course.

Students who enroll in the 2025 Principles and Practice Clinical Research Immersion Course component are highly encouraged to also participate in the 5-Day course. The course offers an opportunity to interact with Harvard faculty in a one-to-one relationship and to discuss topics in small groups. The 5-Day on-site course is an extension to the PPCR main course component and will focus on those skills required for a scientist in his daily life: Designing a research project, statistics, writing skills, presentation. Students who have previously completed the PPCR course are also eligible to attend; however, priority is given to current PPCR students.

During the 5-Day on-site course students will closely interact with Harvard faculty and with clinical researchers from different countries and fields. The goal of this program is to promote personal and professional growth and to make clinical researchers more effective in their work. This course should be the first step in becoming an independent research scientist. We also expect that this program’s interactive environment will promote connections among participants and foster future collaborative multi-center projects. 

The 5-Day on-site course will review and expand on some parts of the PPCR course (including statistics). The group project will be a key component, which will include discussion and presentation. Additionally, there will be a manuscript/grant writing workshop, manuscript review workshop and additional lectures relevant to working as a research scientist.

1:00-2:00 Program Registration

2:00-3:00 Opening and Introduction

3:00-6:00 Exercise – Felipe Fregni

6:00-7:00 Coaching Meeting

7:00-9:30 Coaching Dinner – Felipe Fregni

8:00-12:30 Rotations

12:30-2:00 Lunch

2:00-3:30 Exercise – Felipe Fregni

3:30-4:30 Wellness/Sport Break

4:30-7:30 Manuscript Writing Workshop – Donald Halstead

7:30-9:00 Coaching Dinner – Felipe Fregni

8:00-12:30pm Rotations

12:30-2:00pm Lunch

2:00-3:30pm Exercise – Felipe Fregni

3:30-4:30pm Wellness/Sport Break

4:30-7:30pm Manuscript Writing Workshop – Donald Halstead

7:30-9:00pm Coaching Dinner – Felipe Fregni

6:30-7:00am Wellness/Sport Break

7:30-12:00pm Rotations

12:00-1:00pm Lunch

1:00-2:00pm Exercise – Felipe Fregni

2:00-3:00pm Coaching Meeting

3:00-6:00pm Manuscript Writing Workshop – Donald Halstead

6:00-7:30pm Ceremony Preparation Break

7:30-8:30pm Dinner

8:30-11:00pm Ceremony

7:30-9:00am Group Project Final Presentation

9:00-10:30am Breakfast/Checkout

10:30-1:00pm Group Project Final Presentation