Training Environment

Mentoring is a priority for Dr. Alejandro. She has an open door policy and she meets one-on-one once a month or weekly with her trainees (undergrads, post-baccalaureate, graduate students, and post-docs) to discuss research progress and career development. Dr. Alejandro encourages trainees to seek their own independent funding, and her trainees has been competitive to training grants such as T32 and F31.  All undergraduates are encourage to apply for (UROP), Undergraduate Research Opportunites program, and LSSURP, Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program.

We have weekly lab meetings, during which at least two individuals present current research data or experimental methods. We have a monthly Journal Club where we discuss new journal articles from a variety of scientific journals that apply to our research area or are of general interest. The Alejandro Lab also participates in weekly meetings with Dr. David Bernlohr's Adipose Biology group. Joint meeting with Dr. Hai-bin-Ruan's group four times a year to discuss glycobiology, and additional training on glycobiology can come from NIH Glycobiology Scientific Interest Group.

During the school year, the department hosts a biweekly seminar in which invited faculty presents their work. In the summer, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows present their work. When Dr. Alejandro host a visiting faculty, her team meets one-on-one or as a group with the speaker to discuss science and career development. 

Twice during the school year, multiple laboratories across UMN and the Schulze Diabetes Institutes interested in all aspects of pancreas and beta cell biology get together to present and discuss current research that is being performed in their laboratories. Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and PIs present. Islet focused seminars are disseminated through membership at the islet biology interest group

During the school year, this weekly meeting offers a variety of seminar topics, ranging from basic science to clinical topics. Presenters include physicians and basic science scientists.

Weekly seminars presented by world renown experts from around the world. Links to schedule of weekly Diabetes seminars

During the school year, the institute hosts a weekly seminar in which invited faculty presents their research. During the summer, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows present their work. When Dr. Alejandro host a visiting faculty, her team meets one-on-one or as a group with the speaker to discuss science and career development. Stem Cell InstituteS Institute

Dr. Alejandro is a Faculty member of the (MCDB&G) Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics  and the Department of Pharmacology. Trainees are always encouraged to attend seminars relevant to their training.

The Alejandro lab has their monthly journal club, where each lab members are expected to read full research article and be ready to present figures. Team members are also expected to attend specific journal club such as the Adipose Biology (lead by Dr. David Bernlohr’s group) or the Metabolism and Metabolomics Club (lead by Dr. Peter Crawford).

Ample of job chalk talks are available to trainees within the University. The Department of Integrated Biology and Physiology and the new Institute for the Biology of Aging and Metabolism (iBAM) are currently hiring new faculty members, so there are many opportunities to view and participate in chalk talks.

Monthly meetings of multiple laboratories across UMN Twin Cities and Duluth interested in all aspects of placental biology and fetal programming of non-communicable health disease get together to present and discuss current research that is being performed in their laboratories. Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and PIs present. Placenta focused seminars are disseminated through membership at the placental biology interest group, [email protected]

Alejandro lab members are registered to view seminars via zoom from fall to summer to discuss placental biology, available technology and in vivo approaches to study the placenta, as well as career development (grants available to trainees). Trainees will be encourage to receive additional training and information from the Centre for Trophoblast Research and the NIH Human Placenta Project.

The Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies serve as resources for current and prospective graduate students in the biomedical sciences. We encourage students at all stages of their training to contact us to ask questions about the University of Minnesota, our graduate programs and our student services.

The Alejandro lab also benefits from resources available for researchers from the Clinical and Translation Science Institute and support from the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute

All members of the lab (undergrads, post-baccalaureate, graduate students, and post-docs) are encouraged to attend local, regional and national conferences. Dr. Alejandro encourages trainees at all levels to submit abstracts to the Midwest Islet Club, American Diabetes Association, EASD, Keystone Meetings, International Federation of Placenta Associations (IFPA), Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI) and DOHAD World Congress.