Funding and socialization in the doctoral program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

This article describes the model of funding and socializing doctoral students that has been used by the School of Nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The goal of the Madison program is to educate persons who are capable of conducting research that will contribute to the scientific knowledge base of nursing. This goal is accomplished through immersing students in all aspects of the research process. Critical components of socialization are described. These include the mentor-student relationship, participation in a research group, and participation in informal discussions of faculty and students' research programs. The importance of establishing funding mechanisms and faculty work loads that support socialization is also emphasized.