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Strategies For Developing A Successful Research ProgramFrom Fellow to Faculty

Helen Boucher MD FACP FIDSAAssociate Professor of Medicine

Director, Infectious Diseases Fellowship ProgramDivision of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine

Commentaries by Drs. Didier Pittet, David Aronoff & Robert Bonomo

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The Academic Triad

Research/Scholarship

Education/Service

Patient Care

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Climbing the Academic Ladder

—Instructor / Lecturer (non-tenure)

—Asst. Professor - regional reputation

—Assoc. Professor - national reputation

—Professor - international reputation

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Research Program Development Phases

Fellowship

Transition from training

Academic position

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Fellowship Phase

Stage of research training dependent on research experience—Graduate student to postdoctoral level

Choose the research topic and mentor —track record starts here!!!!

The “do-able” The “not so do-able” The “low hanging fruit”

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Fellowship Phase Choose your mentor- success starts here!!!!

— Access

— Training Experience / track record

— Goal learning scientific method depending on background

experience

— Research mentor understands clinical training demands and life issues Is this a good “fit”

— Determine mobility of project(s) and skill set(s) beyond fellowship

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Fellowship Research Training Environment

— Other personnel - relied upon for day to day training/advice Technologists Infection preventionists Statisticians

— Resources - equipment, supplies, study coordinators, collaborating research programs, protocol application help (IRB, animal, etc.)

— Well defined objectives - understand program/mentor expectations; flexibility

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Fellowship Research Training Environment

— Obtainable project goals— Clear milestones of achievement

Research presentations Publications Grant applications

— Other training Concentration in infection prevention,

stewardship, HIV? Degree program – PhD, MPH, MS Feedback mechanisms

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Fellowship Research Training- Skills to Learn

— Scientific method/technology; hypothesis testing— Collaboration (the art of….)— Personnel management “know the battles to

fight”— Writing manuscripts, grants, reviews, authorship

& publication etiquette - do it from the beginning— Presentations- communication skills— Budget management— IRB / animal use protocols

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Transition Phase- Fellowship

Planning during mid-late 2nd year (3 year stint)

— Publications - need in press by grant submissions

Assess plans for type of career – traditional academic vs other..

— Determine “need” for additional training

— Target specific grant(s) - internal & external (negotiation process)

— NIH Loan Repayment, military/government service…

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Research position requirements/opportunities

— Local vs. other

— Identify type of position/faculty pathway Lab-based research Clinical research

Hospital- or healthcare-system-based Hospital epi/inf prevention, stewardship

Practice-based Industry research Government (eg., CDC, WHO), NGO, etc

Planning with mentor/advisor - timing applications & interviews

Transition Phase- Fellowship

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Understand institution, department, mentor requirements for

application

Remember: most transition awards require commitment of

institution to protect ~75-80% time for research

Define objectives of grant aims 4 months prior to application

deadline

Balance remaining fellowship clinical training with research

time especially around grant deadlines

— Key: this is SAME time many search for jobs, get married,

have children, etc…

Transition Phase- Fellowship Grants

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Transition Phase - Planning During 3rd YearThe Job Search

Define timetable with mentor & program director

Refine career objectives

Applications for positions & interview timing

Grant applications

— pre-submission reviews are key!!!

Publications & finish program requirements

Use research presentations at national/regional meetings to network & develop reputation

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Negotiations to include:

— Clear expectations re: clinical (eg. RUVs), programmatic and research commitment

— Protected time

— Start-up support including supplies / equipment / personnel / space

— New mentor for transition award if new institution May not be same as overall faculty mentor

— Identification of key core services/collaborators

— Minimal committee & teaching time

— Benefits – childcare, maternity leave?? What about opportunities for part-time work?

Transition Phase- Planning During 3rd YearYour 1st Job

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The Academic Ladder

Professor

Instructor

Assistant Professor

Associate Professor

????

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Junior position phase

Oh Joy-!!!!--- I got my position, a bucket o’ money, a new office, and research

space/support-

NOW WHAT???

***KEY PEARL*** stay “hands on” with

research experiments/projects/programs -

don’t attempt to delegate everything and

run things from your office!!!!!

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Junior Position Phase (program issues)

Establish new mentor & key scientific mentor/advisor Stay focused on primary question of transition

grant/project Avoid chasing side projects - time and money from

primary objective— If compelling observation double check with

mentor for second opinion - can go either way Watch for the “ego stroking” requests which impose

on time — Committees, extra lectures & teaching obligations— Chapter/textbook writing & editing

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Establish frequent opportunities for interaction/feedback— Division/dept presentations— Work in progress seminars— Journal clubs research area— Senior PI’s with similar projects/technology

interests Publish peer reviewed manuscripts !!!!! Small number of trainees to start with - big

time commitment

Junior Position Phase (program issues)

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Summary - Research program development is long term process

Succeed by establishing long term thematic project or marketable skill set in fellowship

Continuous mentorship Learn the grant/contract application process - start early Well focused project/objectives essential

— Maintain perspective on short term steps to obtain long term objectives

— Stay focused on central theme of project and maintain hands on

approach to experimentation

Develop communication and management skills

Seek feedback through various mechanisms and often

Thematic productivity is your measure of success

Personal relationships are key (work and home)

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Resources

Academic Scientists at Work- Navigating the Biomedical Research Career- Jeremy Boss and Susan Eckert, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 2003

Howard Hughes Medical Institute: http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/tools_resources/how_to_guides

How to Succeed in Academics, 2nd Ed; LL MacCabe, ERB McCabe – Academic Press, 2010

NIH Extramural Loan Repayment Program (www.lrp.nih.gov)