Strategies For Developing A Successful Research Program From Fellow to Faculty

1. Strategies For Developing A Successful Research ProgramFrom Fellow to Faculty Helen Boucher MD FACP FIDSA Associate Professor of Medicine Director, Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine Commentaries by Drs. Didier Pittet, David Aronoff & Robert Bonomo

2. The Academic Triad Research/Scholarship Education/Service Patient Care

3. Climbing the Academic Ladder • Instructor / Lecturer (non-tenure) • Asst. Professor - regional reputation • Assoc. Professor - national reputation • Professor - international reputation

4. Research Program Development Phases • Fellowship • Transition from training • Academic position

5. 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”

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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…

11. Transition Phase- Fellowship  • 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

12. Transition Phase- Fellowship Grants • 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…

13. 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

14. Transition Phase- Planning During 3rd YearYour 1st Job • 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?

15. The Academic Ladder Professor Associate Professor Assistant Professor ???? Instructor

16. 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!!!!!

17. 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

18. Junior Position Phase (program issues) • 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

19. 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)

20. 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)