Strategies For Developing A Successful Research Program From Fellow to Faculty David M. Aronoff, MD Assoc. Professor Division of Infectious Diseases Department.

Strategies For Developing A Successful Research ProgramFrom Fellow to Faculty

David M. Aronoff, MDAssoc. Professor

Division of Infectious DiseasesDepartment of Internal Medicine

Department of Microbiology & ImmunologyReproductive Sciences Program

Graduate Program in ImmunologyUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA

Commentaries by Drs. Helen Boucher, Didier Pittet, Craig Rubens & Robert A. Bonomo

The Academic Triad

Research/Scholarship

Education Patient Care

Climbing the Academic Ladder

Instructor / Lecturer (non-tenure)

Asst. Professor - regional reputation

Assoc. Professor - national reputation

Professor - international reputation

Research Program Development Phases

Fellowship

Transition from training

Academic position

Fellowship Phase

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

Choose the research topic- track record starts here!!!! The “do-able” The “not so do-able” The “low hanging fruit”

Fellowship Phase

Choose the mentor- success starts here!!!! Access Training Experience / track record Goal- learning scientific method depending on

background experience Research mentor understands clinical training

demands Determine mobility of project beyond fellowship

Fellowship Research Training Environment

Other personnel- relied upon for day to day training/advice

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

Well defined objectives- understand program/mentor expectations; flexibility

Fellowship Research Training Environment

Obtainable project goals Clear milestones of achievement

Research presentations Publications Grant applications

Feedback mechanisms

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

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- academic vs industry vs private practice vs other

Determine “need” for additional training

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

Research position requirements / opportunities Local vs. other Identify type of faculty pathway or industry

positions

Planning with mentor/advisor- timing applications & interviews

Transition Phase- Fellowship

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

Transition Phase- Fellowship

Transition Phase- Planning During 3rd Year

Define timetable with mentor & program director

Refine career objectives

Applications for positions & interview timing

Grant applications- presubmission reviews are key!!!

Publications & finish program requirements

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

Job negotiations to include: Protected time Startup including supplies / equipment /

personnel / space New mentor for transition award if new

institutionMay not be same as overall faculty mentor

Identification of key core services/collaborators Minimal committee & teaching time

Transition Phase- Planning During 3rd Year

The Academic Ladder

Professor

Instructor

Assistant Professor

Associate Professor

????

Junior position phase

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

NOW WHAT???

***KEY PEARL*** stay “hands on” with research

experiments/projects- don’t attempt to delegate

everything and run things from your office!!!!!

Junior Position Phase (operational plan)

Research program is a small business!!! Success promoted by communication & management

skills

Get lab/project setup: Spending start up- don’t need to spend all at beginning

Equipment- includes identifying core service resources Supplies- basic and project specific Personnel- technician optimal

Time management- stay connected Personnel management

Junior Position Phase (operational plan)

Budget management- you are responsible as the PI!

Record keeping; grants management Lab procedure/policy development Protocols- IRB, animal use, SOP’s, radiation

use, etc. Compliance monitoring

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 If compelling observation double check with

mentor for second opinion- can go either way

Junior Position Phase (program issues)

Side project/activity = time and money from

primary objective Watch for the “ego stroking” requests which

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

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)

Summary

Research program development is long term process Success by establishing long term thematic project in

fellowship training Continuous mentorship critical 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

Success required to maintain funding

Personal relationships are key (work and home)

Summary

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)