Workforce Heterogeneity

Do you want to be a researcher? Perhaps the first thing you might want to do is decide if you want to be a researcher.  If you are still deciding if research is for you, the following resources may help.

First, there are many types of career trajectories in academic medicine. The following table is a snapshot of your potential career choices. (Note these are guidelines not absolutes.)

The Five Major Career Tracks in Academic Medicine

Title: Not Discussed: The Unspoken Rules for a Career in Academic Medical Research

Author: Charles Michael Stein

Publisher: C. Michael Stein, 2018

The following videos explain the field of translational research and what it is like to be a clinical and translational science scholar.

-  NCATS Video – What is Translational Research - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnHLo-hCssg

-  Video – Translational Science Scholar Perspective
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-_lsO9dsgY

If you are still deciding, here are some ways to help.

            1. Self-Assessment

            Ask yourself…

•  Do I enjoy solving open-ended, ambiguous problems?

• Am I okay with delayed gratification (papers, grants take years)?

• Would I be excited to lead a research team one day?

•  Do I like writing, presenting, and thinking about unanswered questions?

•   Do I want a career judged by publications, grants, and reputation?
 

If you said “yes” to most — research might be a good fit.

 If “no,” clinical excellence, teaching, or QI may suit you better.

2. Questions to Ask Academic Researchers

Use these in informal interviews:

•   What’s your week actually like (research vs. clinic vs. admin)?

•   Why did you choose research?

•   What surprised or challenged you most?

•   How do you protect research time?

•   How did you find your first funding?

•   What’s your favorite and least favorite part of the job?

Consider talking to at least 3 people at different stages (early-career, mid-career, senior).

3. Ways to Explore Without Committing Fully

Try one or more of the following:           

Successful researchers are not born, they are made with the help of others. Mentorship is a key component of a research career. Mentorship in research is more than guidance: it’s a transformative partnership that nurtures scientific skills, emotional resilience, independence, and a research identity. It supports both technical and soft-skill development, fosters innovation, and opens doors within academia. For mentors, it refines leadership and shapes a legacy; for institutions, it strengthens culture and retention. The following links provide more information about key aspects of mentorship.

Types of Mentors and Identifying your Mentorship Needs

Different types of mentors may support you through different stages of your career. Here are just a few examples:

Finding a mentor begins with understanding yourself and your needs. From here you can identify your goals and what mentor characteristics can best support them. Harvard Catalyst provides a user guide that walks you through each of these processes.
 

Finding a mentor begins with understanding yourself and your needs. From here you can identify your goals and what mentor characteristics can best support them. Harvard Catalyst provides a user guide that walks you through each of these processes.

Finding and Choosing a Mentor

For a quick overview of finding a mentor, check out the National Academies podcast on Finding a Mentor.

There are good reasons and not-so-good reasons for selecting a mentor. Stein (2018) has this convenient table to quickly spot the difference:
Poor reasons for choosing a mentor:

Good reasons for choosing a mentor:

Stein (2018) also provides a clear snapshot of mentor characteristics to look for and avoid:  
 

*The first seven characteristics of a perfect mentor are from: Tobin MJ.: Mentoring; seven roles and some specifics. American Journal of Respitory and Critical Care Medicine. 2004 Jul 15; 170(2); 114-7.

Working with a mentor

Once you have identified mentors, there are several resources to support mentoring relationships. Including:

The Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research is a go-to resource for mentoring questions, training, and scholarship. CIMER (https://cimerproject.org/)

National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) is another resource supporting all aspects of mentorship with resources targeted specifically for early career researchers.

These resources can be shared with your mentor. You may find other videos important to share as well such as Mentoring & Sponsoring those Under-Represented in Research in Science.

Here are common issues to consider when working with a mentor and how you might address them:

For more information about the importance of mentorship, visit:

            National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine The Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM

            UW-Madison Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) - Research Publication Library 
           

In addition to resources provided by Frontiers, here are some tips and links to support grant writing:

First, familiarize yourself with the writing format and Federal Resources:

• Learn the NIH format. NIH is the world's largest awarder of biomedical research grants, and their format is commonly used by other grant agencies as well. Use the NIH RePORTER to find grants at your institution or related to your interests.
   
• Familiarize yourself with the Office of Extramural Research (OER), the arm of NIH that awards grants. Here you can find tips on applying for grants, writing grant applications, and additional grant opportunities.
   
• Read sample grant applications. Ask colleagues to share successful applications or the examples provided by the NIH. (Be sure to scroll down to see example K-aware applications.)

Other helpful sites:

• NIH Early Career Reviewer Program – helps junior faculty learn how grants are reviewed.
   
• K Kiosk – NIH career development awards guidance.

Books you may want to check out:

• The Grant Application Writer’s Workbook (Russell & Morrison) – a widely recommended step-by-step manual. NIH Version
   
• Winning Grants Step by Step (Carlson & O’Neal-McElrath)

Frontiers CTSI offers a KL2 Program designed to cultivate a skilled cadre of early-career clinical and translational researchers. The program features a tailored core curriculum that offers rigorous training in clinical and translational research, along with targeted career development activities. By equipping scholars with the skills, knowledge, and support they need to thrive, the KL2 Program fosters the next generation of leaders in translational science. The KL2 Program is offered as part of Frontier’s Education & Training.

Request For Applications

Book: Not Discussed – the unspoken rules for a career in academic medical research by C. Michael Stein

Podcast Series:

            National Academies: The Science of Effective Mentoring in STEMM

            NIH: All About Grants Podcasts