Mentoring Programs for Young Investigators: Providing a welcoming and supportive environment of compliance for junior faculty

Michelle Grana Administrative Director, Buehler Center on Aging, Health & Society Administrator, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Venita Lowe Department Administrator Research Department Case Western Reserve University

Learning Objectives Participants will learn the purpose of junior faculty mentoring programs and how they have developed over time at research universities. Participants will learn specific examples of ways in which research administrators can contribute to the mentoring process for junior faculty. Participants will learn of the benefits of effective mentoring in research administration.

I. Background Michelle Grana II. What can we (research admins) do? A. Logistics Venita Lowe B. Identifying Funding Michelle Grana C. Building Skills Venita Lowe III. Benefits Michelle Grana

BACKGROUND – Needs Assessment 2006 National Study (Doores & Guidos) reveals 53% of faculty hired at research universities became tenured, while 42% resigned before reaching the point where a tenure decision was to be made.

– Response Many universities took notice of this trend and began to establish formalized faculty mentoring programs and requirements.

Formalized Mentoring Program were established across many US Universities University of Maryland Harvard School of Public Health University of Washington, Seattle Penn State (evaluated 2006) Emory University University of California – San Diego Stanford University University of Wisconsin University of Oregon University of Michigan, College of Literature, Science & Arts CUNY Hunter College Yale University University of Minnesota

– Commonalities Evaluative Mentoring » Clear benchmarks and guidelines for career success » Feedback about mentees success in achieving those benchmarks Developmental Mentoring » Socialization into scholarly community Logistical information Skills building Professional relationships Short-term goals & long-term goals

What can we (Research Administrators) do? – Developmental Mentoring Provide logistical information on: – key contacts and administrative processes – regulatory requirements – funding opportunities for career development

What can we (Research Administrators) do? – Developmental Mentoring Assist in skills building: – Guidance on the life cycle of a grant – Guidance on PI roles and responsibilities

LOGISTICAL INFORMATION List of key contacts in research administration process – Local and Institutional Offices for: » Pre-award administration OSPA provides assistance » Post-award administration OSPA provides grant monitoring services – Role of the Department Administrator

LOGISTICAL INFORMATION List of key contacts in research administration process – Institutional Review Board » Training in protection of human subjects » Training in responsible conduct of research CWRU CREC Program provides training Investigators must meet CREC requirements for IRB approval 12 points over 3 years

LOGISTICAL INFORMATION List of key contacts in research administration process – Institutional Animal Use and Care Committee » CWRU SOM – IACUC coordinator and staff » Regulated through AAALAC and USDA – Conflict of Interest » CWRU Conflict of Interest Committee » Outside Financial Interest Disclosure Form

Identify Funding Opportunities – Career Awards » NIH K-award Kiosk » Non-federal career awards American Cancer Society American Heart Association Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation National Palliative Care Research Center Others… – Limited opportunities for young investigators » Institutional research development office

K Kiosk - Information about NIH Career Development Awards: grants.nih.gov/training/careerdevelopmentawards Institute and Center specific information with links to appropriate websites Career Award Wizard: grants.nih.gov/training/kwizard/index Designed to help your faculty identify the most appropriate Individual NIH Career Award

The K Award Conundrum +Protects at least 75% junior faculty time for research +Secures institutional commitment to faculty’s research career +Traditional pathway for independent research funding +Effort on other grants can sometimes be “subsumed” in K effort;

-Limits opportunities for expanding research experience during period of K -Unpaid commitment on another NIH grant in the same field of study (approved by the sponsor); salary paid by the K -During last 2 years of K, may be PI on a NIH project (with approval) -Provides minimal research support (usually ~$25K) -May involve significant cost sharing for higher paid clinical faculty (salary typically capped at $100K for minimum 75% effort commitment) -75% commitment removes faculty from other obligations (clinical, education, administrative) The K Award Conundrum

SKILLS BUILDING Training in the life cycle of a grant – When to submit an application » Office of Grants and Contracts » 2 weeks before the agency deadline – When to notify research administrator » ASAP when questions arise – When to submit IRB, JIT documents, etc. » IRB – prior to recruitment of study participants » Just-in-Time – submitted through ERA Commons Assistance from Office of Grants and Contracts

Roles and Responsibilities: Investigator – What should the investigator provide to research administrators » Pre-award Completed grant application » Post-award Monthly synopsis, extension requests, effort reports, and budget revisions

Roles and Responsibilities: Research Administrator – What can the investigator expect from research administrators » Pre-award Funding, forms, contracts, and modifying grant account » Post-award Expense monitoring – daily or weekly basis

BENEFITS – Junior faculty are more prepared to identify and successfully apply for funding. – Junior faculty are more prepared to understand and adhere to regulatory compliance requirements for research activities.

References Dooris MJ & Guidos M. (2006) Tenure achievement rates at research universities. Chicago, IL: Annual Forum of the Association for Institutional Research. Mullen C. (1999) Re-Imagining the Human Dimension of Mentoring: A Framework for Research Administration and the Academy. Journal of Research Administration. Vol. XL(1). Thorndyke L, Gusic M, George J, Quillen D, Milner R. (2006) Empowering Junior Faculty: Penn State’s Faculty Development and Mentoring Program. Academic Medicine. Vol. 81(7). Palepu A, Friedman R, Barnett R, Carr P, Ash A, Szalacha L, Moskowitz M. (1998) Junior Faculty Members’ Mentoring Relationships and Their Professional Development in U.S. Medical Schools. Academic Medicine, Vol. 73(3) Mentoring of Junior Faculty, a Guide for Mentors (and Mentees). From the Strategic Plan for the University of Maryland (2008). Adapted from Popper A. (2007), Mentoring of Junior Faculty, a Guide for Mentors (and Mentees) in the College of Chemical and Life Sciences. 2008,