Creating learning communities in support of diabetes and metabolism research

Career development in addition to mentorship and sponsorship are key aspects needed for trainees as they navigate through training and in their future careers. This K26 application seeks to directly support Dr. Singer’s effort to engage in direct research mentorship as well as developing and supporting a mentorship and learning community for trainees engaged in diabetes, obesity and metabolism research. Dr. Singer’s research in career development along with engaged roles in graduate and faculty development uniquely poise her to engage in the aims of this proposal. Aim 1 – Mentoring scientists to perform mechanistic research investigating sex differences in meta-inflammation and understand mechanisms of myeloid inflammation in adolescent metabolic disease. Dr. Singer will focus on recruiting and mentoring at least two graduate students or postdoctoral researchers within her laboratory, with additional support for recruiting and focus on trainee career development. Aim 2 – Supporting graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in a learning community within the workforce of NIDDK supported research efforts. The University of Michigan Diabetes Research Center and Michigan Nutrition Obesity Research Center provide opportunities for trainee engagement and encompass a large group of trainees across research fields. With this community we are poised to create a learning community with peer mentorship. This award will support Dr. Singer’s continued development as a mentor and leader and supporting trainees in their career development. Creating this supportive training embedded in a targeted research area has the potential for long-lasting and sustained career development of cohorts impacting diabetes and obesity. Hence this support will go beyond the mentoring of individuals to developing future opportunities and leaders in the field.