Investigator Development Core

ABSTRACT The BBRC RCMI Investigator Development Core (IDC) seeks to create a mentorship framework that is cyclical and sustainable to empower senior postdoctoral fellows and early-stage investigators (ESI) to acquire professional development skills, pilot funds for generating preliminary data, and skillsets for the writing and submission of extramurally-sponsored research grant proposals. To this end, in this renewal period, the IDC aims to create a new Mentor Incentive Program based on evidence that demonstrates its effectiveness in empowering senior investigators to train and mentor ESI in professional and career development activities. Importantly, Aim 1, which is focused on mentorship, will create the incentive program for ten senior investigators, who will each serve for one year as a Designated BBRC Mentor and become part of a mentoring triad consisting of the ESI, the mentor and the IDC Director to conduct a structured mentorship program. The IDC will also provide the ESI with access to a pool of Affiliate Mentors that fit well with the identity, research expertise, and proposed skills development plan of the mentee. Aims 2 and 3 provide plans for pilot project support for senior postdoctoral fellows and ESI, and training in grantsmanship, respectively.