Promoting Inclusive Excellence

Despite significant investments in biomedical research training, many early-career investigators (ECIs) exit the research workforce, reflecting ongoing challenges in sustaining and retaining scientific talent. Contributing factors include limited support for professional development, inadequate support networks, and challenges navigating research demands. Interventions that build persistence, self-efficacy, and professional community may help retain talented researchers and accelerate research success. Coaching is a structured, collaborative process that supports individuals in achieving their self-defined goals through appreciative inquiry, reflection, and accountability. Coaching has been shown to enhance Psychological Capital (e.g., hope, efficacy, resilience, optimism), reduce burnout, and improve retention in professional roles. Our intervention, Investing in New Scientists through Peer Inquiry, Reflection, and Engagement (INSPIRE), combines peer coaching triads and topical group coaching sessions (e.g., core values alignment, time management, networking & sponsorship) to support ECIs’ research career development. Unlike traditional mentoring, coaching positions the coachee as a driver of change, with the coach serving as an equal partner focused on strengths-based growth and solution generation. All participants are trained in coaching skills and rotate through the roles of coach, coachee, and observer, promoting skill development, mutual support structures, and scalability. This innovative approach addresses limitations in academic coaching models that rely on a small group of trained coaches and lack opportunities for broader network- and skill-building. Preliminary data from our MOMENTUM pilot program—a year-long leadership and coaching program using the proposed model—demonstrated significant improvements in Psychological Capital, reduced burnout, and a greater sense of belonging among participating research faculty members. We propose a cluster randomized-controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate INSPIRE. Our central hypothesis is that participants randomized to INSPIRE will demonstrate higher retention in research careers and greater research success, compared to control participants. We will also study the factors that impacted the participants by engaging in qualitative research using participant interviews. Finally, we will study the neuro response before and after the intervention. When the trial is concluded, we will disseminate the intervention to the wait-list controls as well as other institutions for a broad dissemination.