In The News
When critics take potshots, some researchers hide truthNew Jersey Star Ledger.com, November 18, 2008
A Rutgers University study found that for years researchers have had to removed controversial wording from grant applications to obscure the intentions of their project in order to get funded.
Learning to Let Go While Trusting Your Data
Science Careers.org, November 14, 2008
New PIs have to get used to their role as an adviser to the postdocs and technicians who will do most of the lab work they once did.
Science Suffers When Getting a Grant Becomes the Goal
Chronicle of Higher Education.com, October 10, 2008
Is an overemphasis on grant-winning suppressing innovation in research?
Opportunities: The Political Scientist
Science Careers.org, October 10, 2008
Politics as a social process that scientists can apply to their work and their careers.
Postdoc Project Aims to Turn Scientists into CEOs
Washington Post.com, October 8, 2008
A Rockville, Maryland group is starting an initiative aimed at keeping postdoctoral scientists in the area after their fellowships are completed by encouraging them to set up their own small businesses or by taking jobs at Washington D.C.-area companies.
Bill Would Block NIH Public Access Policy
Sciencemag.org, September 11, 2008
A new bill would side with publishers by preventing mandatory submission of papers that report NIH-funded research.
Become a Program Officer Your Own Way
Science Careers.org, September 9, 2008
Three scientists and the paths that brought them to careers as program officers.
The Google Factor: Does It Help or Harm Academic Research?
University of British Columbia Reports, September 5, 2008
Higher education librarians worry that an over reliance on Web search engines could mean scholars may be missing out on a wealth of information.
Center for Scientific Review Continues Successful Reviewer Recruitment Effort
NIH.gov, September 2008
The Center for Scientific Review is asking scientific societies and academic institutions to help identify senior scientists to add to a CSR registry of volunteer reviewers.
Federal Spending on Academic Research Continued Downward Trend in 2007
Chronicle of Higher Ed.com, August 25, 2008
The National Science Foundation reported increased spending on academic funding by academic institutions and industry, while federal support declined for the second straight year.
If at First You Don't Succeed, Cool Off, Revise, and Submit Again
Science Careers.org, August 15, 2008
Getting published is a matter of the right work submitted to the right editor at the right journal; researchers should expect to revise and resubmit.
How Our Culture Keeps Students Out of Science
Chronicle.com, August 8, 2008
Is an unfriendly attitude toward science in early education creating a paucity of students who pursue science careers?
Possible Transfusion for NIH
Inside Higher Ed.com, July 17, 2008
Senators Arlen Specter and Tom Harkin are cosponsoring legislation to boost funding for the NIH. If the legislation succeeds it would bring the 2008 NIH budget on pace with inflation for the first time in 5 years.
A New Frontier for Title IX: Science
New York Times.com, July 15, 2008
Some federal agencies, like the National Science Foundations, are beginning to apply the Title IX gender-discrimination law to universities that receive federal grants.
Management for beginners
The Scientist.com, July 2008
Three principal investigators tell how they learned to best manage their own labs, from hiring the right staff to successful time management.
Taken for Granted: By the Numbers
Science Careers.org, July 4, 2008
A report from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences argues that government agencies that fund early-career scientists should do more to track the career progress and outcomes of those funded researchers in an effort to improve federal programs.
As research funds stagnate, science in state of 'crisis'
Star-Ledger.com, June 29, 2008
Lawmakers and policy experts say emergency supplementary funds for the NIH is not enough to undo the damage done by years of tight budgets.
Is This NIH’s Year?
Inside Higher Ed.com, June 20, 2008
A supplemental spending bill could add a $150 million dollar boost for the NIH in the 2008 fiscal year.
Study: Flat research funding hurting economy
The News Gazette.com, June 19, 2008
A report from a national health care consumer group shows flat funding for the NIH is having a negative effect on the economy.
Industrial Postdocs: The Road Less Traveled
Science Careers.org, June 13, 2008
Doing a postdoc in industry can be a lucrative way to network, get access to state-of-the-art equipment, or beat a path to an industry career.
Do You Have a Bad Mentor?
Chronicle of Higher Ed.com, May 19, 2008
Take care to choose a mentor who knows their own limitations and has your best interest in mind.
New Models Urged to Meet Need for Geriatric Health Care
Psychiatric News.org, May 16, 2008
A report from the Institute of Medicine is urging Congress, government agencies, and health care organizations to take steps to increase the geriatric health care workforce and create better financial incentives for geriatric health care professionals.
Opportunities: Research Inc.
Science Careers.org, May 9, 2008
Employing business strategies can help scientific researchers grow their own small business--their own careers.
Mastering Your Ph.D.: Exploring Nonprofit Organizations
Science Careers.org, May 2, 2008
This article discusses non-profit career opportunities for researchers who don't wish to pursue academia or industry.
Are You a Good Protégé?
Chronicle of Higher Education.com, April 18, 2008
Getting the most out of a mentoring relationship includes learning how to be a good mentee.
Not-So-Lost in Translation
Science Careers.org, April 18, 2008
Bench to bedside research is growing in importance for both academia and industry.
Taken for Granted: Help Is on the Way (for Some)
Science Careers.org, April 4, 2008
Despite the poor prognosis for academic research funding in general, some scientists may benefit from additional funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the National Science Foundation.
Bush's Proposed MH Cuts No Sure Thing
Psychiatry News.com, March 21, 2008
The President's proposed budget for FY 2009 would cut spending for mental health programs by $2 billion, but critics of the cuts believe Congress will successfully reject them.
US Stands To Lose A Generation Of Young Researchers
Science Daily.com, March 12, 2008
The new report "A Broken Pipeline" details how 5 consecutive years of flat funding in the NIH budget is deterring promising young researchers.
Moving Past the Start-up Grant
Inside Higher Ed.com, March 10, 2008
A new Howard Hughes Medical Institute program for early career scientists aims to support researchers in their first years running an independent lab.
Role models
Nature.com, February 27, 2008
For one postdoc, her peers are her mentors.
The Scientist names best places to work for postdocs
The Scientist.com, March 5, 2008
The Scientist has named its "best places to work for postdocs" for 2008.
NIH's Revamp of Peer Review to Begin by April
Chronicle of Higher Education.com, February 21, 2008
The National Institutes of Health will draw up a plan by mid-April to revamp its peer-review process for awarding grants for biomedical research.
Global Feature: Mentoring
Science Careers.org, February 8, 2008
This article discusses the importance of mentoring relationships and suggests ways to find appropriate mentors and formulate career objectives to give the relationship a meaningful focus.
What's Ahead for Early-Career Scientists?
Science Careers.com, February 7, 2008
A report released by the US National Science Board warns that although industry research and development is growing, declining tenure spots and lack of support may hurt the young scientists who traditionally begin their careers in academia.
Ready, set, hire
Nature Jobs.com, February 6, 2008
Building a research team can be a daunting task for a junior investigator, but management skills are essential for hiring, training, and motivating talented people.
‘Unreal’ Boost for Science?
Inside Higher Ed.com, February 5, 2008
President Bush’s proposed 2009 budget for basic research and development would boost engineering and the physical sciences while keeping funding for the National Institutes of Health at $29.23 billion, the same amount as in fiscal year 2008.
Raising the Bar on Postdoc Pay and Benefits
Inside Higher Ed.com, January 21, 2008
The Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research has announced significant upgrades in salary and benefits for postdocs, including what may be a landmark move to offer retirement benefits to those who are on fellowships.
Faculty Positions: Seeking the Skills for a Successful Career in Academia
Science Careers.org, January 25, 2008
In this article, people who have achieved high levels of success in academia provide specific, practical advice to others who would follow in their path.
Call for Crackdown on Research Conflicts
Inside Higher Ed.com, January 21, 2008
An audit by the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services charges that the NIH is not doing enough to oversee university compliance with financial conflicts of interest rules.
NIH Announces Public-Access Policy
ScienceNOW Daily News, January 11, 2008
Starting in April, most U.S. biomedical scientists must send copies of their accepted, peer-reviewed manuscripts to the NIH for posting in a free archive. If they don't, they could have trouble renewing their grants or even lose research funding.
NIH peer review: An inside look
The Scientist.com, January 10, 2008
Alison McCook talks with Antonio Scarpa, director of the NIH's Center for Scientific Review, about how NIH peer review should change.
Measure Would Require Free Access To Results of NIH-Funded Research
Washington Post.com, December 21, 2007
A provision in the omnibus spending bill just passed by Congress gives the public free access to the results of NIH-funded biomedical research within 12 months of publication.
Brown focuses on medicine and aging
Providence Journal.com, December 26, 2007
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University has been named a Center of Excellence in Geriatric Medicine and Training by the Hartford Foundation, which has awarded the medical school a $450,000 grant to fund faculty who research aging issues.
Small raise for NIH, CDC budgets
The Scientist.com, December 17, 2007
The latest proposal for the NIH 2008 budget gives the agency a less than 1% increase from an FY07 budget of roughly $29 billion. A final version is expected from Congress later this week.
Applying for a Postdoctoral Fellowship
Chronicle of Higher Education.com, December 12, 2007
The Chronicle Careers advice column answers the question: "I'm planning to apply for a postdoc. Where do I start?"
NIH Casts Critical Eye on How It Gives Grants
Chronicle of Higher Education.com, December 7, 2007
The NIH has begun its broadest-ever self-examination of how the agency chooses grant proposals for biomedical research.
Part-Time Science in Perspective
Science Careers.org, December 7, 2007
With flexible funding, compromise, and understanding supervisors, some academic researchers are finding ways to spend more time raising their families by working less hours.
So You Want Reduced Hours?
Chronicle of Higher Education.com, December 6, 2007
Advice for faculty and administrators seeking to balance work and family by working reduced hours.
List of Top Academic Employers Evolves
Inside Higher Ed.com, December 5, 2007
The Harvard University-based Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) has released a new list of “exemplary” higher education employers based on surveys of 78 colleges and universities.
In Graduate Schools, Boost for Minorities
Inside Higher Ed.com, November 30, 2007
The Survey of Graduate Enrollment found that most of the 2 percent increase in graduate enrollments came from growth in the number of minorities, women, and students from overseas pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees.
Decline of the Tenure Track Raises Concerns
New York Times.com, November 20, 2007
According to figures analyzed by the American Association of University Professors, part-time and full-time professors not on a tenure track are becoming the majority in universities and colleges.
Major Grants Boost University of Rochester’s Geriatric Programs
University of Rochester Medical Center.edu, November 19, 2007
Geriatric programs at the University of Rochester Medical Center have been awarded more than $3.2 million in 5 grants that are focused on helping health care providers improve the way they care for the elderly.
National Institute of Aging gives Brown $10M to study long-term care
Providence Business News.com, November 16, 2007
The National Institute of Aging has awarded a five-year, $10 million grant to researchers at Brown University's Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research for the creation of a comprehensive database on long-term health care in the United States.
Managing Scientists
Science Careers.org, November 7, 2007
Good management ability is essential to productive scientists, but most receive no formal management training.
Gerontological Society Of America Confers 2007 Distinguished Mentorship In Gerontology Award To Manson, Ory
Medical News Today.com, November 14, 2007
The GSA has chosen Spero M. Manson of the University of Colorado and Marcia M. Ory of Texas A&M University to receive its 2007 Award for the Distinguished Mentorship in Gerontology.
Study Reveals Reasons for Women's Departure from the Sciences
NIH News.com, October 31, 2007
Women scientists are not pursuing advanced research careers because of a heavier burden of family responsibility and lower confidence compared to men, according to an NIH study of its own research staff.
Maximizing Productivity and Recognition, Part 1: Publication, Citation, and Impact
Science Careers.org, November 2, 2007
The authors use their own experiences, combined with insights from the literature, to provide junior scientists with strategies for increasing research productivity, recognition, and impact.
Graduate special: How a female scientist can buck the system
New Scientist.com, October 27, 2007
Ask any successful female scientist what it takes to succeed and they will no doubt say that you need to be single-minded about pushing your career forwards.
A List of Professional Activities for Researchers
Science Careers Blog, October 19, 2007
The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) has released a referential list of all the professional activities scientists should or could pursue across all disciplines and career stages.
Exploring Ways to Shorten the Ascent to a Ph.D.
The New York Times, October 3, 2007
For those who attempt it, the doctoral dissertation can loom on the horizon like Everest, gleaming invitingly as a challenge but often turning into a masochistic exercise once the ascent is begun.
Commitment To Scientists Studying Aging Increased By AFAR/Ellison Medical Foundation
Medical News Today.com, October 15, 2007
The Ellison Medical Foundation and AFAR have increased funding for the new Ellison Medical Foundation/AFAR Postdoctoral Fellows in Aging Research Program and the Julie Martin Mid-Career Awards in Aging Research.
Making Mentoring Mandatory
Science Careers.org, October 5, 2007
From now on, researchers hoping for one of the 11,000 grants funded each year by the National Science Foundation (NSF) will have to document the mentoring they provide their postdocs.
The Real Science Crisis: Bleak Prospects for Young Researchers
Chronicle of Higher Education.com, Sept. 21, 2007
Tight budgets, scarce jobs, and stalled reforms are pushing students away from scientific careers.
Make Way for the Next Generation: Junior Faculty Are Moving In
Science Careers.org, Sept. 14, 2007
Universities are increasingly reshaping recruitment policies in order to attract and retain more junior faculty, especially women and minorities.
NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP)
NIH.gov, Sept. 1, 2007
NIH is inviting health professionals engaged in biomedical and behavioral research to apply online for a loan repayment award. The LRP application cycle is open through December 1, 2007.
The Beauty of a Small Research Center
Chronicle of Higher Education.com, Sept. 12, 2007
The latest addition to the Chronicle's series of articles on "Beyond the Ivory Tower: What you should know about nonacademic careers for Ph.D.'s."
Training Postdocs: Communication Is Key
ScienceCareers.com, August 30, 2007
The most important factor for ensuring a successful postdoctoral experience is honest and open communication with mentors, according to postdoc supervisors who responded to a survey carried out for Science Careers.
First stops on the road to tenure
GradPsych.org, August 2007
Tenure-track academic positions are increasingly more difficult to find. In this article, newly appointed professor Steve S. Lee shares his successful job-hunting experience, which included a 2-year postdoc.
Strength in Numbers: NIH Debuts Campaign to Empower Individuals to Pursue Careers in Research
NIH News, September 6, 2007
NIH's Loan Repayment Program campaign, "Strength in Numbers," aims to expand the breadth of opportunities for health professionals seeking careers in biomedical and behavioral research. The program funds up to $35,000 annually in loan repayment.
Tooling Up: The Wall
Science Careers.com, August 24, 2007
There is a different mindset of scientists in industry and academia. In this article, David Jensen explores this wall between industry and academia and highlight how some people have risen above the problem.
Leading Financer of Biomedical Research Signs Up With Open-Access Publisher
Chronicle of Higher Education.com, August 20, 2007
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has signed up as a member with the open-access publisher BioMed Central and will pay for its scientists to publish in journals under the BioMed Central umbrella.
A small step for postdoc mentoring
The Scientist.com, August 8, 2007
The newly passed America COMPETES Act includes a provision that requires National Science Foundation applicants to describe how they will mentor their postdocs.
The Curt Flood Effect
ScienceCareers.com, August 3, 2007
Standing up for your rights--like those related to pregnancy and childbirth--is especially perilous for postdocs, whose prospects depend on the subjective recommendations of supervisors.
Why and When Ph.D. Students Finish
InsideHigherEd.com, July 17, 2007
Preliminary data from the Council of Graduate Schools’ Ph.D. Completion Project show that financial support and mentoring/advising are the most important factors contributing to completion.
Study Finds No Wrongdoing in Universities' Compensation of Graduate Students Through NIH Grants
Chronicle of Higher Education, July 5, 2007
Universities have complied with a government rule that caps spending from federal research grants to compensate graduate students assisting on the studies, a new report says.
Request for Information (RFI): NIH System to Support Biomedical and Behavioral Research and Peer Review
NIH.gov, July 6, 2007
The NIH is seeking comments regarding NIH’s support of the biomedical and behavioral research, including peer review, with the goal of examining the current system to optimize its efficiency and effectiveness.
‘Quiet Desperation’ of Academic Women
Inside Higher Ed.com, June 12, 2008
A University of California study of 80 female faculty members revealed frustration with the current academic system that they feel undervalues them and gives little opportunity for work/family balance.
NIH Establishes Working Groups to Examine Peer Review
NIH News, June 8, 2007
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., announced today the formation of two working groups — one external, the other internal — to examine the NIH peer review process, with the goal of maximizing its effectiveness.
Medical Researchers Lobby Congress, Bush Administration for Increased Funds for NIH
Kaiser News Network.org, May 29, 2007
Several "high-profile biomedical researchers" are "buttonholing members of Congress, cajoling the Bush administration and generally sounding the alarm" over President Bush's proposed reduction in NIH funding in fiscal year 2008.
Senators look to protect NIH from budget cuts
Government Executive.com, May 22, 2007
Senate Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, cited several needs in arguing that his panel should ignore President Bush's proposal to cut the National Institutes of Health's fiscal 2008 budget.
Capitol Hill Watch: Four NIH Officials Testify Against Proposed Budget Reduction
KaiserNetwork.org, April 23, 2007
A $328 million reduction in funds for NIH that President Bush has proposed in his fiscal year 2008 budget could limit important research and discourage young scientists, agency officials testified.
How Doubling the NIH's Budget Created a Funding Crisis
ArsTechnica.com, April 20, 2007
An analysis in Science looks at how a number of trends have led from an rapid increase in NIH funding to an impending sense of crisis within the research community.
Huddled Masses
ScienceCareers.org, April 13, 2007
Today’s large influx of international postdocs may be good for American society at large, but not, research suggests, for the incomes of America’s young scientists.
UC Research Shows Rapid Decline In Geriatric Medicine Studies
MedicalNewsToday.com, April 8, 2007
The older population may soon be facing a medical care crisis as numbers of students studying geriatric medicine continue to decrease rapidly, say researchers at the University of Cincinnati.
Cashing in on ideas
TimesOnline.co.uk, March 29, 2007
Postgraduate or postdoctoral life is relatively straightforward: get funding, do research, publish findings, repeat until granted tenure or offered a job in industry. But clever concepts can also lead to a lucrative career.
The inside track from academia and industry: Staying power
NatureJobs.com, March 2007
The odds of progressing from being a PhD student to holding a faculty post are at least 100:1. For those who manage to make the move, their future success will hinge on them working on the right research question at the right time and in the right place.
Report: Stagnant NIH funding a setback
United Press International.com, March 20, 2007
The United States' position as a global leader in biomedical research may change if National Institutes of Health funding is not immediately increased, says a new report released by 9 of the nation's top medical and scientific universities.
NIH Director Launches Program for Innovative New Investigators
NIH News.com, March 9, 2007
The NIH Director’s New Innovator Award offers grants of up to $1.5 million to fund new investigators who propose highly innovative research projects that could have an exceptionally great impact on biomedical or behavioral science.
Junior faculty ID top work environments
gradPSYCH.org, January 2007
A commitment to work and family balance, a collegial environment and good compensation all contribute to satisfied early-career faculty, according to a recent survey by the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education of 42 member institutions.
Benchside to business
Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, February 2007
Do you have the feeling that a career in research is not for you? If you also have an interest in business, making a move into finance-related careers that involve scientific companies could be an appealing possibility.
Mastering Your PhD: Dealing with Setbacks
ScienceCareers.org, February 16, 2007
Stuff happens in science, sometimes it's bad stuff, and you can't just reset and start over. Here's how to pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and move on.
NIH Reports on the First Wave of Electronic R01 Applications
ScienceCareers.org, February 16, 2007
NIH seems satisfied with the first round of new electronic R01 applications. The agency received about 4000 new electronic R01 applications; 7 of every 10 submissions had no errors on the first try.
Postdocs vital to research effort
University of Buffalo Reporter, February 15, 2007
The more than 35,000 postdoctoral associates working in U.S. universities and other research institutions may be the unsung heroes of science in the U.S., but they are not working in obscurity.
Open Access to Science Under Attack
Scientific American.com, January 26, 2007
Advocates of open access to scientific research may find themselves under fire from high-profile public relations flaks and high-powered lobbying groups hired by traditional publishers.
NIH Center for Scientific Review to Host Open House Workshops to Improve the Review of NIH Grant Applications
NIH News, January 22, 2007
Starting in March 2007, the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will convene the first of six one-day Open House Workshops in 2007 to solicit input from leaders of the scientific community and other stakeholders.
Compact Between Postdoctoral Appointees and Their Mentors
AAMC.org
The American Association of Medical Colleges has approved a new "Compact between Postdoctoral Appointees and their Mentors," a document intended to initiate discussions at the local and national levels about the postdoctoral appointee-mentor relationship.
Advancement of Geriatrics Education (AGE) Project at Harvard Medical School
Medical News Today, November 29, 2006
The Advancement of Geriatrics Education (AGE) Project will integrate geriatrics into all 4 years of the existing Harvard Medical School curriculum. The project is being funded by a grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.
NIH Names New Postdoc Award Winners
ScienceCareers.org, December 15, 2006
"I literally feel like I'm growing up in this very short year of writing and winning this proposal," says Toni Jones, one of 58 biomedical investigators chosen to receive the new Pathways to Independence award from the NIH.
NIH Will Begin Accepting R01 Grant Applications Electronically on February 5, 2007
NIH Extramural Nexus, November 2006
This special issue of the Extramural Nexus covers everything R01 applicants need to know about transitioning to electronic applications.
NIH Announces More Than 50 Awards in the Pathway to Independence Program
NIH News, November 30, 2006
The NIH today named 58 recipients of the NIH Pathway to Independence Award. The Pathway to Independence Program offers a new opportunity for promising postdoctoral scientists to receive both mentored and independent research support from the same award.
Getting Yourself Mentored
ScienceCareers.org, November 24, 2006
The challenges of scientific career advancement can be especially daunting for women, foreign trainees, racial and ethnic minorities, and first-generation college students; mentorship can help bridge this gap.
Pursuing the perfect research postdoc
gradPSYCH, September 2006
To find a postdoctoral fellowship that will advance your career, personal connections and persistent questioning are key.
Institute Of Medicine Elects 65 New Members, 5 Foreign Associates
Medical News Today, October 11, 2006
Dilip V. Jeste, MD, is one of 65 new members of the Institute of Medicine. Election to IOM recognizes those who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health.
Maintenance treatment prevents recurrence in older adults with single-episode depression
MedicineNews.net, October 17, 2006
An NIMH-funded study of patients 70 and older showed that long-term treatment (for at least 2 years) after a patient is symptom-free is effective in preventing future depressive episodes.
Access to care issues, physician training, other problems contributing to mental health issues for elderly
News-Medical.net, September 18, 2006
Poor access to mental health services, inadequately trained primary care physicians and apathy among the senior population are contributing to high rates of mental illness among those older than 65, according to experts who testified before the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
Mentoring Systems: Benefits and Challenges of Diverse Mentoring Partnerships
AAMC Faculty Vitae, Fall 2006
Faculty at all career stages benefit from strategies designed to maintain and increase their productivity and joy in their careers. One of the most important of those strategies is mentoring.
Shortage of Geriatricians May Hinder Healthcare for Elderly
Medscape Medical News September 12, 2006
A shortage of medical students entering the field of geriatric medicine (GM) foretells a shortage of geriatricians, which may compromise healthcare in the elderly, according to the results of a Canadian study.
NIH Offers $35,000 in Annual Student Loan Repayment
NIH News, September 11, 2006
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is now accepting applications to its Loan Repayment Programs for health professionals pursuing careers in biomedical and behavioral research. The deadline to apply is December 1, 2006.
Winning Ways
NatureJobs.com, August 2006
Science is cut-throat by nature, but how should young scientists handle working on competitive projects -- or worse, getting scooped?
NIH Urges Career Training and Tracking
Sciencecareers.org, August 4, 2006
New provisions of NIH's T32 institutional training grants may foster changes that help postdocs.
Mentoring Guidelines for Postdocs Issued by National Science Foundation Directorate
National Postdoctoral Association, August 8, 2006
The NSF Geosciences Directorate's new guidelines for principal investigators call on PIs who support postdoctoral scholars on their research grants to document their mentoring efforts in both proposal and reporting mechanisms.
Making a Move
Nature 442, 324-325 (July 2006)
Morale, money or moving house can all be reasons for switching labs mid-project. Most lab-switchers say the benefits of changing groups usually outweigh any negatives.
NIH and Resubmissions
ScienceCareers.org, July 14, 2006
The NIH has a pilot program that allows new investigators to resubmit R01 applications in time for the next review cycle. But does it make sense to resubmit with only a month left to revise?
Getting Lucky
Sciencecareers.org , June 23, 2006
If you sit back and wait for a job offer to come, you might get lucky. But as Louis Pasteur said, chance favors the prepared mind.
Prospect
Nature.com, June 22, 2006
Medical students rarely come into contact with the world of basic research. But they should, argues a recent report from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
Managing Knowledge Workers
ScienceCareers.org, July 21, 2006
New faculty members and principal investigators should be wary of applying practices developed for industrial management to managing students, postdocs, and other scientists.
NIH Celebrates a Decade of Discovery in Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
NIH News, June 15, 2006
The NIH and its Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) celebrated a decade of progress and promise in the behavioral and social sciences on June 21-22, 2006.
Britain's postdocs unite
Nature, May 2006
On June 22, 2006, the inaugural meeting of the UK National Research Staff Association will take place. The goal is to found an association to advance UK research by fostering the creativity and independence of postdocs.
Scientific Success: What’s Love Got to Do With It?
ScienceCareers.org, May 26, 2006
Is marriage inevitably a scourge for male and female scientists and researchers? Or can it help advance their careers? Opinions differ, but nearly everyone agrees that sacrifice and flexibility are required.
NIH Wants Its Minority Programs to Train More Academic Researchers
Science, May 26, 2006
NIH officials will revise the rules of a flagship undergraduate program that serves mostly minorities, while a key NIH advisory panel also proposed an 8-year doubling of minority candidates seeking doctoral degrees.
NIH budget expected to take a nosedive
Washington Times, April 20, 2006
The budget of the National Institutes for Health is expected to fall 3.8% next year after adjusting for inflation, a top U.S. biomedical researcher says in the New England Journal of Medicine.
International College of Geriatric Psychoneuropharmacology International Junior Investigator Awards
ICGP
The International Junior Investigator Awards are open to investigators from any country who are not more than 8 years past the completion of their terminal degree and who are no higher than the Assistant Professor level. The deadline is April 30, 2006.
Revolving Door Undermines Efforts to Increase Faculty Racial/Ethnic Diversity
James Irvine Foundation.org, April 25, 2006
A new report reveals that underrepresented minority faculty are leaving almost as fast as they can be hired, and almost 3 of every 5 newly hired minority staff replaced minority staff that had left the institution.
Careers in Aging Research: Ethnic and Minority Implications
ScienceCareers.org, April 21, 2006
Aging research in ethnic and minority groups, including psychological and sociological aspects of aging, offers new possibilities for careers at academic, government, and industrial organizations.
Cracking the tax code
Nature, March 2006
According to the scientific research society Sigma Xi, about half the recipients of National Research Service Awards (NRSAs) they surveyed are paying thousands of dollars in unnecessary social-security contributions.
American Association for the Advancement of Science Mentor Awards
AAAS.org
The AAAS Mentor Awards honor individuals who during their careers demonstrate extraordinary leadership to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in science and engineering fields and careers. The deadline for submission is July 31.
Emerging into the light
Nature, March 2006
The Emerging Researcher Programme (ERP) at the University of Cape Town in South Africa pairs junior faculty members with retired colleagues chosen for their outstanding research record and proven mentoring skills.
American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry Recognizes Outstanding Leaders in the Field
AAGP Online
The American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) recognized distinguished leaders for their contributions and commitment to the field at its 19th Annual Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on March 10-13, 2006.
Tooling Up: The Dreaded Phone Interview
ScienceCareers.org, March 17, 2006
Telephone interviews can be one of the most uncomfortable pieces of the job-seeking puzzle. In order to help turn some of these potentially negative scenarios into opportunities, first understand the reasons behind these calls.
Publishing your dissertation
GradPSYCH, March 2006
The process may seem daunting, but publishing your dissertation is doable if you follow some simple steps.
The State of the Union
ScienceCareers.org, March 3, 2006
Two years after the ratification of the first postdoc union contact, things continue to go well at the University of Connecticut Health Center. But outside UCHC, few postdocs seem interested in unionization.
Betrayed by Your Adviser
Chronicle of Higher Education.com, February 20, 2006
A dissertation shows your potential as a scholar; it shouldn't simply be a long footnote to your mentor's glorious career.
Why Grad Students Succeed or Fail
InsideHigherEd.com, February 16, 2006
A new book surveying over 9000 graduate students reports that more than 30% never feel that they have a faculty mentor. The study also found a strong preference among female and minority students for mentors and advisers who are from their same groups.
A Bridge to Independence
ScienceCareers.org, February 3, 2006
The new NIH Pathway to Independence Awards will provide nearly $1 million over 5 years to each of the 150 to 200 scientists chosen annually. However, for most postdocs, tighter NIH budgets provide few routes to improved circumstances.
Stress management: Universities take a look at postdocs' mental-health issues
NatureJobs.com, February 2006
Pressure; life as a student is full of it. At a meeting sponsored by scientific research society Sigma Xi and the US National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) last month, a few university administrators talked about their approaches to the problem.
NIH Announces Program to Foster the Independence of New Investigators
NIH.gov, January 27, 2006
NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D. announced today the NIH Pathway to Independence Award Program, which features a new opportunity for promising postdoctoral scientists to receive both mentored and independent research support from the same award.
Get the Credit You Deserve
GradPSYCH, January 2006
While graduate students often have relatively less power and authority than their collaborators, they can do much to ensure they get the credit they deserve on publications such as journal articles and conference papers.
A 10-Step Plan for Better Postdoc Training
TheScientist.com, January 2006
A focus group formed at the 2004 Teaching Survival Skills and Ethics conference has produced 10 recommendations for establishing the postdoc as a trainee in a transitory state between predoctoral training and permanent employment.
NCES Study on College Faculty Shows Continued Reliance on Non-Tenured, Part-Time Instructors
ACENet, January 4, 2006
A new report from the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) found that almost half of all instructional faculty members at colleges, universities, and community colleges across the country are part-time and non-tenured.
Geriatric Mental Health: An Issue for All Ages -- The White House Conference on Aging, Dec. 11-14
AAGP, December 12, 2005
Advocates for the health of older Americans urge the delegates to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging to vote for those resolutions calling for education of the public about older adults’ mental health and increased access to quality service.
Speedier NIH Review of Research Applications Planned
NIH News, December 5, 2005
The NIH has announced a pilot effort to significantly shorten its peer reviews of research grant applications. The pilot will help new investigators applying for their first major NIH grant, an R01 grant.
When You Run Into Brick Walls: Coping With Frustrations In The Lab
ScienceCareers.org, December 2, 2005
Career success is often determined, in great part, by how well we cope with the curveballs that are thrown to us. One graduate student shares some of the frustrations she faced.
Increasing Workforce Diversity Underscores the Need for Mentoring
MentorNet News, November 2005
According to Dr. Stacy Blake-Beard, Associate Professor of Management at Simmons College, mentoring has been posed as a catalyst to shift the dynamics of power that keep women and people of color from attaining higher-level positions.
Scientists & Societies
Nature, November 2005
For the past 6 years, Dutch postdocs have been gathering for an annual retreat focusing on career development both inside and outside academia.
With U.S. Population Aging, Colleges Train Students for Careers With the Elderly
ABC News, October 27, 2005
Going to parties, living in the dorms and ... contemplating the burdens of old age? That is college life for a growing number of students like Emily Keppler, a senior gerontology major at Ithaca College in New York State.
Mentoring Program Seeks Applicants
Psychiatry Times, October 21, 2005
The African American Mental Health Research Scientist (AAMHRS) Consortium is seeking applications for 10 mental health research scientists and 10 mentors to participate in a one-year grant-mentoring program beginning March 30, 2006.
Minority Mental Health Research Attracts $1.25 Million Grant
New Mexico Business Weekly, October 13, 2005
The University of New Mexico's New Mexico Mentorship and Education program has received a $1.25 million NIMH grant to support a 5-year mentoring program for researchers and physicians interested in minority mental health issues.
New Report Calls for PhD Reforms
Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, October 7, 2005
A new report by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation’s Responsive Ph.D. initiative offers a range of recommendations for doctoral education, including the urgent need to expand and develop new approaches to mentoring.
2005 Pioneer Award Recipients Announced
National Institutes of Health, September 29, 2005
The NIH has named 13 recipients of the Pioneer Award, which supports exceptionally creative scientists who take innovative approaches to biomedical research. More than half of the 2005 awardees are at relatively early stages of their careers.
Pitt Center for Late-Life Mood Disorders Awarded $6.8M From NIMH
Pitt Chronicle, September 26, 2005
The Department of Psychiatry in Pitt’s School of Medicine has been awarded a five-year, $6.8 million grant by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to develop and test new treatment methods for late-life depression, anxiety, grief, and insomnia.
Jeste cause: Geriatric psychiatrists like UCSD's Dilip Jeste see a looming crisis in mental health care for elderly
SignOnSanDiego.com, September 14, 2005
Among the elderly, mental illness is a crisis coming of age, according to Dilip Jeste, a geriatric psychiatrist at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center in La Jolla and director of UCSD's Stein Institute for Research on Aging.
Gender and NIH Grants
InsideHigherEd.com, September 14, 2005
Female applicants for grants from the National Institutes of Health received on average only 63 percent of the funding that male applicants received, according to a new study by the Rand Corporation.
The Changing Grad Student Population
InsideHigherEd.com, October 31, 2005
A new report by the Council of Graduate Schools cites a 2% overall increase in US graduate school enrollment in 2004, as well as an increase in minority enrollment figures.
Six Bay State Researchers Honored for Innovation
bizjournals.com, June 13, 2005
Six Massachusetts researchers were among 58 people to receive the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers, the nation's highest honor for professionals at the outset of their independent research careers.
Critical Need for Geriatric Psychiatrists Addressed In Hartford Foundation Grant to UCSD/VA
health.ucsd.edu, March 16, 2005
The United States faces a critical healthcare problem as the number of mentally ill older Americans is steadily increasing, while the number of psychiatrists trained to care for them is too low to meet the demand.
Center of Excellence for Minority Health Press Release
jsums.edu, July 6, 2005
The CEMH at Jackson State University has teamed with the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Minority Health to create the first Research Career Development Training Institute in Minority Health and Health Disparities
11 Scientists Named Beeson Scholars, Receive $8 Million to Conduct Research on Aging
American Federation for Aging Research, June 2005
The American Federation for Aging Research, The Atlantic Philanthropies, The John A. Hartford Foundation, and the National Institute on Aging announced the recipients of the 2005-2008 Paul B. Beeson Career Development Awards in Aging Research Program.
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