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Bridges to Independence Fostering the Independence of New Investigators in Biomedical Research (2005) / Chapter Skim
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5 Transition To First Independent Position
Pages 102-109

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From page 102...
... The average age at which biomedical researcher receive their first faculty appointment is also increasing, but there is still a 4­7 year lag from becoming a faculty member to receiving a first R01 (Chapter 2)
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From page 103...
... This chapter considers the transition from postdoctoral work to independence, whether as a tenuretrack principal investigator or as a research faculty member or staff scientist, and makes recommendations for easing that transition. CAREER TRANSITION RESEARCH GRANTS The transition from postdoctoral researcher to independent scientist is perhaps the most difficult step in a research scientist's career (National Postdoctoral Association, 2003)
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From page 104...
... , 12 are now associate pro fessors, 1 is a full professor, and 10 are assistant professors. Approximately 60 percent of career awardees receive their degrees from institutions ranked in the top 25 institutions based on NIH funding.
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From page 105...
... These grants would replace the current collection of K22 awards, which differ from institute to institute. They should neither limit the award to NIH intramural candidates nor require that the postdoctoral training phase be carried out at an NIH intramural laboratory.
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From page 106...
... and two others allow individuals to apply for only the faculty portion of the award. Others have suggested this kind of award, including the National Research Council (1998)
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From page 107...
... As these awards support the first years of an independent position, at least those portions of the awards should include recovery of full indirect costs, consistent with R01 and other research awards. Finally, an expansion in NIH career transition awards may persuade private foundations to reduce their contribution in this area.
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From page 108...
... to examine the relationship between outcomes and award characteristics. More rigorous assessment of expected outcomes should be conducted for recipients of the proposed career transition awards, including the use of appropriate comparison groups if possible.
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From page 109...
... Because of its experience in research on scientific and engineering personnel and the overall research enterprise, such data collection efforts may be best coordinated by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and funded by NSF, NIH, and other federal agencies that sponsor scientific research.
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Key Terms

  • postdoctoral training
  • postdoctoral fellows
  • wellcome fund
  • burroughs wellcome
  • national postdoctoral

  • career transition
  • postdoctoral association
  • independent research
  • biomedical sciences
  • transition awards

  • study section
  • staff scientists
  • career award
  • fund career
  • study sections

  • nih funding
  • scientific review
  • independent awards
  • postdoctoral fellow
  • preliminary data

  • laboratory management
  • faculty appointment
  • career awards
  • national research
  • research council

  • national science
  • assistant professor
  • science foundation
  • postdoctoral researchers
  • biomedical research


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