The Funding of Young Investigators in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (1994) / Chapter Skim
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5 Conclusions and Recommendations
5 Conclusions and Recommendations
Pages 85-98
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From page 85... ...
Newly independent investigators, it was argued, were not competing effectively with more experienced investigators for the increasingly scarce research funds. There was concern that the review groups that determine funding priorities, faced with a difficult choice of maintaining an already active research program or beginning a new one, were favoring the former.
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From page 86... ...
Just as quantum mechanics, a discipline that stemmed from inquiries into the most fundamental properties of light and matter, was the wellspring of the entire multibillion-dollar electronics and information-processing industry, molecular biology is beginning to yield applications of enormous medical and economic benefit. Thus, although our recommendations regarding biomedical and biological research funding have been framed against the background of the current fiscal restraint imposed by our huge national debt, it is our firm conviction that these financial pressures must not make us short-sighted.
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From page 87... ...
. Grant applications from newly independent investigators should be reviewed separately from those from more seasoned investigators.
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From page 88... ...
The amount and type of teaching assigned to newly independent investigators should be structured to stimulate their research. Teaching courses at the advanced level exposes young faculty to potential research students for their laboratories (both senior undergraduates and graduate students)
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From page 89... ...
The National Research Council's biennial survey and database of doctorate recipients might serve as a means for the tracking we suggest. RECOMMENDATIONS ON FEDERAL EXTRAMURAL FUNDING OF NEWLY INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATORS IN THE LIFE SCIENCES NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH The First Independent Research Support and Transition (FIRSTS Award The First Independent Research Support and Transition (FIRST)
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From page 90... ...
The advantage of this system is that it permits a more accurate overview of research interests among newly independent investigators. In addition, it equalizes the competition among research applications in "hot" and "cool" fields.
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From page 91... ...
NIH's Biological Research Support Grant program has been terminated after long years of criticism of the program for vague funding guidelines and accounting procedures that made it difficult to measure effectiveness. The committee suggests that NIH consider reinstitution of the program while encouraging local directors of it to use funds primarily for newly independent investigators.
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From page 92... ...
The committee believes that switching the emphasis from quantity to quality of publications is a laudable action for all levels of research funding. RECOMMENDATIONS ON NONFEDERAL FUNDING OF NEWLY INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATORS IN THE LIFE SCIENCES INDUSTRIAL FUNDING Newly independent investigators and the graduate and postdoctoral students that they train form the pool of scientists from which those who will contribute directly to industrial advances are drawn.
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From page 93... ...
The tax treatment of company support and the framework within which any intellectual property would be administered warrant separate expert study. PHII^NTHROPIC FUNDING The philanthropic foundations are to be commended for their efforts in funding newly independent scientists, for developing grants that directly address the specific needs of this cohort, and for identifying and funding "orphan" fields that are not well supported by other, larger institutions.
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From page 94... ...
Full recovery of direct and indirect costs associated with extramural grants is necessary to maximize university research efforts; underrecovery requires an institution to subsidize current research programs, thus drawing scarce funds away from other university funding vehicles designed to support newly independent faculty. It is clear that recovered costs are used to develop startup packages and indirectly facilitate the work of newly independent investigators through support of services.
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From page 95... ...
Many universities have developed informal mentorship programs focused on improving the grant applications of newly independent investigators. Such programs require additional time on the part of established faculty, but the payoff is in the increase in extramural funding of junior faculty.
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From page 96... ...
Attention should be given to the promotion of women to department chairs, deanships, and other executive positions to achieve a sex balance and reflect the increase in the number of women entering the scientific workforce. The lack of senior role models, limited access for women to the research network, and excessive institutional committee assignments, teaching responsibilities, and mundane administrative duties are impediments to the advancement of women that require institutional attention.
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From page 97... ...
Although the existing initiatives provide adequate model programs to increase dramatically the recruitment of members of underrepresented groups to science and mathematics careers, program implementers are frustrated by the difficulties in finding the most suitable candidates in sufficient numbers. To link the institutions and those who could benefit from the programs, there should be a national coordinating center that can maintain a dynamic inventory of programs and people to facilitate appropriate matching of the two.
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