BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH CAREER

Establishing a research team

The Foundation: Laboratory Technician

• Skill sets:– Basic math, chem & bio– Computer savvy (Word,

Excel, Power points and web search)

– Reliable– Good at trouble-shooting,

but knows when to ask for help

Building the Relationship

• Treat your tech as a valuable team member

• Include in lab meetings, one- on-one meetings

• Have them present at national meeting

• Include them as authors when their contribution has been significant for the research to be published

The AdditionsGraduate Students

Positives• Eager and need to write

dissertation to get degree• Relatively cheap labor

Negatives• Taking classes • Require a lot of attention

The AdditionsMedical Students

Positives• Will work hard for good letter

of recommendation for residency

• Also cheap labor

Negative• Most require training• Usually only available for

summer or 6 week rotation

The AdditionsPostdoc and Clinical Fellows

• Postdoc are usually well-trained but only stay 2-4 years

• Clinical fellows usually need research training and stay only 6 months to one year

Management

Communication, Communication, Communication

• Lab/team meetings• Individual meetings• Make sure your reasonable expectations are known

and set deadlines for accomplishments

Management Skill Sets

• Become knowledgeable about basic accounting since you will manage budgets

• A short workshop on basic management skills is helpful

• Time management skills are a must!

Conflict Resolution

• Must be resolved quickly

• Bring parties together to hear both complaints at the same time

• If you cannot resolve bring in Human Resources

Networking, Publications and Grant Applications

Networking within your Institution

• Establish collaborations• Seek out opportunities for interdisciplinary

collaborators and for translation research involving clinical faculty

Networking in the Scientific Community

• Present at regional and national meetings

• Directly contact researchers for potential collaboration

• Ask seminar directors to invite your potential collaborations to give a talk at your university to develop personal relationships

The Wrong Kind of Networking

Publications

• Research projects are not complete until results are communicates to the scientific/medical community

• The number and impact of publications is a critical factor in obtaining grant support

• Structure experiments such that the results from the sequence of data presentation in a paper

• Strive to have a continuous flow of manuscripts/publications: one in press, one in revision and one in draft form

What could happen if you don’t publish in a timely fashion

GRANTS

• Necessary to support your lab’s research

• Normally required to obtain promotion and tenure

• Seek a mentor who has been successful in obtaining grants and who has served on grant review panels

• Attend grants workshops• Volunteer to serve on grant

review panels• And above all (see next

slide)

Develop a “Thick Skin”