TABLE 1.
Example timeline from the mentoring committee and relevant examples of advice.
| Just starting | Settling in | Midway to tenure | Approaching tenure |
|---|---|---|---|
| General duties: | |||
| - Setting up the laboratory - Recruiting and hiring individuals - Building preliminary connections and generating initial data - Managing startup budget |
- Working toward first manuscripts - Reviewing grants and experimental design - Building internal collaborations |
- Building external collaborations - Increasing speaking engagements - Continuing to secure funding and grow a research program |
- Continuing to publish high-quality research and establish a solid track record - Establishing a leadership role in the department or institution |
| Essential tips: | |||
| - Pursue smaller grants (before going for larger ones) to build a track record of successful funding - Join committees or participate in other service opportunities to establish a presence in the department and institution - Avoid hiring too many individuals, seek guidance from mentoring committee on hiring an appropriate number of support staff and postdoctoral fellows. |
- Learn how to select appropriate journals to maximize research impact - Explore alternative forms of research, such as STEMM education, if available - Build effective mentoring contracts and individual development plans for incoming members to have clear expectations and goals for trainees |
- Seek out funding opportunities or mechanisms of funding, such as foundations, specifically aimed at early-career researchers - Increase social media presence to share research, increase seminar invitations and collaboration opportunities, and network with others |
- Establish a clear, long-term research vision to guide future directions beyond the mentoring committee |
| Goals: | |||
| - Publish at least one peer-reviewed methods or review manuscript that is relevant to upcoming manuscripts - Work toward the first research manuscript - Apply for at least one internal or pilot grant |
- Publish two manuscripts, which, depending on research progress, can include a mix of research and reviews - Apply for at least one internal and on external grant |
- Apply for at least two grants, one of which should be an R01 or equivalent - Publish three manuscripts, including at least one co-senior authorship with a collaborator |
- Publish one to two research manuscripts, including one that spans cross-collaborations - Join a committee or take on a leadership role in at least one committee |
Abbreviation: STEMM, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical.