Pathways to Success

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Pathways to Success

• Getting there
• Michael Boninger

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Where are we trying to get?

• Professor
• Tenure
• Wealth
• Respect
• Clinical Contribution

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What do we do to get there?
All at the Same Time
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Okay so how do we get there?

• There is no correct path
• Each is unique
• There are common themes
• Even in todays environment it is doable!

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Focus

• What is your area?
• The more focused the better
• Hard to maintain
• Other invitations/opportunities
• Clinical work

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Hard Work

• Hard, but good
• On your own terms
• There is a nice pot of gold at the end
• All my days are different
• I work with a great group

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Open to Criticism

• The harder the critic, the more they help
• Can you see the holes in your work
• It is always about you, even when it is not
• You and your grant can be better

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Mentorship

• Get good mentors
• It is never too late
• Become a good mentor
• It is never too early
• You know more than you think
• It allows you to extend yourself

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But what about the paths?
Tenure
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Timeline
Write Papers Collect Data at all times
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Alternative Path
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Key Initial Grants - NIH

• K0? - Mentored
• Can get after K12
• Great salary support not much for research
• More time for the R01, 5 years
• R03 Pilot (dont need as much pilot data)
• Little money, 2 years
• Only 10 pages
• R21 high risk, high impact
• More money, 2 years
• 15 pages - easier than R01

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Other Agencies

• VA alternative career development
• NIDRR model system, FIR
• Foundation
• Jen
• Internal grants
• CDC

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Thank You

• Discussion