CAIRIBU ARCTICS Community Forums
Be part of the virtual CAIRIBU trainee community, ARCTICS (Advancing the Research Capacity of Trainees and Investigators at early-Career Stages). Virtual CAIRIBU ARCTICS Community forums provide resources and skills to the next generation of leaders in non-malignant genitourinary research.
Recordings of prior CAIRIBU ARCTICS Community forums are on the CAIRIBU YouTube channel
Upcoming ARCTICS Forums
Second Wednesday of each month; 1:00 PM Eastern (12 PM Central | 10 AM Pacific) (special times noted below)
| Forum Topic | Forum Description | Date | Time | Speaker(s) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fundamentals of the NIH grants process | Step-by-step walk through of the application writing, submission, and grant review process. | Oct 11, 2023 | 1-2PM EST | Christopher Mullins, PhD, Program director, Kidney, Urologic, & Hematologic Diseases, NIDDK, NIH | ||||
| Grant mechanisms for moving to the next stage of your research career | What grant mechanisms are relevant at each career stage? What grants should I aim to pursue at each career level? What is the difference between different NIH training grant mechanisms and what are the different requirements? | Nov 8, 2023 | 1-2PM EST | Tracy Rankin, PhD, MPH, Deputy Director & Program Director, Division of Kidney, Urologic, & Hematologic Diseases, NIH | ||||
| Lab management: Memoirs of starting a lab | Listen to insights from a panel of early-stage investigators who have recently launched their independent laboratories as they share their stories of navigating the challenges and unexpected twists that come with lab establishment. Discover the surprises and hurdles new PIs have encountered in the process, and learn about the innovative solutions they've employed to overcome these obstacles. | Dec 13, 2023 | 1-2PM EST | LaTasha Crawford, VMD, PhD, DACVP, Asst. Prof. Dept. of Pathobiological Sciences, UW-Madison | ||||
| Jim Hokanson, PhD, Asst. Prof. Joint Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Medical College of Wisconsin | ||||||||
| Kimberly Keil Stietz, PhD, Asst. Prof. Dept. of Comparative Biosciences, UW-Madison | ||||||||
| Grants: How to write a successful grant resubmission using your summary statement | Learn how to harness grant reviewers' feedback to refine and enhance your grant proposal for successful funding. Gain valuable strategies and practical insights on how to effectively decipher summary statements, address reviewers' comments, and increase your chances of securing the funding you need for your research. | Jan 10, 2024 | 1-2PM EST | Rosalyn Adam, PhD, Director, Basic Science Research; David E. Retik Chair in Urology Research; Assoc. Prof. of Surgery, Harvard Medical School | ||||
| DEI in biomedical science | This session focuses on cultivating successful initiatives for diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and equity within the realm of biomedical science. | Feb 14, 2024 | 1-2PM EST | TBD | ||||
| Lab management: Starting your lab and budgeting | Join us for an interactive session where we'll delve into the intricacies of grant budget composition, effective equipment procurement processes, and securing your lab workspace. In this session, we'll employ breakout rooms to facilitate in-depth discussions and learning opportunities. | March 13, 2024 | 1-2PM EST | TBD | ||||
| Navigating mentorship dynamics: Strategies for effective mentoring relationships | Delve into the intricacies of mentorship, establish transparent expectations for both yourself and your mentor, and discover the art of building and sustaining productive mentoring relationships. | April 10, 2024 | 1-2PM EST | TBD | ||||
| Epidemiology and biostatistics crash course | Discover the foundational principles of biostatistics, explore its significance, and see how it is applied to analyze scientific data. | May 8, 2024 | 1-2:30PM EST | TBD | ||||
| Past Forums | ||||||||
| Available for viewing on the the CAIRIBU YouTube Channel @cairibu3315 | ||||||||
| Making the most of your collaborations: Best practices for trainees | Collaborative science skills are essential for those considering a career in interdisciplinary research. However, training is often focused on improving the skills of the team leaders. This session will provide skills and strategies that trainees can use now as a part of their current interdisciplinary collaborations as well as in the future when they lead their own teams. | July 12, 2023 | SPECIAL TIME: 12-1PM EST | Whitney Sweeney, PhD from the University of Wisconsin Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR) | ||||
| How to write a scientific paper | This session covers when and how to outline your manuscript, writing tips, how to organize your data into a compelling narrative, how to submit the paper, and how to respond to reviews. | Aug 9, 2023 | 1-2:30PM EST | Nicole De Nisco, PhD, Asst. Prof. Biological Sciences, UT Dallas | ||||
| How to facilitate a clinician/PhD interaction | This panel of investigators will share tips and tricks for how they have successfully forged MD/PhD collaborations. | Sept 13, 2023 | 1-2PM EST | Lindsey Burnett, MD, PhD, Asst. Prof. Dept. of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, UC San Diego Health | ||||
| Douglas Strand, PhD, Assoc. Prof. Dept. of Urology, UT-Southwestern | ||||||||
| John Knight, PhD, Assoc. Prof. Dept. of Urology, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham | ||||||||
| Maria Hadjifrangiskou, PhD, Assoc. Prof. of Pathology and Assoc. Prof. in Urology, Vanderbilt | ||||||||
Old Materials:
- How to Write a Scientific Paper Slides (Dr. Nicole De Nisco August 2023 talk)
- 2022 CAIRIBU ARCTICS Community forums schedule
- 2021 CAIRIBU ARCTICS Community forums schedule
- Executive summary on preparing for post-grad career opportunities (Aug. 2022 ARCTICS forum)
- Slides from Dale Bjorling, DVM, MS (PI of the UW-Madison KURe Program) (Aug. 2022 ARCTICS forum)
- Executive Summary on Becoming a Scientist – How to Know What You Need to Know (Aug. 2021 ARCTICS forum; prepared by Alexis Adrian, graduate student, UW-Madison U54 George M. O’Brien Center)
The CAIRIBU Interactions Core is launching a new initiative to connect CAIRIBU-affiliated trainees to potential mentors. The purpose of the CAIRIBU Mentorship Network was conceived by a committee of CAIRIBU trainees and ESIs. The objective is to provide an avenue beyond a trainee’s primary PI/mentor for additional individualized feedback or career advice (see the non-exhaustive list of potential topic areas below).
Potential Topics for Mentor-Mentee Relationship Discussions:
- Feedback and guidance on research questions and ideas (prior to developing specific aims)
- Feedback on portions of grant applications (e.g., specific aims page, strengths and weaknesses of approach, thoughts on how grant would be scored)
- Network building (connect mentee to others who can help their research and to key contacts in the field)
- Lab management (how to manage personnel, how to handle conflicts, etc.)
- Career advice (how to advance career, next steps)
- Negotiating salaries
- Managing expectations (how to set reasonable, achievable goals and how to avoid being overly ambitious)
- View the CAIRIBU Mentorship Packet for resources on establishing and maintaining a mentor relationship
How does the mentorship network work?
If you would like to be paired with a mentor, complete this form to specify your needs, expectations, research interests, and career goals. After you are matched with a potential mentor, you will contact the mentor to discuss whether it is a good mutual fit. If so, you will set up and maintain communications between you and your mentor.
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GRANT WRITING
INSTITUTIONAL GRANT WRITING RESOURCES
Many institutions have grant writing resources to help investigators and students through the grant application process. Check out this list of institution-specific grant writing resources at CAIRIBU-affiliated institutions.
Pre-Award Resources:
- Getting started? Watch this VIDEO that covers the basics of the NIH grants process.
- Example Grant Applications – Find examples of applications including R01, R03 and K01 grants.
- Comparing Popular Research Project Grants—R01, R03, or R21 – Learn more about the different types of NIH grants including which might be right for your research idea.
- Types of Applications – Learn more about the types of NIH applications and specific submission requirements for each type.
- Contacting NIH Staff – Read more about which NIH staff member can help you at each phase of the application and award process.
- Search funding or find similarly funded projects with the NIH’s RePORTER Matchmaker tool.
- NIDDK Research Areas – Urology – Learn more about the urology-related topics and research that NIDDK supports. For additional information on clinical studies supported by NIDDK, go HERE or visit the Kidney and Urological Systems Function and Dysfunction – KUFD study section.
- Study Section Selection – Assisted Referral Tool (ART) – The Assisted Referral Tool (ART) was developed by the NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR) to identify study sections that might be assigned to review your application. Enter your project title and a brief description to get matched with relevant study sections and review their rosters.
- All About Grants Podcast: Considerations for a Research Plan – In this NIH “All About Grants” episode a duo of NIH program officers, Drs. Lillian Kuo from the National Cancer Institute and Kentner Singleton from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, share their advice and experience on developing a research plan for a grant application. They discuss the relationship between the specific aims and research strategy, provide suggestions for when you sit down to start writing, and share common pitfalls.
- Center for Scientific Review (CSR) – Since 1946, the CSR has worked to see that NIH grant applications receive fair, independent, expert, and timely scientific reviews—free from inappropriate influences – so NIH can fund the most promising research.
- NIDDK 2021 Award Funding Policy – Find NIDDK budget data, funding guidelines, and more.
- NIH Peer Review: “Live” Mock Study Section – Learn more about the review process and get an idea of what happens during the review, during the discussion, what topics might come up
Form Help:
- PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information Form Walk-through – This video walks you through the FORMS-F version of the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information Form used for NIH grant application due dates on or after May 25, 2020. This form is used to collect detailed study-level information for the protocols included in NIH grant applications.
Post-Award Resources:
- Ever Wondered What Happens During the Scientific Review of an NIH Grant Application? – Understanding how peer review works is key to writing a good grant application. In this 44-minute video, NIH Peer Review: “Live” Mock Study Section, scientists have gathered virtually to review three fictional applications in response to a fictional Request For Applications. Watch their discussion to learn how applications are scored, what questions are commonly asked, and what mistakes to avoid in your application.
- Already funded? Find tips to stay funded.
GRANTS.GOV
- Learn the basics of grants including the grant lifecycle, grant policies, grant terminology, and more
OTHER PROPOSAL WRITING RESOURCES
- Developing Competitive Proposals – Grants Resource Center
- A Proposal Writing Short Course – Foundation Center
- Updates on recording ‘Other Support’ when applying for federal grants
Source: Office of Research and Sponsored Program, University of Northern Colorado
MENTORING
Find the mentor toolkit developed by UW-Madison Institute for Clinical and Translational Research HERE.
- Get the most out of your mentor relationship. Craft an Individual Development Plan (IDP) together with your mentor to help you identify the skills, competencies, and relevant projects necessary for you to further your career goals.
OTHER RESOURCES
Connect to online resources
- Thriving as an Early-Stage Investigator: The Untold Do’s and Don’ts
- Hypothesis Center Live Demo, a dkNET webinar. dkNET is a search portal that helps researchers find research resources relevant to their research and keep up to date on new tools, services and mandates to support robust and reproducible science”