Individualized Training and Practice in Research Career Navigation Skills

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant As emphasized by the NIH Roadmap and NCATSandapos s Strategic Priorities NIHandapos s broad mission to improve health outcomes for all persons depends on the ability to train and retain future generations of clinical scientists who can quickly and effectively translate research findings into clinical practice However the past two decades have witnessed a significant decline in the clinical scientist workforce which threatens our nationandapos s ability to leverage advances in basic biomedical and behavioral sciences into improvements in public health The transition from postdoctoral student to independent researcher is a particularly high risk period for attrition from the research career path Early career researchers face a variety of challenges when beginning their career and many of the skills needed to successfully establish and maintain a research career are often not addressed during formal training experiences The need for and value of building career navigation skills such as planning negotiation and management has been increasingly recognized However current attempts to fill this educational gap tend to be either generic static written materials that are limited in their utility for a given researcher or in person workshops that are available to only a limited number of select trainees The primary goal of this SBIR Phase II project is to fully develop and pilot test a dynamic interactive e training software product Strategy Shaper that provides individualized training and practice in research career navigation skills This Phase II proposal will expand on the promising feasibility test results of the Strategy Shaper prototype in Phase I The proposed project will accomplish three specific aims fully develop Strategy Shaper software and responsive website with iterative usability testing with stakeholders conduct a month pilot study of the product to assess its impact on researchersandapos career navigation skills perceived confidence research career motivation and career activities and finalize Strategy Shaper for commercialization based on findings and evaluations from the pilot study Phase II research is expected to demonstrate strong support for the promise of this interactive e training software product for supporting the career development of clinical researchers PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE The increasing number of clinical scientists exiting the research career path over the past two decades threatens our nationandapos s ability to quickly and effectively translate advances in biomedical and behavioral sciences into public healthcare improvements NIHandapos s success depends upon the ability to train and retain future generations of clinical and translational researchers In response NCATSandapos s Strategic Priorities stress the need for innovative methods to enhance the training advancement and retention of clinical scientists This Phase II project answers this call through full development and testing of Strategy Shaper a dynamic interactive e training software product through which clinical scientists can practice and build career navigation skills needed to successfully transition to an independent research career If successful the resulting tool could significantly impact public health by broadly disseminating vital training and practice opportunities to foster retention of clinical scientists n the research career path