News You Can Use

Workshops and Trainings for NIH IRP Faculty, PIs, Staff Scientists, and Staff Clinicians

Once upon a time, the Office of Intramural Research (OIR) offered a two-day “New PI” course for new tenure-track investigators. The course taught them how to lead and manage a research group and especially how to work with and mentor trainees. With the help of OIR’s Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE), that two-day course evolved into a yearlong series of workshops and seminars for the new PIs. Eventually the courses were open to senior PIs, too. And soon after, a similar curriculum was offered to Staff Scientists and Staff Clinicians. This year, OIR is offering one curriculum that’s open to all NIH faculty—PIs, Staff Scientists, and Staff Clinicians.

“I think the curriculum is unusual in that most research institutions and universities don’t offer a comparable thing to help ‘train’ their faculty in leading and managing a research group,” said OIR Director of Faculty Development Carl Hashimoto. “The closest thing I know of is something like the new PI course that the Howard Hughes Medical Institute used to offer but no longer.”

Highlights of the trainings offered

Introduction to Mentoring Trainees: Intended for all supervisors in the Intramural Research Program and will cover general information on mentoring trainees (postbacs, graduate students, and postdocs). The course will provide an overview of resources available for supervisors and discuss best practices for dealing with issues in your research group.

Raising a Resilient Scientist Series: Five units, covering communication, resilience, inclusivity, conflict, feedback, and trainee wellbeing, will help you to support your biomedical trainees. Each unit will explore ways to manage common challenges in research groups by means of a webinar and facilitated small groups designed to build a community improving training at the NIH. You are encouraged to attend the entire series, but each unit may be attended as a stand-alone.

Tools for Managing Trainees Series: This series’ six webinars will help you increase your skills in interviewing; setting expectations; understanding the needs of postbacs, graduate students, and postdocs; writing letters of recommendation; and preparing your trainees to leave.

Research Career Management for Faculty: These sessions will help you navigate your career at NIH.

Coaching and Case-Study Drop-in Groups: OITE Wellness Advisors will facilitate stand-alone drop-in groups as part of the “Raising a Resilient Scientist” series. It’s recommended that you attend the workshops first, but even if you can’t, you are invited to come to come to a drop-in group. Additionally, executive coaches are available for PIs, Staff Scientists, and Staff Clinicians. Please contact Sharon Milgram (sharon.milgram@nih.gov) to discuss personal coaching.

• NIH PIs: Discuss the stresses and challenges of being a PI, mentoring trainees, and running a research group. Participants will have an opportunity to focus on their own wellness and resilience needs, discuss their experiences and concerns, hear from other PIs, and share strategies for addressing stress.
• NIH Staff Scientists and Clinicians: Discuss the stresses of being a staff scientist or staff clinician, including having to juggle such diverse responsibilities as doing one’s own work, mentoring trainees, supporting the work of the research group, and meeting the expectations of the PI. Participants will have an opportunity to focus on their own wellness and resilience needs, discuss their experiences and concerns, hear from other staff scientists/clinicians, and share strategies for addressing stress.

For more information, a list of sessions, and to register visit https://www.training.nih.gov/for_staff/trainingsupport/workshops_trainings.