Mentoring Diverse Early Career Researchers in Behavioral Diabetes Prevention Research

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

ABSTRACT The overarching objective of this Midcareer Investigator Award is to expand the candidate’s capacity to provide excellent mentoring in behavioral diabetes prevention research to diverse early career researchers, including those from underrepresented groups (URG), underrepresented minorities (URM), and women. This mentorship program will leverage the candidate’s intensive research in behavioral interventions for type 2 diabetes prevention within high-risk maternal populations—funded since 2014—which forms a solid foundation for training activities and research opportunities. Mentorship will build upon the candidate’s track record of recruiting and mentoring diverse trainees, and a mentoring philosophy rooted in the science of social belonging, social cognitive theory, emotional intelligence, and strengths-based mentorship. Mentees will develop expertise across four scientific emphasis areas to advance success in behavioral intervention research in diverse and underserved populations: health behaviors for diabetes prevention, health equity, maternal health, and implementation science, with a focus on designing innovative interventions for healthcare system settings. Mentee professional development will emphasize key themes of navigating mentoring relationships, cultural awareness, career planning, and grant writing. The candidate will strengthen expertise in evidence-based mentoring with an emphasis three areas: creating inclusive research environments, mentoring mastery, and leadership. Using a team science approach, mentees will benefit from being embedded within a collaborative, transdisciplinary team of experts in behavioral science, diabetology, epidemiology, perinatology, bioethics, and biostatistics. Mentees will also have access to extensive resources provided by the UC Davis Clinical Translational Science Center as well as established scientific centers devoted to maternal health and healthcare research. The candidate’s active research in behavioral interventions for diabetes prevention, combined with comprehensive, evidence-based, hands-on mentorship, will foster pre-doctoral and postdoctoral mentees’ growth as independent investigators. This award will provide the candidate with the necessary training, resources, and protected time to significantly expand her mentoring practice, with the long-term goal of advancing inclusive excellence in the diabetes research workforce.