ASM-NSF Leaders Inspiring Networks and Knowledge (LINK): a Program to Build Bridges, Communities, and Career Competencies

推动科学造福公益的一个挑战是在实验室的研究人员与教室里的教育工作者和学生之间建立联系。美国微生物学会(ASM)致力于创建ASM-NSF领袖激励网络和知识(LINK)计划，这是一项结构化的指导计划，将在NSF科学家与两个全国性STEM教育会议的学生和职业早期参与者之间建立和保持联系：少数民族学生年度生物医学研究会议(ABRCMS)和本科教育工作者年度ASM会议(ASMCUE)。在NSF调查人员(导师)的指导下，LINK计划将提高会议参与者(导师)在分子、细胞和微生物生物科学的新兴和跨学科领域成功竞争的能力。该倡议的目标是：1.增加对NSF在分子、细胞和微生物生物科学新兴领域的机会的了解；2.发展学员技能，以成功竞争分子、细胞和微生物生物科学新兴和跨学科领域的资源和专业知识；以及3.建立一个积极参与指导、网络和合作的强大的科学家社区。对于目标1，该计划要求NSF调查人员从2012年开始参加ABRCMS和ASMCUE，并持续四年。每一次会议都将为NSF提供一个具有成本效益的场所，以突出其项目、研究和科学家。对于目标2，LINK将解决研究生和博士后培训中超越科学能力的差距，统称为职业能力。职业能力技能包括沟通、人际关系、教学、指导、管理、领导和道德方面所必需的技能。LINK计划将为学员提供一个在NSF导师的密切指导下练习和加强这些技能的环境。在一系列协调良好的活动中，导师和被辅导者将在ABRCMS和ASMCUE之前、期间和之后联系、分享想法和合作。对于目标3，ASM提出了四项协调的、互补的活动：(I)ABRCMS和ASMCUE的指导和反思会议，(Ii)创建专门的链接注册表和列表服务器，(Iii)持续的列表服务器家庭作业和活动，使导师和被辅导者参与和完成任务，以及(Iv)创建链接导师资助，每年最多支持12对导师-被辅导者。LINK计划将解决将NSF的两个目标联系起来的挑战：加速和加强科学发现，以及扩大学生和教育工作者在新兴生物科学研究领域的参与。及时推进科学造福公益需要许多桥梁，将科学家与教育工作者和学生联系起来。拟议的计划寻求通过ABRCMS和ASMCUE这两个全国性的STEM教育会议来建立这样的桥梁，并通过具体的、结构化的链接活动为由此产生的社区提供支持。在S第二年的项目中，预计至少有250名ABRCMS和ASMCUE学员将参加LINK活动，其中20%(50名参与者)将在参加会议后24个月内提交他们的第一笔赠款。到2016年，该计划将确定至少750名注册参加LINK活动并与NSF和ASM导师一起探索机会的学员。预计约有150名学员将在该项目结束前向NSF提交拨款或与目前的NSF调查员形成研究合作关系。预计LINK计划-S结构化指导活动将突出职业能力和指导方面的最佳实践。最后，该倡议将成为其他生命科学专业学会接受为其成员提供结构化指导计划的榜样。

A challenge for advancing science for the public good is building connections between the investigators in the lab and the educators and students in the classroom. The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) seeks to create the ASM-NSF Leaders Inspiring Networks and Knowledge (LINK) Program, a structured mentoring initiative that would build and sustain connections between NSF scientists and the student and early-career participants of two national STEM education conferences: the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) and the Annual ASM Conference for Undergraduate Educators (ASMCUE). Under guidance from NSF investigators (mentors), the LINK program will increase the capabilities of conference participants (mentees) to compete successfully in emerging and interdisciplinary areas of the molecular, cellular, and microbial biosciences. The initiative objectives are to:1. Increase understanding about NSF opportunities in emerging areas of the molecular, cellular, and microbial biosciences,2. Develop mentee skills to compete successfully for resources and expertise in emerging and interdisciplinary areas of the molecular, cellular, and microbial biosciences, and3. Develop a robust community of scientists actively engaged in mentoring, networking, and collaborating.For objective 1, the program requires that NSF investigators attend ABRCMS and ASMCUE beginning in 2012 and continuing for four years. Each conference will offer the NSF a cost-effective venue to highlight its programs, research, and scientists. Each will also offer a means to connect with beginning investigators and other scientists from a diversity of backgrounds and levels.For objective 2, LINK will address a gap in graduate and postdoctoral training that goes beyond scientific competency and is collectively referred to as career competency. Career competency skills include those necessary for communications, interpersonal relationships, teaching, mentoring, management, leadership, and ethics. The LINK program will provide mentees an environment to practice and strengthen these skills under the close guidance of NSF mentors. In a series of well-coordinated activities, mentors and mentees will connect, share ideas, and collaborate before, during, and after ABRCMS and ASMCUE.For objective 3, the ASM proposes four coordinated, complementary activities: (i) orientation and reflection sessions at ABRCMS and ASMCUE, (ii) creation of a dedicated LINK registry and listserv, (iii) ongoing listserv homework and activities that keep mentors and mentees engaged and on task, and (iv) creation of LINK mentorship grants that will support up to 12 mentor-mentee pairs per year.Intellectual Merit. The LINK program will address a challenge in connecting two NSF purposes: accelerating and enhancing scientific discovery and broadening the participation of students and educators in the emerging fields of bioscience research. Timely advancing of science for the public good requires many bridges to connect scientists to educators and students. The proposed program seeks to build such a bridge through ABRCMS and ASMCUE, two national STEM education conferences, and to provide the resulting community with support through specific, structured LINK activities.Broader Impacts. In the program?s second year, it is anticipated that at least 250 ABRCMS and ASMCUE mentees will participate in LINK activities and 20% of this pool (50 participants) will submit their first grant within 24 months of attending the conferences. By 2016, the program will identify at least 750 mentees who are enrolled in LINK activities and exploring opportunities with NSF and ASM mentors. It is anticipated that about 150 mentees will submit grants to NSF or form research collaborations with a current NSF investigator before the program's conclusion. It is also anticipated that the LINK program?s structured-mentoring activities will highlight career competencies and best practices in mentoring. Finally, the initiative will serve as a role model for other life science professional societies to embrace structured mentoring programs for their members.