Individualized Training and Practice in Research Career Navigation Skills

正如NIH路线图和NCATS的战略优先事项所强调的那样，NIH改善健康的广泛使命 所有人的结果取决于培养和留住未来几代临床科学家的能力 可以快速有效地将研究成果转化为临床实践。然而，在过去的二十年里， 已经见证了临床科学家劳动力的显著下降，这威胁到我们国家的能力 利用基础生物医学和行为科学的进步来改善公共卫生。这个 从博士后到独立研究人员的过渡是一个特别高风险的时期 研究人员的职业道路。早期职业研究人员在开始职业生涯时面临着各种挑战 而成功建立和维持研究事业所需的许多技能往往不是 在正式培训期间解决的问题。培养职业导航技能的必要性和价值，如 作为规划、谈判和管理，已经得到了越来越多的认可。然而，目前试图填补 这种教育差距往往是通用的、静态的书面材料，在给定的情况下，它们的实用性有限 研究人员或面对面的研讨会，只对有限数量的选定学员开放。初级阶段 该SBIR第二阶段项目的目标是全面开发和试运行一个动态的、交互式的电子培训软件 产品(Strategy Shaper)，提供研究职业生涯导航技能的个性化培训和实践。 这项第二阶段的提案将对战略整形器原型的前景光明的可行性测试结果进行扩展 第一阶段建议的项目将实现三个具体目标：(1)全面开发Strategy Shaper软件 和响应性网站，与利益相关者进行迭代可用性测试；(2)进行为期6个月的试点研究 该产品评估其对研究人员的职业导航技能、感知信心、研究 职业动机和职业活动；以及(3)最终确定商业化的战略塑造者 试点研究的结果和评估。第二阶段的研究预计将显示出对 这款交互式电子培训软件产品为支持临床职业发展而做出的承诺 研究人员。

As emphasized by the NIH Roadmap and NCATS's Strategic Priorities, NIH'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 nation'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: (1) fully develop Strategy Shaper software and responsive website with iterative usability testing with stakeholders; (2) conduct a 6-month pilot study of the product to assess its impact on researchers' career navigation skills, perceived confidence, research career motivation, and career activities; and (3) 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.