Pathways Conference Agenda

The Pathways program mentors early-career clinical scientists in developing strong foundations for independent research careers. The Conference is held at the ASHA National Office in Rockville, Maryland.

Day 1: Career Planning

8:15 a.m.

Breakfast

8:30 a.m.

Welcome

8:45 a.m.

Introductions & Sharing of Research Goals by Participants

9:15 a.m.

Break

9:30 a.m.

Developing a Successful Programmatic Research Career

Session Learning Objectives

Contrast the pros and cons of doing a postdoc.
Explain the factors to consider when deciding where to publish and how to make your papers stand out.
Describe the different funding paths to an R01.
Summarize the elements to negotiate for your first faculty position.
Describe tips for success in the first three years of a faculty position (e.g., time management, setting priorities, being mentored).
Define programmatic research.
Describe the importance of establishing a programmatic line of research.

10:30 a.m.

Break

10:45 a.m.

Mentoring Period: Outlining Your Programmatic Line of Research

Session Learning Objectives

Formulate your own overarching research goal.
List the skills and resources you will need to address your overarching research goal.

11:45 a.m.

Lunch

12:25 p.m.

Developing a 5-Year Plan and Identifying Your Research Milestones

Session Learning Objectives

Define a 5-year Plan.
Explain the purpose of a 5-year plan.
Summarize the benefits of a 5-year plan.
Identify the elements of a 5-year plan.
List some resources for developing a 5-year plan.

1:00 p.m.

Q & A: 5-Year Plan and Research Milestones

1:15 p.m.

Mentoring Period: Developing Your 5-Year Plan and Identifying Your Research Career Milestones

Based on the 5-year goals and 1-year plan you prepared prior to the conference, formulate a 5-year plan that is

in line with your overarching research goal, and
includes the basic elements of a 5-year plan and research career milestones.

2:30 p.m.

Break

2:45 p.m.

Planning for Achievement and Responding to Challenges

Session Learning Objectives

Part 1: Planning for Your Teaching, Service, and Research Goals

Explain how to use your 5-year plan to guide decision-making.
Summarize planning tips for staying on track with your teaching, service, and research goals.

Part 2: Planning for Successful Collaboration

Explain the importance of research collaborations (interdisciplinary, clinical, etc.).
Describe tips for planning successful collaborations.

Part 3: Responding to Challenges with Resilience

List some common challenges to staying on track with your 5-year plan.
Describe the importance of resilience in an academic career and how to respond productively to disappointing feedback.

3:45 p.m.

Small Group Discussions

Session Learning Objectives

Summarize factors to consider when evaluating advice regarding your research focus.
Identify potential collaboration challenges and how to manage them.

4:30 p.m.

Report Out: Small Groups

4:45 p.m.

Introduction to American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Grant Mechanisms

Session Learning Objectives

List the ASHFoundation early-career mechanisms.
Describe the benefit of ASHFoundation funding as seed money for subsequent federal funding.

5:00 p.m.

Q&A: American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Grant Mechanisms

5:15 p.m.

Evening Announcements

6:00 p.m.

Happy Hour & Dinner at Hotel

Day 2: Grantsmanship and Launching Year 1

8:15 a.m.

Breakfast & Networking

9:00 a.m.

Break

9:15 a.m.

Preparing to Submit a Grant

Session Learning Objectives

Identify factors that determine whether you are ready to submit.
List the pre-submission steps.
Describe the importance of starting with small-scale funding and identify some sources.

10:00 a.m.

Q&A: Preparing to Submit a Grant

10:15 a.m.

Break

10:30 p.m.

Grant Writing Strengths and Weaknesses

Session Learning Objectives

List the NIH grant sections and review criteria.
Identify grant writing strengths and common weaknesses.
Explain how to interpret reviewer comments.
Identify NIH grant writing resources.
Describe the purpose of the Specific Aims.
Identify elements of strong Specific Aims and common weaknesses.

11:30 a.m.

Q&A: Grant Strengths & Weaknesses

Noon

Break and Pick up Lunch

12:15 p.m.

Mentoring Period with Lunch: Developing Specific Aims

Session Learning Objectives

Assess whether the specific aims you prepared prior to the conference address your experimental question.
Assess whether the specific aims include all of the basic elements.
Evaluate strengths and weaknesses in your specific aims.
Integrate any missing elements.
Formulate strong specific aims.

1:15 p.m.

Break

1:30 p.m.

Introduction to NIDCD Early-Career Grant Mechanisms

Session Learning Objectives

List the NIDCD early-career funding mechanisms.
Describe the roles and responsibilities of the NIDCD Staff (e.g., PO, SRO, GMS).
Locate online resources to assist in the NIDCD submission process.

2:15 p.m.

Q&A: NIDCD Grant Mechanisms

2:30 p.m.

Establishing Your Pathways Goals and Performance Measures for the Year

2:45 p.m.

Mentoring Period: Developing Your Pathways Goals and Performance Measures for the Year

Session Learning Objectives

Assess revisions to your 5-year plan.
Identify goals that will help you accomplish your research objectives for year 1 of your 5-year plan.
Formulate the specific goals you will work on this year with guidance from your Pathways mentor.
Discuss the frequency and format of mentoring communications for the year ahead.

3:45 p.m.