Introduction to a Research Career Michael Boninger, MD (loosely adapted from Zev Rymer)

1 Outline Why Choose a Research Career? Types of Research Careers Your Domain Keys to success

2 Why Choose a Research Career? Work on bigger problem Make a bigger difference Providing clinical care is not stimulating enough Don’t want to be on call when your 50 Prestige/Honor/Fame Teaching Travel Intellectual Stimulation Being part of a team Work Hours PM&R needs researchers

3 Is there a downside? You Bet Perception of Department Peers Use it or loose it Clinical Skills Financial rewards At first Can you say REJECTION? Your work is never done Uncertainty

4 What does it take to be a researcher? Can you take orders? Can you do scut? Can you write? Can you be self critical? Can you (learn to) compete? Granting agencies don’t care that you are a physiatrist – no special rules apply

5 What does it take to be a researcher? Can you innovate? Can you lead? Being a researcher is being a leader You cannot lead where you have never been Can you articulate a vision? Can you learn to delegate responsibility and establish appropriate reporting/ evaluation systems?

6 Types of research careers Clinician – descriptive studies Clinician/Investigator – descriptive-case studies, PI clinical trials Investigator/Clinician – PI clinical trials, RO1 NIH, VA merit review

7 Careers – The First Two Clinician – descriptive studies Clinical Academic Physiatrist 5 – 10% Research Clinician/Investigator – descriptive-case studies, PI clinical trials Academic Physiatrist plus Used to be the norm for PM&R research 10 – 30% Research Clinical work as primary Not for the RMSTP

8 Investigator Clinicians The K12 Model Research Time 75% or more Now and in the future Clinical work primarily to supports research Synergy Teaching Research Support staff

9 Your Domain You need to be a great researcher and you need an area of expertise In what specific area will you be the world’s leading expert? What skill set will you have? What will you add to the team? Clinical knowledge is a given and is important

10 Broad Areas Health Services Basic Science Chemistry Molecular biology Physiology Engineering Biomechanics Signal procesing Neuropsychology Outcome measurement Ethics Humanism Epidemiology

11 How do you choose? Interests Clinical Research Background Dusty undergraduate degree Geography Mentorship Laboratory

12 Mentorship – the key How do you choose a mentor? Research training is an apprenticeship with one or two people (at most) The Best in Field Milieu Success & Happiness of previous trainees Pay attention to early communications Location

13 What do granting agencies care about? NIH is committed to the development of fundamental knowledge about human biology and health promote development of new methods to help health advances emerge Historically, fundamental, or “basic science” studies are often the most appealing to review panels Clinical “investigations” are also attractive Clinical trials are often the most difficult to support

14 Top Ten Keys to Success (A Review) (kind of by rank) 1) Innovation 2) Writing 3) Self Critical 4) Focus 5) Resilience / Perseverance 6) Mentorship 7) Departmental Support 8) Leadership 9) Motivation 10) Interpersonal Skills

Go Forth and Conquer (we need you) Thank you