Research Career Development Plan

Applicants to the BIRCWH Program are expected to have a career development plan that incorporates required and optional activities (see page 3, section 1.b. of the application).  Specific goals, competencies, course work, research and other activities along with a timeline should be provided in an Appendix using the Research Career Development Plan Template.

The Research Career Development Plan should be developed in collaboration with the mentors and be individualized to meet the applicant’s training needs. 

Required Components for All Applicants

Required Seminars and Conferences

• Weekly research seminars sponsored or co-sponsored by the BIRWCH Program
• Annual BIRCWH in Washington DC (November)
• Annual Women’s Health Research Conference sponsored by the Powell Center for Women’s Health (September)
• Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women’s Health Annual Research Day (attend and present research at least one time during training period) (May)
• Attendance at national scientific conferences relevant to research area

Required Courses

• NIH’s online course:  Basic Science and the Biological Basis for Sex-and Gender-Related Differences Course 
• BIRCWH scholars who have not participated in a formal research ethics course will need to complete either Nurs 8181:  Scientific Integrity, PuBH 8389:  Moral Philosophy:  Human Experimentation) or alternative course.

Competencies to be met by experience in past courses or future coursework

• Grant-writing seminar or course
• • Several options are available to meet this requirement:  the 1-day AHC or University grant writing seminars or PubH 6348, Writing Research Grants, a 2-credit course
• Research management
• • PubH 6780, Management for Clinical Research, 2-credits, offered in Fall semester
• Scientific writing and research dissemination course or seminars
• • BIRWCH Scholars will be expected to write a critical review paper on their research topic in their first year.
  • Scientific writing:  options include NURS 8190, Critical Review of Health Research, 2 credit doctoral level course offered in Spring semester (provides overview of different types of literature reviews with assignment of writing a critical review paper), alternative course, or documentation of how this competency has been met. 
  • Research dissemination skill training:  NURS 5995:  Research Dissemination, 2 credit doctoral level course offered in Fall semester (provides skill training in writing research abstracts, preparing posters, developing and giving oral presentations, and talking with the media), alternative course or seminars, or documentation of how this competency has been met

Applicants without Previous Research Training

Applicants who have not completed a PhD, MPH, MS in Clinical Research, MS in Health Services Research, or other research degree should consider completing a formal program in research, e.g., MPH in a relevant area, MS in clinical research, or MS in health services research, policy, and administration.  These programs vary in length and can be completed within 1-2 years of intensive study.

Examples of Optional Components for Research Training Plan

• Elective courses such as the new course on translational research
• Current Issues in Clinical Research Conference sponsored by UMN and Mayo Clinic (October)
• Attendance at research seminars relevant to applicant’s topic
• Attendance at Distinguished Visiting Scholar series

After the award in granted all scholars must provide documentation that they have met the University’s Requirements regarding compliance with regulatory trainings such as:

• Human subjects or animal subjects protection training (as relevant)
• Responsible Conduct of Research I and II
• HIPPA training
• Data safety and security training

Note:  The University’s Regents Scholarship provides for up to $5,250 in tuition support annually for full time faculty.  Cost of course work is not covered by the BIRCWH but the Regents Scholarship can be used to defray costs.