Selection of Research Program/Mentor

After the first 4 months of the pre-research year, fellows will meet individually with the Training Program Director to discuss career options in general terms. While many of our nephrology fellows are recruited to the program specifically because they plan to pursue an academic career, most have not defined a specific investigational interest. For this reason, a dedicated two-week block of time is provided to fellows during either December or January during which fellows immerse themselves in meeting multiple potential mentors to establish a potential career path and to identify specific investigational interests. During this period, fellows meet with members of the Training Program faculty representing different research tracks. The fellow will discuss their goals and the faculty member will provide information about both his/her research interests and his/her perspective on the best options available to the fellow. In this manner, fellows get feedback on their ideas from a wide range of faculty. At the end of this period, fellows will meet with the Training Program Director to discuss their specific plans. After these meetings (by March), the Training Program Director will assist the trainee in determining the projects and mentors that have the highest potential for success. The fellow will discuss specific and detailed potential projects with those mentors. A final decision will be made with the advice and consent of the Training Program Director. In certain cases, arrangements may be made between a trainee and a potential mentor outside the established training program. In these cases, the Training Program Director will meet individually with the potential mentor to clearly establish the goals for the trainee and the expectations of the program for the mentor. Similarly, dual mentors may be assigned, if the trainee’s research program appears to require input of two faculty members with different backgrounds. This may be especially true when a mentor outside the Training Program Faculty is chosen. By this process of discussion and assessment of a number of possibilities under the guidance of the Training Program Director, all trainees will have a mentor identified and research program firmly established by May of the pre-research year. A written two-year research plan will be submitted by the trainee and mentor to the Training Program Director, which must then be approved by the Selection and Monitoring Committee.