Making an IMPACT on career development for early- and mid-career faculty

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology and Metabolism
• Molecular Biology
• Translational Research

Background:

• Nuclear receptors (NRs) play crucial roles in physiology and disease.
• The field of NR research needs a dedicated platform for collaboration and career development.
• Early- and mid-career faculty face unique challenges in establishing research programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish Nuclear Receptor IMPACT (NR IMPACT), a collaborative group for early- and mid-career NR researchers.
• To address career development challenges faced by junior faculty in the NR field.
• To foster interdisciplinary collaboration and advance NR biology.

Main Methods:

• The inaugural NR IMPACT conference was held in September 2020.
• A roadmap was developed identifying key challenges for early- and mid-career faculty.
• Best practices, resources, and action items were identified to address these challenges.

Main Results:

• NR IMPACT identified five major structural and science policy challenges.
• Potential solutions and necessary resources were outlined.
• A framework for supporting the scientific and professional growth of NR investigators was created.

Conclusions:

• NR IMPACT is a novel cohort addressing career development and collaboration for NR researchers.
• This initiative aims to enhance faculty success and create a robust pipeline of future NR investigators.
• NR IMPACT serves as a peer-mentoring resource and a potential model for other scientific disciplines.