Formation of a Translational Science Professional Identity: A Heuristic Framework and Research Agenda

Based upon substantive professional engagement over two decades and the collective action of diverse professionals, this conceptual paper proposes that translational science (TS) is best understood as a meta-discipline. As with Science, Technology, Education, and Mathematics (STEM) or Information Sciences, meta-disciplines rely on coherent professional identities. Positioning TS in this way foregrounds the need to develop such identities across diverse contributors. TS team members often begin with deep domain-specific expertise followed by acquisition of cross-cutting translational capabilities that together support career and professional outcomes. Despite intensive workforce development efforts, no shared framework describes how Translational Science Professionals (TrSPros [We use TrSPro, "Translational Science Professional," to differentiate from the existing TSP, "Team Science Professional."]) develop professional identities. We adapt an established identity socialization model to TS, offering a heuristic for how contributors across roles become-and belong as-TrSPros. Prior studies in medicine link strong professional identity to job satisfaction, career well-being, resilience, and retention; building identities in TS should likewise increase the capacity and coherence of translation. This paper presents practical strategies and a research agenda to support intentional TrSPro identity development across Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs), their partnering organizations, and the broader TS ecosystem, strengthening the long-term sustainability of translational initiatives.