Coaching experiences, interest, and preferences among early career researchers

Coaching is an innovative approach to career development in the biomedical sciences, distinct from mentorship and advising. Past research suggests coaching can improve the retention and success of early career researchers (ECRs), especially those underrepresented. Despite potential benefits of coaching, little is known about ECRs' perceptions of coaching. This study assessed ECRs' experiences, interests, and preferences in coaching and examined differences between demographic and professional groups.

As part of a national cross-sectional study in fall 2021 to query strategies to support ECRs after the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors surveyed ECRs who held National Institutes of Health (NIH) F32 or K-level grants in 2020. Descriptive statistics, thematic analyses, chi-square tests, and logistic regressions summarized data and characterized differences by demographic and professional characteristics.

Of 4,440 eligible ECRs, 1,587 ECRs (35.7%) completed the survey, and 1,481 (33.4%) met inclusion criteria for this study. About one in six respondents (16%) previously participated in coaching. Respondents described diverse coaching experiences that varied in effectiveness. About half reported interest in future coaching (52.4%). Respondents who identify as gender and sexual minority (GSM) and heterosexual females reported greater coaching interest than heterosexual males (60.5% vs. 56.5% vs. 43.3%, p < 0.001), which remained significant in adjusted models (GSM: OR 2.03, 95% CI [1.34, 3.07]; heterosexual females: OR 1.67, 95% CI [1.32, 2.12]). Underrepresented racial/ethnic respondents were more interested in coaching than White and Asian respondents (60.0% vs. 51.9%, p = 0.03), though this finding did not remain significant in adjusted models. Most respondents identified certain topics as important for coaching: project management (66.4%), team management (64.8%), leadership (62.7%), grant writing (55.2%), and financial management (50.3%). Topic importance varied by demographic and professional characteristics.

This study demonstrated interest in coaching among ECRs, especially sex/gender/sexual and racial/ethnic minorities. Tailored coaching may be well-received among ECRs and could contribute to efforts supporting a diverse biomedical workforce.