New Comprehensive Career Development Program Launches for Postdoctoral/Clinical Fellows and Early-Career Faculty at Einstein

Albert Einstein College of Medicine is launching a new comprehensive training program designed to enhance the professional skills necessary for successful careers in science and medicine. The objective of the Biomedical Sciences Leadership (BSL) Program is to equip participants with the essential tools, skills and expertise to confidently assume leadership positions in academia, administration, government and industry. BSL is available to all advanced graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, staff scientists, instructors, clinical fellows and early career faculty at Einstein. A particular focus will be given to recruiting individuals from groups historically underrepresented in science and medicine.

“There are numerous nontechnical skills that are essential for career advancement, but for which there is very little formal instruction for postdoctoral fellows,” said Anne R. Bresnick, PhD, Associate Director, Cancer Research Training and Education, Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Associate Dean, Postdoctoral Affairs, Director, Belfer Institute for Advanced Biomedical Studies, and Professor, Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “From leadership and management skills to personal resiliency and emotional intelligence, our new training program will help participants develop the critical skills that will make them more competitive for a range of biomedical careers.”

Individualized Study

The BSL curriculum consists of a wide range of current Einstein courses, such as Responsible Conduct of Research and Fundamentals of Course Design, as well as newly developed workshops on an assortment of topics. In addition to those named above, areas of training include communication, mentorship, leadership and management, cultural competency, grantsmanship and career management.

“Earning a PhD is an undeniable achievement, but learning and training should not stop there,” said Diane A. Safer, PhD, Director, Career and Professional Development for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows, and Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “Scientists need to proactively hone vital professional skills, and this program offers direct instruction, with experts delivering a formal, evidence-based curriculum.”

Given the breadth of offerings, participants can design their own individualized curriculum, selecting the courses that fit their specific needs and goals. The time commitment for any single course is limited—many will meet on a weekly basis for four to eight weeks. The scheduling is also flexible, with courses untethered from the traditional academic calendar.

“Participants can start taking classes at any time, and dip in and out of the program as their schedule permits,” said Victoria H. Freedman, PhD, Associate Dean, Graduate Programs in Biomedical Sciences, Director, Graduate Program, and Assistant Professor, Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “We understand that participants have important clinical and lab responsibilities that can make it challenging to commit to semester-long classes, so we’ve structured the program to be flexible enough to accommodate these demands. Since the skills our participants will develop will have a direct impact on improving the quality of their work, we expect principal investigators, mentors and clinical directors will embrace the program.”

NIH and Institutional Support

BSL was launched with a supplementary grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), totaling $250,000 over two years to John M. Greally, DMed, PhD, Chief, Division of Genomics, Director, Center for Epigenomics, and Professor, Genetics, Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The program was expanded beyond the purview of the federal funding, making it an important new addition to Einstein’s education and training portfolio.

“We see a lot of opportunity for this program, and a way to respond to the evolving needs of our participants,” said Ariel Y. Fishman, PhD, Senior Director, Institutional Research Assessment and Reporting, and Clinical Instructor, Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “This could include submitting the program to the New York State Education Department for a formal certificate credential or, perhaps eventually, a master’s degree.”

The program was developed collaboratively under the leadership and direction of Drs. Bresnick, Freedman, Safer and Fishman. The grant is titled “The Einstein-Montefiore Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Mentorship Program” (3R01AG057422-06S2).