NIDCR Office of Training and Education

National Institute Of Dental & Craniofacial Research

Investigators

Abstract

The NIDCR Office Training and Education (NOTE) made several accomplishments during FY 22 that enriched the career development experience of DIR trainees and enriched diversity in our trainee population. NOTE co-sponsored an intensive grant-writing workshop with training offices at NHGRI, NICHD, NEI, and NIAMS. NIDCR trainees participated in a grant-writing course entitled NIH Grant Writing Course - An In-Depth Workshop, which included a grant mock study section and a class - Faculty 101: from postdoc to faculty and K-awards for clinical fellows. Due to the covid pandemic these classes were all held virtually. NOTE annual hosts the NIDCR Early Career Scientist Seminar Series (ECSSS) at NIH to support early career scientists from diverse backgrounds, including graduate students, postdocs, and tenure track investigators. We hosted 4 nominated individuals in 2022 who were given the opportunity to present their work to an audience consisting of DIR fellows from NIDCR and others at NIH, network with scientist at the NIH and gain valuable experience. NIDCR NOTE hosted its second virtual 2022 Annual Fellows Scientific Training on April 26-27,2022. This year, one hundred-seventeen graduate students, pre-doctoral IRTAs, Postdoctoral trainees, clinical fellows, staff scientists, and biologists were in attendance for this one-day session along with the DIR Office of the Scientific Director Staff and NOTE Staff. Activities at the event included: a keynote address by NIH Communications Director, NIDCR; a seminar by 1 new NIDCR investigator; seminars by 2 academic/government spotlight speakers; 35 Three-minute Talk presentations; and career-focused round table discussions by invited NIDCR and NIH trainee alumni: 2 from academia, 3 from industry and 3 from government. Our NIDCR Director welcomed our guests and fellows followed by closing remarks by our Deputy Director and DIR leadership. NOTE played an essential role in the preparation of our trainees and staff for BSC presentations. The Office organized skill seminars on how to give a brief scientific presentation and coordinated one-on-one coaching sessions for all BSC presenters. The seminars and coaching sessions were well attended. This year, our investigators also took advantage of the coaching sessions being offered. In 2022, NOTE has successful established the electronic individual development plan (eIDP)system for one- year. The eIDP allows for 100% transparency between mentor and trainees; it has help set goals and track progress-projects and deliverables. Initially, the eIDP has cover the first year as an NIDCR Trainee/staff and then have an opportunity to update your IDP each year. All NIDCR labs have successfully enrolled by September 2021. Mandatory training sessions led by the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE) annually holds its new anti-harassment, Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) and relationship policies for trainees and staff are coordinated by NOTE and are of high priority in maintaining NIH work environment. In addition, NOTE host Annual Ethics Case Study Trainings- facilitated discussion session and review of cases provided by the Committee on Scientific Conduct and Ethics (CSCE) yearly by NOTE director. Intramural NIDCR continues to focus the recruitment of student researchers from diverse groups for training programs at NIH and the dissemination of research funding resources to the public. In an effort to inform and recruit trainees from all backgrounds, NOTE represented NIDCR at several research conferences. These conferences include: The Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science Conference (SACNAS)-October 2021, the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS)-November 2021, the National Dental Association annual conference (NDA)-July 2022, and the Hispanic Dental Association (HDA) joint conference with the National Medical Hispanic Association conference- June 2022. The NOTE director met with students, professors and researchers who were interested in research opportunities at NIDCR and disseminated training and research opportunity materials at all conferences and during scheduled booth session. At the ABRCMS conference, she also participated in virtual booths on intramural training opportunities at NIH. In an effort to continue offering potential trainees information on the training resources available at NIDCR, the NOTE provided presentation slides and talking points on the DIR training programs and fellowships to training officers and leadership that attended the joint IADR/AADR conference held virtually in July 21-24,2021 Boston MA, IUSD Research Day and NIDCR Summer Research Opportunities (March 2022), Dental School Research Day Howard University Summer Health professions Education Program (SHPEP) June 2021 and 2022. On June 29th,2022, NIDCR NOTE cosponsored the annual NIH Three Minute Talk Science Communication Competition. This event was cosponsored by five ICs: NICHD, NHGRI, NEI, and NIAMS. Eighteen graduate students, postbac IRTAs, postdoctoral fellows, and clinical fellows from three institutes competed as finalists in this event (one from NIDCR). Participants in this competition received professional training how to effectively communicate their scientific research to a broad scientific audience using a single power point slide. They also had two one-on-one professional coaching sessions in public speaking. Training program outreach recruitment efforts of the NOTE are reflected in the diverse student population in our summer research program. Due to the covid pandemic NIDCR hosted a limited summer program for Summer Dental Students (SDSA) and Summer Internship Program (SIP). Therefore, in 2022, NIDCR hosted 4 dental students from University of Iowa, Columbia, Arizona, and 7 Summer Interns Program (SIPs and HiSIPs). NOTE leadership served as chair of the selection committee for the NIDCR Directors Fellowship to Enhance Diversity in Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research. The director coordinated application review, selection review criteria, organization of the selection committee, maintained all contact with the applicants, and established the initial program curriculum. This fellowship is managed directly by the NOTE. Diversity Fellowship opportunities- Directors Postbac Diversity fellowship. NOTE sponsors 3 new fellows for FY 22. Outreach efforts with NIDCRs clinical center to promote Clinical Research Fellow and intramural training program. NOTE leadership served as lead in the development and successful execution of the Sang-A Park Memorial Postdoctoral Fellowship. The recipient of the Sang-A Park fellowship has been awarded and this fellowship is managed directly by the NOTE.