workshops and trainings for Extramural Faculty

OITE has created workshops and other training activities to support extramural principal investigators (PIs) and staff as they manage and lead biomedical research groups.

If you are an intramural PI, please see your series here

Raising a Resilient Scientist Series: Five units, covering communication, resilience, inclusivity, conflict and feedback, and trainee wellbeing, will help PIs and staff support your biomedical trainees. Each unit will explore ways to manage common challenges in research groups by means of a webinar (to watch in real-time or via a recording) and facilitated small groups designed to build a community to improve training across the US. You are encouraged to attend the entire series, but each unit may be attended as a stand-alone.

For questions regarding this series, please contact the OITE at OITE@mail.nih.gov Please include "PI Series" in the subject line.

All webinars will be recorded and are available 24 - 48 hours after the session using the links posted below.

RAISING A RESILIENT SCIENTIST SERIES

1. Communication Skills to Build Trainee Resilience
   November 9, 2022 12:00-2:15 PM
   Registration Link: https://nih.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsdeyhrjwsG3qSl89jFlF9zUdzoYlz4Vw
   This session will introduce you to the principles of trainee wellness and how to create a safe and supportive environment that fosters trainee resilience, growth and productivity. It will teach skills for effective communication with trainees including active listening. The session will explore how communication and work style differences influence the way we collaborate, make decisions, handle differences, and manage conflict. This material will help you decide when and how to have conversations while building and leading a successful research group.
   
   
2. Promoting Trainee Resilience
   December 14, 2022 12:00-2:15 PM
   Registration Link: https://nih.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsc-uvpzovGbw2kGLBSbihRcERfN2raTc
   Resilience helps those in high-knowledge environments succeed. This session will address barriers to trainee resilience, including cognitive distortions and imposter fears. It will emphasize ways and provide practical applications to encourage resilience in trainees in areas as such as fostering a growth mindset, promoting realistic self-talk, and modeling self-care and wellness as a priority in your research environment. (Related reading: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05326-3).
   
   
3. Building a Welcoming and Inclusive Research Group
   January 18, 2023 12:00-2:15 PM
   Registration Link: https://nih.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItcOurqjojGtH9Y_zDJPVHhg2Nm6zWNb0
   Building an inclusive research group means creating a space where individuals of all identities feel welcome and accepted. Inclusivity and diversity have been reported to help build community and promote depth of scientific knowledge, creativity, and collaboration. This session will address the effect of bias, both explicit and implicit, on our research groups. It will provide strategies to ensure that all trainees are set up for success at work, including welcoming diversity and addressing issues such as stereotype threat, micro-aggressions and attributional ambiguity. 
   
   
4. Difficult Conversations, Conflict, and Feedback
   February 8, 2023 12:00-2:15 PM
   Registration Link: https://nih.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsc-CgrTsiHfcOa91MnLLQ-_REQmdOQ2I
   This unit will build a framework for having difficult conversations, including providing effective feedback. It will examine how we decide to engage in difficult conversations and provide strategies and tools for effective communication under challenging circumstances. Specific issues, such as differences in style or culture, appropriate boundaries, and managing challenging interactions will be reviewed.
   
   
5. The Mental Health and Well-being of Your Trainees
   March 8, 2023 12:00-2:15 PM
   Registration Link: https://nih.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIscuCpqT4pEzjHEmDI2E604ncYzhOrhm4
   Our trainees operate under considerable stress, with anxiety and depression in biomedical trainees occurring at higher rates than in the general population. This can have a significant impact on research and research groups. Leaders and mentors often are the first to notice the struggles of their trainees. The webinar will focus on structuring your environment to promote a well lab, recognizing stressors, supporting trainees during difficult times, appropriate boundaries, and when and how to connect them to resources when appropriate. It will also touch on some ways you can find support for yourself as you support your trainees.

The Raising a Resilient Scientist training program is made possible through the generous support from the:

• NIH Office of Behavioral & Social Sciences Research
• NIH Office of Research on Women's Health
• NIH Sexual & Gender Minority Research Office

For questions regarding this series, please contact the OITE at OITE@mail.nih.gov Please include "PI Series" in the subject line.