The Professional Development Hub, led by principal investigator Cynthia Fuhrmann, PhD, is hosting an interactive report public release event on Thursday, March 4. Dr. Fuhrmann, associate professor of biochemistry & molecular pharmacology and assistant dean of career and professional development for the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, will lead a discussion of the Hub’s new report, “Enhancing Dissemination of Evidence-Based Models for STEM PhD Career Development.”
“I am proud that UMMS is home to this national initiative,” said Fuhrmann. “It further demonstrates the advocacy and leadership of our institution for innovation for graduate education.”
The event will feature a panel and small-group discussions with graduate educators, education researchers, PhD employers, scientific societies and early-career scientists. Bruce Alberts, PhD, former president of the National Academy of Sciences, former editor-in-chief of the journal Science and former U.S. Science Envoy, will provide opening remarks.
Fuhrmann was awarded a five-year, $2.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to support the development of nationally sourced, competency-themed collections of evidence-based professional skills models to support professional development of early-career scientists. The Professional Development Hub further collaborates on training and mentoring for educators to aid their implementation within institutions, as well as support for evaluating their work according to rigorous protocols.
The group’s new report presents findings from a National Science Foundation-funded convening of interdisciplinary and cross-sector stakeholders at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and highlights key issues and proposed actions, stakeholder-specific perspectives, and activities moving forward.
The NSF workshop goal was to understand the diverse needs and contributions of stakeholders in graduate and postdoctoral education, and to stimulate local and national actions that will advance evidence-based practices for the career and professional development of early-career scientists.
An outcome of the workshop included formation of the Professional Development Hub Coalition of Higher Education Organizations, including the Association of American Medical Colleges; the Association of American Universities; the Council of Graduate Schools; and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
The event will be livestreamed from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Registration is required.
Related stories on UMassMed News:
Cynthia Fuhrmann awarded NIH grant to improve professional development in research training
GSBS receives Innovations in Research and Research Education Award
Cynthia Fuhrmann dedicated to helping other scientists chart their own careers
