Professional Development
The programs provided here are designed to help researchers enhance their professional skills and advance their careers in biomedical and behavioral sciences. Through a diverse array of workshops, seminars, mentorship opportunities, and resources, INBRE Investigators gain invaluable insights into grant writing, research methodologies, publication strategies, leadership development, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
NIRF Program
New Mexico INBRE Research Faculty
The NM-INBRE Research Faculty (NIRF) program is a professional development and training program to support faculty in developing biomedical research programs and is designed to provide developmental training for faculty new to grant writing, research lab management, and/or are in the first two years of their first tenure-track faculty position, but will be open to any interested faculty at all NM-INBRE network institutions, and is required for DRPP Investigators funded by the Research Project (RP) or Pilot Project for New Investigators (PPN) mechanisms. This training is provided through NIRF virtual workshops offered every other month during the calendar year beginning in April 2024. Tentative 2024 dates are April 12, June 14, August 9, October 11, December 13.
Examples of NIRF Program Workshop Topics
Managing Academic Life
- Creating work-life balance
- Time management
- Balancing professional effort
- Effective communication
- Dealing with adminstrators
- Stress management
- Identifying success barriers
- Identifying balance
- Countering sexism/racism
- Mentoring
- Managing difficult people
- Service in academia
- Outreach in academia
Perfecting Your Craft
- Manuscript writing
- Minimal publishable units
- Effective lab management
- Research ethics
- Preparing budgets
- Grant application elements
- Dissecting funding announcements
- Federal grant review process
- Interpreting reviews
- Professional networking
- Research presentations
- Writing with students
NIRF Fellows Program
The NIRF Fellows Program supports up to 5 faculty members from primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs) as NIRF Fellows. These fellows receive specialized support to prepare their DRPP (Developmental Research Project Program) proposals. Around six months before the DRPP application deadline, PUI faculty are encouraged to apply for individualized assistance from NM-INBRE (New Mexico IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence). NIRF Fellows benefit from personalized grant writing guidance provided by the DRPP Director and one or more science advisors. They are also eligible for up to one month of summer salary to facilitate their grant development efforts. Additionally, NIRF Fellows must participate in NIRF “perfecting your craft” workshops to enhance their skills.
