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The Rheumatology Research Workshop (RRW), a two-day meeting designed to promote interactions between early and established investigators to foster collaboration and facilitate career mentoring, was held this year on June 24–25 in Atlanta. Each year, the workshop includes scientific lectures, elevator pitch presentations, poster sessions and scheduled time for interaction with senior investigators to exchange ideas with trainees and other early career investigators.
This year, the Early Career Investigators (ECI) Subcommittee developed a series of sessions centered on career development, mentoring and navigating the grant writing process. The sessions were well received by the program participants, the majority of whom stated that the workshop adequately addressed strategies for career development and mentoring.
Ranked as one of the most valuable activities at the RRW, the Abstract Discussion Groups session provides participants the opportunity to practice their elevator or science pitch. Presentations are given before a small group of RRW participants and faculty, after which feedback is provided from the group to help improve this difficult-to-master but valuable skill. This session helps to improve one’s ability to clearly present a poster, facilitates the development of potential collaborators at conferences, and promotes research work in an informal setting.
Young scientists also have the unique opportunity to obtain one-on-one advice from leading researchers during the RRW’s Speed Mentoring session, where they may ask senior investigators boundless questions on career development, mentorship, work–life balance, etc.
Rheumatology Research Workshop attendees discuss an abstract poster at the poster
session and reception.
Abstract submission and acceptance is required for all meeting attendees. The 2017 RRW will take place June 24–25 in St. Louis. The call for abstracts for the 2017 RRW will open in January 2017. For more information about the RRW, visit the Learning Center.
The ACR’s ECI Subcommittee invites you to join a new listserv for young investigators trying to establish a foothold in rheumatology. Ideal participants are fellows and faculty through assistant professors. The Young Investigators listserv provides a support network for clinical, translational and basic research, in addition to serving as a forum to provide updates on funding opportunities, upcoming events, requests for applications and other pertinent information.
To join the young investigators listserv, send an email to listmanager@lists.rheumatology.org and type subscribe younginvestigators in the subject field of your email.
For more information on the RRW, contact Ngozi Afulezi, ACR senior specialist of research, at nafulezi@rheumatology.org.