Program Components

Mentoring: Teams, Individual Development Plans, and Career Guidance

Following admittance into the program, each Scholar creates an Individual Development Plan (IDP) under the guidance of program mentors. The IDP process allows for customization of the program based upon the needs of each Scholar, and also provides an opportunity for each Scholar to reassess their mentoring team, adding or subtracting members as needed.

Coursework

Decisions about enrollment in formal coursework are made during the IDP process, and courses are selected to help scholars improve or gain core competencies in areas as identified during the planning stage.  All Scholars are encouraged to take HPA 591: Grant Writing for New Investigators.

Career Development Sessions

CATS Scholars are required to attend monthly Career Development Sessions. Career Development Sessions include both Workshops and Peer Review Activities. CATS Scholars are also required to take training in the Responsible Conduct of Research.

Team Science Initiatives

Team science and collaboration are integrated into the CATS Scholars career development activities both in the Career Development Workshop Series and in formal coursework as appropriate to Scholar needs.

Community Engagement

As appropriate to their research, CATS Scholars are encouraged to consult with the CCTS’s Community Engagement Advisory Board to describe their research and ask for feedback.  Scholars may also enroll in coursework relevant to health disparities and community engagement.

External Enrichment Activities

Scholars are encouraged to engage in outside experiences that are relevant to their proposed research and career development goals. Examples of such opportunities might be taking a short interval in residence at another academic institution in order to learn an advanced technology, or attending a workshop or training program designed to increase skills in leadership or project management. Additional CCTS funds are available to support external enrichment activities.