Early Career Translational Scientists Gather for Annual ‘K Day’ at UIC
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Early career translational scientists from across the Chicago area convened at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) on Feb. 6 for the annual “K Day” event, a half-day program designed to support the next generation of translational investigators.
Junior faculty and postdoctoral fellows working toward federal career development grants, known as K awards, gathered to gain valuable insights into their professional development. Discussions focused on navigating the mentor-mentee relationship, achieving work-life balance, and prioritizing research pursuits.
The event was sponsored by UIC’s UIC’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, and The Institute for Translational Medicine—part of the National Institutes of Health’s Clinical and Translational Science Award consortium.
“We are very proud to collaborate with our Chicagoland CTSA KL2/K12 scholar hubs to provide community and programming that advance the career development of our junior clinical and translational science scholars,” said CCTS KL2 Director, Shane Philips, PT, PhD. “We have learned that it is important at this critical and formative time in their careers to offer the support that will lead to discoveries for future generations.”
Keynote Speaker Highlights Health Equity in Research
Keynote speaker Dr. Monica Peek, the Ellen H. Block Professor for Health Justice of Medicine and associate director of the Chicago Center for Diabetes Translational Research at the University of Chicago, addressed the crowd on the importance of ensuring health equity in research amid misinformation and “truth decay.”
Reflecting on the keynote, one attendee remarked, “We need to talk about what is going on. We need to solidify our sense of community and not be isolated during times of adversity.”
Established Researchers Share Mentorship Insights
UIC professors Rachel Caskey, Luisa DiPietro, and David DuBois, shared their experiences as mentors, discussing lessons learned from their own early career mentors and the guidance they strive to provide junior faculty.
Current and former K scholars also presented lightning talks on their translational research projects. “It was great to get a sense of the breadth of projects being supported and to hear scholars highlight the most important aspects of their research,” said an attendee.
Participants appreciated the opportunity to engage in an event tailored specifically for postdocs and early-career faculty, fostering connections with like-minded researchers across Chicago.
“It created a sense of community with peers working through common obstacles and achieving common goals,” said a faculty member.
To stay informed about K Day and other professional development opportunities for UIC translational scientists, subscribe to the CCTS newsletter.
K Day is supported, in part, by the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Grant Numbers KL2TR002002, K12TR005104, and KL2TR002387. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.