Recommendations
CBCRP should continue to offer postdoctoral fellows:
- Generous feedback from the review process
- Personal interaction between postdoctoral fellowship applicants/awardees and research administrators
- Opportunities to interact with advocates (at the Symposium)
- Financial support for travel to meetings
CBCRP should:
Focus outreach in areas that are under-represented in the postdoctoral fellowship portfolio
CBCRP staff regularly attend and staff booths at scientific meetings as a way to promote CBCRP. Additionally, research administrators employ various outreach strategies to get the word out about CBCRP funding opportunities. However, data from this study indicate that outreach efforts may need to be targeted in order to diversify the portfolio.
Investigate the costs and benefits associated with increasing the amount of money awarded and length of grant for postdoctoral fellowships
Since 1995, CBCRP has raised the total postdoctoral award amount from $70,000 in the first five funding cycles to $80,000 in funding cycles VI-VIII. For cycle IX, CBCRP should consider raising the amount of money available to postdoctoral scholars as well as changing the length of the award from two years to three. Additional research will be conducted to identify the costs and benefits for both the CBCRP and postdoctoral scholars associated with raising the amount and length of the award.
Consider different award types that might complement postdoctoral awards
Consider creating a supplemental award for postdocs working collaboratively with communities. One respondent suggested giving at least $5000 per community group, per year.
Investigate creating a MD/PhD award.
Provide training for postdoctoral fellows
Offer specific grant writing/grant application workshop for postdocs (at Symposium).
Work with postdocs to obtain additional CBCRP funding, especially new investigator awards.
Consider working with a breast cancer funder in another state to offer postdoctoral fellows the opportunity to sit in on grant review panels.
Conduct an evaluation of the postdoctoral fellowship award program approximately every 4-5 years
An evaluation of the postdoctoral program every 4-5 years would allow CBCRP the opportunity to monitor the impact of the program more closely. In 4-5 years time, CBCRP funds enough postdoctoral scholars to survey and there is enough time to assess whether or not scholars have been able to gain career development from their CBCRPfunded postdoc. Additionally, CBCRP would also have the opportunity to assess whether changes made to the program and recommendations adopted have been successful.
