Young Investigators Research Forum & Sleep Research Program for Advancing Careers

About the Sleep Research Program for Advancing Careers

The Sleep Research Program for Advancing Careers is a research training program designed to support early career sleep and circadian investigators through a structured and mentored grant writing curriculum. At the end of the program, the early career investigators will be expected to have a completed grant application to submit for a federal career development grant such as an NIH K award. This program aims to increase the number of early-career investigators who successfully apply for and secure external sleep research funding.

Program Aims:

• •Support early-career investigators in sleep and circadian science by providing a structured and mentored grant writing curriculum.
• •Increase the number of early-career investigators who successfully secure federal and external funding for career development in sleep research.
• •Provide participants with the tools, resources, and mentorship necessary to complete and submit a competitive career development grant application, such as an NIH K award
• •Foster the professional development of participants by encouraging collaboration with SOAR faculty, site mentors, and peers.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of the Sleep Research Program for Advancing Careers, participants will be able to:

• 1.Develop a complete and competitive career development grant application suitable for submission to federal funding agencies.
• 2.Integrate feedback from SOAR faculty and site mentors to refine the aims, approach, and significance of their grant application.
• 3.Apply best practices in grantsmanship, including crafting compelling specific aims, aligning with funding priorities, and presenting a cohesive research strategy.
• 4.Understand the expectations and mechanisms of federal career development funding opportunities, particularly NIH K awards.

About the Young Investigators Research Forum

The Young Investigators Research Forum is a research training program designed to aid the career development of promising early career investigators in circadian and sleep research by providing opportunities to network with senior sleep investigators, exposure funding agencies and sleep funding mechanisms, refine their research ideas, and guidance to thrive in an academic sleep research career.

The Young Investigators Research Forum will allow early-career investigators to interact with senior investigators and officers from federal and nonprofit funding agencies. The forum includes didactic presentations, leadership workshops, small group sessions covering grantsmanship, a mock grant review, and the mentor-mentee relationship. As active participants, attendees can present their research, provide feedback on each other’s research proposals, and review a grant.

Program Aims:

• •Encourage early career investigators to pursue circadian and sleep research in basic, translational, clinical, or population sleep and circadian science.
• •Disseminate important information necessary to pursue a career in circadian and sleep science.
• •Serve as a guide to obtain grant funding.
• •Provide an opportunity to network and establish research mentorship.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of the Young Investigators Research Forum, trainees will be able to:

• •Understand how to build a successful sleep and circadian research career, foster collaborations, and develop mentorship relationships.
• •Understand the policies and various mechanisms for sleep and circadian research funding.
• •Gain insight into the grant peer review structure and process.
• •Further develop specific aims for a grant proposal.

Continuing Education

Sponsors

Thank you to our Supporting Sponsor ResMed

The AASM Foundation would like to thank the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society Foundation for making a special contribution to support the Young Investigators Research Forum 2025.