Agenda

The Sleep Research Program for Advancing Careers (SOAR) and the Young Investigators Research Forum (YIRF) are joining forces to offer trainees an exciting opportunity to advance their careers in sleep and circadian science. This collaborative event will provide hands-on training in grant review, expert feedback on research ideas, and practical advice for navigating the academic research environment. Trainees will also explore funding opportunities from government and non-profit agencies, with the chance to engage directly with program officials. Additionally, participants will network with peers, faculty, and senior investigators, fostering connections and collaborations to support their professional growth.

The in-person meeting is April 19-21, 2026, at The Westin Michigan Avenue in Chicago, IL.

Location
The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago
909 North Michigan Avenue

Day 1: Sunday, April 19, 2026
Time (CST) YIRF Activity SOAR Activity
12:00 pm Lunch (Optional)
2:00 pm Welcome SOAR Fellows and YIRF Trainees
2:15 pm Speed Networking
3:30 pm Break
3:45 pm Presentation: Fostering Collaborations in Research
Speaker: Kelly Baron, PhD
CME: 0.5		 Full Grant Review: Mock Study Section
Chair: Louise O’Brien, PhD
4:15 pm Presentation: Getting the Most Out of the Mentor/Mentee Relationship
Speaker: Patrick J. Strollo Jr., MD
CME: 0.5
4:45 pm Break
5:00 pm Presentation: Navigating the (Bumpy) Path to Early Career Awards
Speaker: Jessee Dietch, PhD
CME: 0.5		 Full Grant Review: Mock Study Section (continued)
5:30 pm Presentation: Building a Strong Foundation in Sleep Research: Best Practices for Early Career Scientists
Speaker: Christopher Depner, PhD
CME: 0.5
6:00 pm Break
6:30 pm Dinner

Day 2: Monday, April 20, 2026
Time (CST) YIRF Activity SOAR Activity
7:00 am Breakfast
8:00 am Panel: Disseminating and Publishing Your Work
9:00 am Panel/Breakout Groups: Advancing Your Sleep Research Career in a Changing Landscape
10:00 am Break
10:15 am Panel: Sleep Research Funder Representatives
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm Grant Proposal Blitz: Specific Aims
Small Groups
CME: 3.0		 Nurturing Relationships with Statisticians
Speaker: Mayte Suarez-Farinas, PhD
CME: 0.5
Resubmissions
Speaker: M. Safwan Badr, MD, MBA
CME: 0.5
Open Discussion
2:30 pm Break
2:45 pm Grant Proposal Blitz: Specific Aims
Small Groups (continued)		 Meeting and Writing Time with Faculty
4:00 pm Break
5:30 pm Dinner, Activity and Transportation

Day 3: Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Time (CST) YIRF Activity SOAR Activity
7:00 am Breakfast
8:00 am Mock Grant Review Study Sections
CME: 2.75		 Storytelling in Grantwriting
Speaker: Michael Twery, PhD
CME: 0.5
Biosketch and Letters of Support Review Session
Speakers: Maya Elias, PhD, RN & Erik St. Louis, MD
CME: 0.5
Meeting and Writing Time with Faculty
10:45 am Break
11:00 am Presentation: How to Give a Great Talk
Speaker: Philip Cheng, PhD
CME: 0.5
11:30 am Presentation: Negotiating and Renegotiating for an Academic Position
Speaker: Katie Sharkey, MD, PhD
CME: 0.5
12:00 pm Working Lunch
12:10 pm Presentation: Importance of How and When to Say No
Speaker: Sairam Parthasarathy, MD
CME: 0.5
12:40 pm Presentation: Thriving in Academia and as a Whole Person
Speaker: Galit Dunietz, PhD
CME: 0.5
1:10 pm Closing Remarks and Adjourn

Additional Resources & Opportunities

The AASM Foundation has compiled several resources on sleep research funding agencies. You are strongly encouraged to review any resources and pre-recorded webinars for any funding agencies you are interested in before the in-person meeting.

Sleep Research Resources

The SLEEP meeting provides evidence-based education to advance the science and clinical practice of sleep medicine, disseminates cutting-edge sleep and circadian research, promotes the translation of basic science into clinical practice, and fosters the future of the field by providing career development opportunities at all levels. There is simply no other gathering of sleep professionals anywhere of this scale. The conference is attended by thousands of individuals from all around the world, all connected by their interest and/or expertise in sleep medicine. Many of these attendees are pioneering leaders in the field. If you are looking to network, you must attend SLEEP.