2020 CTSI K Scholars reflect on the impactful experience

The University at Buffalo Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) K Scholar Program provides research mentoring, funding, and career and professional development to outstanding junior faculty and senior fellows transitioning to independent faculty positions. The 2022 cohort of scholars recently began its work in the program, and the members of the 2020 cohort are now reflecting on their memorable and impactful experiences as K Scholars.

“It is highly rewarding to learn from the 2020 CTSI K Scholars’ reflections that the mentoring and career and professional development programs offered by our team have had such a profound impact on the futures of these junior scientists as they move to independent careers,” says CTSI K Scholar Program Principal Investigator/Lead and CTSI Workforce Development Core Director Margarita L. Dubocovich, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “It adds energy and new input to apply to the training of our 2022 cohort of K Scholars.”

Here, the six members of the 2020 cohort, which includes faculty from UB and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, discuss their time as K Scholars and why the program is so beneficial to researchers. Visit the CTSI website to learn more about Mentored Career Development Awards, as well as members of the CTSI K Scholar Program leadership team, steering committee, and mentor pool.

Remi M. Adelaiye-Ogala, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo

Career impact: “The CTSI K Scholar Program has made quite an impact on my career trajectory. I joined the University of Buffalo in January last year as junior faculty, and very shortly after, I became a CTSI K Scholar. The program provided me with a platform and additional tools tailored to my career development, a well-defined research program, and a path to independence. As an alumna and through guided mentorship, I have achieved that path to independence, received awards, and lots more. As a new CTSI K Scholar Program Leadership Team member, I hope to provide the same support and mentorship to current and future K Scholars.”

Benefits of the program for researchers: “The CTSI K Scholar Program is unique, as it allows scholars to push the frontier in pre-clinical, clinical, and translational-based research. The core competency workshops — specifically in areas of cultural diversity and community engagement, to mention a few — are not typical courses or workshops we take in graduate school but are integral in today’s research. We are in an era in which diversity and community engagement in clinical and translational research are imperative. Workshops such as these are tools to prepare scientists and physician-scientists to identify and improve diversity in their studies.”

Shipra Gandhi, MD
Assistant Professor of Oncology, Breast and Early Phase Clinical Trials, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Career impact: “The CTSI K Scholar Program afforded me the protected time to focus my research efforts on studying breast tumor microenvironment, under a strong mentorship team. I also got the opportunity to attend some biostatistics, bioinformatics, and cancer epidemiology courses during this time, which helped me perform hands-on data analysis on my projects. There were several workshops, such as grant writing and scientific communication, which were comprehensive and well-designed for junior faculty to help them prepare competitive applications. The mentorship from my own committee, as well as from mentors in the K Scholar program, was extremely valuable.”

Benefits of the program for researchers: “The program organizes several seminars in which leaders in their fields present their research and have one-to-one interaction with K Scholars, providing them valuable career advice. The program faculty is fully dedicated towards advancing the career development of the scholars, helping them in their professional growth in any way they can. Regular biweekly meetings ensure very close interaction to get feedback on projects and troubleshoot any concerns that may arise. Regular presentation of our research projects progress during meetings helped us get useful feedback to improve the project as well as many new ideas for future projects and grants. Overall, the UB CTSI K Scholar Program has been instrumental in my career development, and I highly recommend junior faculty at UB to apply for it.”

Kathleen Kokolus, PhD
Research Assistant Professor of Oncology, Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Career impact: “My participation in the CTSI K Scholar Program has benefited my career in several ways. Most importantly, it has given me the financial support to collect data to help secure independent funding in the future. In addition, the program has introduced me to other researchers, physicians, and core directors who will continue to provide valuable support and advice through the next stages of my career.”   

Benefits of the program for researchers: “The K Scholar program is unique in its focus on the skills necessary for early-stage translational scientists to transition into independent researchers. Concentrating on topics integral to this transitional period in an early-stage investigator’s career, such as grant writing, team science, and mentoring, distinguishes the program from others.” 

Hyuk-Jae Edward Kwon, DDS, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo

Career impact: “In the beginning, starting off as a junior faculty and an independent scientist felt quite daunting. Through the CTSI K Scholar Program, I gained professional development training and experiences from independently executing my research program. Knowing that the K Scholar program leadership had my back and having a reliable mentor who I could seek advice from along the way was very reassuring. Overall, the biggest impact from the program was gaining confidence for further pursuing my academic career.” 

Benefits of the program for researchers: “I feel that the relationships that I developed with the leadership, as well as with peer K Scholars, was very special. The leadership has extensively devoted time and effort to regularly meet with the scholars to provide training, mentorship, and professional advice. They cared about our development and success. I was also able to grow and learn by interacting with my fellow K Scholars.”

Qian Liu, PhD
Assistant Professor of Oncology, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Career impact: “I’m very inspired by the CTSI leadership and cohort of colleagues who demonstrated, as established and growing investigators, their career development path and plans for grant applications, mentoring students and building unique knowledge set towards academic independence.”

Benefits of the program for researchers: “The CTSI K Scholar Program gathers clinical and translational scientists and provides interdisciplinary training opportunities which foster collaboration and translational medicine.”

Jason A. Sprowl, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo

Career impact: “There were excellent training programs highlighted and made available through the CTSI K Scholar Program. Additionally, discussing our research efforts with established colleagues in the field enabled improved clarity in preparing funding opportunities and, as a result, increased success in achieving funding. This enabled a seamless transition to an independent research program.”

Benefits of the program for researchers: “The program promotes the gathering of individuals with a common goal to improve clinical and translational research. This provides an opportunity to share ideas and approaches, as well as establish connections with individuals at various stages of their careers who can offer advice and feedback.”