OHSU Building Up Program
What is Building Up?
Building Up is a year-long, evidence-based, cohort-style program based on the Career Education and Enhancement for Healthcare Research Diversity program developed at the University of Pittsburgh. The NIGMS funded the nationwide Building Up study, which tested and demonstrated the effectiveness of this career development methodology. Visit the national Building Up program website to learn more.
Who is Building Up designed for?
The OHSU Building Up program is designed for postdocs and early career faculty who are underrepresented in health sciences to advance their research careers through rigorous career development in a supportive, inclusive, and peer-led community.
Key program activities
Our goal is to transform the success and retention of diverse postdocs and faculty pursuing health research careers at OHSU through four key program activities:
- Curated skill- and community-building via monthly seminars
- Two-tiered peer mentorship
- Networking across the career spectrum
- Critical grant and manuscript writing resources and support
Some of the activities are exclusive to Building Up Scholars, while others are open to all postdocs and early career faculty interested in health research careers.
Review details about each program component below.
Seminars
Building Up supports Scholars by assembling a robust toolkit of career and interpersonal resources that are critical for success. These resources are disseminated via a monthly training seminar.
- Seminars feature two core topics focused on research skill development and community building.
- Seminars are led by diverse, dynamic, mid- to senior-level OHSU leaders, who will introduce tools that attendees will practice in-session.
- Attendees are provided curated resource lists to further their skill development.
Sample seminar topics include: Wellness and mindfulness, project management, hidden curriculum, finding your voice with leaders, conflict resolution, poster development, biosketches and CVs.
Mentoring
Building Up features a two-tiered mentoring model that includes:
- Culturally-inclusive mentoring workshop at the beginning of your Scholar journey
- Near-peer mentor support for developing a one-year individualized career development plan
Near-peer mentors meet with Scholars and their content mentors at least bi-annually to review progress and assist Scholars with advocating for additional resources to achieve the goals outlined in their plan.
Networking
Building Up Scholars will contribute to an interprofessional network of health science researchers and middle- to senior-level OHSU leaders who are committed to supporting Scholar career development.
To facilitate this, Building Up hosts two annual networking events:
- Kickoff reception in the fall that is co-sponsored by OHSU programs and departments that are committed to diverse postdoc and early career faculty success
- Poster session in the spring, scheduled during OHSU's Research Week, where Scholars will present their research and will be joined by a community of program supporters
Writing
Building Up Scholars will participate in courses, workshops, and learning communities that are focused on manuscript and grant development. The goals are to 1) advance dissemination of Scholar research findings and 2) prepare Scholars for submission of competitive applications for early career grants and awards.
Key activities include: Writing to publish, mock grant review, development and scoring of a specific aims page, project management skills for grant writing, how to select journals, and creating graphics.
How is Building Up unique?
Building Up works synergistically with existing OHSU programs to gather resources and support that are curated specifically to meet the needs of postdocs and early career faculty pursuing health research careers.
Unique features of the OHSU Building Up program include:
- Led by near-peer directors who have recent experiences navigating health research programs
- Open to health researchers across a variety of fields and disciplines
- Pairs skill building with community building
- Collaborates closely with local and national partners
Application details
Building Up is a year-long program (starting Fall 2024 and ending late summer 2025) that requires at least monthly in-person and virtual engagement with the Building Up community. The inaugural cohort of OHSU Building Up will be recruited in Summer and Fall of 2024.
Postdoctoral trainees and junior faculty who are interested in pursuing a careers in health research and who are from underrepresented populations are strongly encouraged to apply. This includes individuals from African American/Black, Hispanic, Native/American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Island populations and individuals with disabilities. Career development awards are not required.
Candidates must have/be:
- A doctoral degree at the time of program start (e.g., MD, PhD, PharmD, DMD, DDS)
- Committed to a career in health research
- Prepared to devote 12 consecutive months to the program
- At least 50% protected research effort for the 12-month period
- In the mentored phase of career development (i.e., not a current or previous recipient of an NIH R01 award)
- A Primary Research Content Mentor (e.g department-assigned mentor) who will meet with you regularly to review and support the plan of study you complete for Building Up. Mentors will not be provided by BU.
If you have any questions about your eligibility, please do not hesitate to contact us.
All potential participants are expected to provide the following three application components:
- One-page personal statement describing your research interests and how the program will benefit your career
- Biosketch
- Letter of support from your mentor (e.g. department-assigned mentor). BU will not match applicants with a mentor.
- Letter of guaranteed protected time. An OHSU institutional leader must submit a letter guaranteeing that at least 50% of your time will be protected for health research activities.
Building Up will begin accepting applications in Spring 2024. If you anticipate a need for accommodations to complete our application or would like to be added to our contact list, please email us at buildingup@ohsu.edu
- Application opens: June 2024
- Application review begins: September 2024
- Rolling acceptance will continue until the cohort is full
- Acceptance letters sent: September 2024
Partners and collaborators
The OHSU Building Up Program works closely with local partners to maximize resources and support for Building Up Scholars and all diverse early career post docs and faculty at OHSU.
OHSU Fellowship for Diversity in Research
Recruits scientists from minoritized races/ethnicities to increase the diversity of the OHSU research community. Visit the website.
Northwest Native American Center of Excellence
Recruits, trains, and retains American Indian/Alaska Native individuals in the health professions. Visit the website.
Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science
Fosters the success of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in attaining advanced degrees and positions of leadership in STEM. Email sacnas@ohsu.edu for more information.
OHSU Mentorship Academy
Accelerates the process of becoming an effective mentor, including culturally aware mentor training. Visit the website.
Gender Equity in Academic Health and Medicine (GEAHM) committee
Addresses issues important to women and gender diverse individuals across OHSU. Visit the website.
Postdoctoral Affairs Office
Supports the career development of all OHSU postdoctoral scholars from arrival to departure. Visit the website.
School of Medicine Early Career Advancement Program
Provides hands-on interactive workshops aimed at helping early career faculty succeed. Visit the website.
Building Up events
October 16, 2024 | 2-5pm
Orientation and first monthly session
During this session the participants will get to know each other and what's to come in the program.
November 13, 2024 | 2-3:30pm
Guest presenter: Brenda Martinez
Topic: Mentoring
The 2024-2025 inaugural cohort is full. Please check back in Spring 2025 to apply for the program next year.
Monthly training seminars
Career development opportunities open to post docs and early career faculty starting Fall 2024 - see the events section at the bottom of the page for details. Events are only for participants unless otherwise specified.
Watch our Town Hall Presentation to learn more about Building Up.
Meet our team
De'Sha Wolf, PhD
Co-Director, Building Up
Cirila Estela Vasquez Guzman, PhD
Co-Director, Building Up
Amy Ciolek
Program Coordinator