Seeking Faculty Director for MICHR Training and Education for Principal Investigators

The Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR), the NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA ‘UM1’) of the University of Michigan (funded 2023-2030), is seeking a Faculty Director for its programs focused on training and education for principal investigators (PIs). This posting is a companion posting to the recent call for a Faculty Director for MICHR Clinical Research Staff Professional Training and Education. Whereas the companion posting focuses on Clinical Research Staff Professionals, defined by NIH as ‘research nurses, pharmacists, administrators, coordinators, consultants, data managers, quality assurance managers, regulatory affairs managers, and/or educators in clinical trial management, the current posting focuses on the PI. Training and education of the PI extends across all career stages in the pipeline towards becoming the PI of a study (e.g., students, post-docs, house officers, faculty, and, in some cases, physicians in clinical practice). Whereas the focus of education and training for Clinical Research Staff Professionals is study execution, the focus of education and training for PIs is on study design, grantsmanship, leadership of a program of research, regulatory compliance duties of PIs, effective dissemination of study findings, and mentoring other learners on a career path towards becoming a PI.

In addition to the UM1, MICHR hosts the  K12, T32 predoc, T32 postdoc, and R25 summer training program. These programs train individuals in the pipeline towards becoming a PI and generally require at least 75-80% dedicated effort of participants for months and sometimes years. These programs each have their own Faculty Directors. In contrast to these programs, the Faculty Director for MICHR Training and Education for Principal Investigators is responsible for all other training and education opportunities for PIs, which can vary broadly in design but are shorter-term and do not require as much dedicated effort from participants. MICHR’s Associate Director for Education oversees the NIH-required scientific and administrative coordination, integration, and synergy between the UM1, K12, T32s, and R25. As such, the Faculty Director for Training and Education of Principal Investigators (like the Directors of the K12, T32s, and R25) reports to the MICHR Associate Director for Education. This faculty role partners with a highly functioning and experienced staff team with substantial expertise in educational theory and practice.

MICHR advances translational science. Translational science is the field that generates scientific and operational innovations that overcome longstanding challenges along the translational research pipeline. The ultimate goal of translational science is for health solutions to reach all people more quickly. Education and Training is one of the seven required modules of the CTSA funding mechanism; education and training, however, extends across all seven modules. NIH CTSA funding must be used to develop, test, and disseminate innovations in education and training. Examples include innovative seminars, workshops, e-learning courses, and experiential opportunities; innovative interactive online educational platforms; and novel outreach programs. Consultative support to other CTSA modules’ educational efforts is also expected. Examples of major initiatives and accomplishments of MICHR’s training and education efforts related to PIs over the last 15 years include: development of the DIAMOND portal, development and impact evaluation of a mentoring award, development of practice-oriented research training (PORT), K writing workshop, and development of a robust online training portfolio. The Faculty Director will work closely with MICHR staff experts and other key stakeholders to assume oversight of several initiatives currently underway, which include faculty training programs in designing and executing clinical trials, as well as faculty orientation to clinical research. This new director may request resource allocation from the MICHR executive leadership for additional innovative initiatives that advance translational science and directly align with the Clinical and Translational Science Award.

Key deliverables include: (1) developing and testing education innovations; (2) disseminating these innovations in the form of peer-reviewed manuscripts and presentations at national meetings; (3) actively participating in the national CTSA consortium and its committees and workgroups, assuming leadership roles where appropriate; (4) representing MICHR at the Association for Clinical and Translational Science; (5) representing the UM1 Workforce Development program in meetings with the NIH Program Officer, MICHR’s External, Internal, and Community Advisory Boards, and university leaders (e.g., chairs, deans); (6) staying abreast of roadblocks in translation, particularly related to education and training, to inform programmatic priorities and novel initiatives; (7) synthesizing broad stakeholder input and collaborating with units across the university to leverage strengths and prevent duplication; (8) leveraging strengths and preventing duplication at the national level by fostering partnerships with other CTSA hubs to build and test innovations. These stakeholders include: faculty principal investigators within Michigan Medicine and across the university’s schools and colleges and three campuses; key collaborating units such as the Human Research Protection Program and the Clinical Trials Support Office; the faculty and staff in the other MICHR programs and training grants; and other institutions around the state.

This role will receive 10% effort coverage by MICHR (up to the NIH cap) with an appointment as Faculty on the NIH UM1. The individual must be at the rank of Associate Professor or above on any track at the University of Michigan, have a proven track record of extramurally-funded clinical and translational research; have strong leadership skills and a track record of conducting clinical trials; and have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and successfully collaborate with stakeholders and team members. Preferred qualifications include experience in workforce development and training within a research environment, as well as knowledge of current trends and challenges in clinical research and trial workforce development.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter detailing their experience and vision for MICHR’s Training and Education for Principal Investigators and a CV by 11/1/25 to Vicki Ellingrod, PharmD, Associate Director for Education at MICHR at [email protected]. Additionally, questions regarding this position can be directed to Dr. Ellingrod.