15th Annual Grant Writing Workshop
Saturday, March 31, 2012, 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Palmer House Hilton, Adams Room
This intensive half-day workshop features keynote presentations, a mock study section, and ample time for roundtable discussions with senior scientists. Topics to be covered include funding opportunities and eligibility, developing effective specific aims, understanding differences between grant applications over the career trajectory (fellowship, transitional and investigator), essential components of candidate statements and training programs, and the grant scoring and review process. This session is aimed towards Associate Members and nonmember graduate students, medical students and residents, and clinical and postdoctoral fellows with limited or no experience preparing grant applications. Lunch will be provided. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged; there is a $25 registration fee for AACR members, and a $75 registration fee for nonmembers.
Monday, April 2, 2012, 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., McCormick Place, W179
Four selected speakers will each present 30-minute platform presentations. This special symposium has been developed in conjunction with the leaders of the AACR to highlight outstanding early-career scientists in cancer research whose work reflects innovation, scientific independence, motivation and creativity.
The Next Frontier: Setting Up Your First Laboratory
Sunday, April 1, 2012, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., Hilton Chicago, International Ballroom North
This session is intended for early-career scientists planning to establish their first independent academic laboratory. Keynote presentations by renowned faculty will highlight the nuances of establishing and running a successful laboratory as a first-time faculty member, from the initial steps of negotiating a start-up package, to practical considerations for basic and translational research scientists regarding building lab groups, day-to-day management and supervising others. Time will also be available for attendees to pose questions to the speakers.
The Career Development Plan: Taking Charge of Your Career
Monday, April 2, 2012, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Hyatt Regency McCormick, CC 12 ABCD
This session will feature keynote presentations and roundtable discussions highlighting the career development plan (also known as an individual development plan or IDP). Attendees will learn what a career development plan is and why it is essential for one’s career. Attendees will also learn when to plan and design an effective career development plan, how to implement and utilize it to advance one’s career and how to determine when it needs to be revised.
Academia, Industry, Government: Which is the Right Path for Me?
Tuesday, April 3, 2012, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Hyatt Regency McCormick, Regency Ballroom AB
This session is intended for early-career scientists who want to know more about cancer career paths in academia, industry and government. The session is designed to help participants compare and contrast the research environments, responsibilities and metrics of success between academia, industry and government. The speakers will also discuss the pros and cons of each sector and transitioning between these sectors. The session will include two lectures followed by a panel discussion for further insight and will also include additional time for questions from participants.
Securing the Future of Cancer Research Funding: The Essential Role of Early-Career Scientists in Advocacy
Tuesday, April 3, 2012, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Hyatt Regency McCormick, CC 12 CD
This session will highlight the role that early-career scientists play in securing the future of cancer research funding. With cuts to cancer research funding on the table in Washington, D.C., it is more crucial than ever for scientists to be aware of and engaged in what happens in our nation’s capital and how this directly impacts their future research careers. The session will feature keynote lectures from leaders in government affairs, patient advocates and early-career scientists who will define what advocacy is, how early-career scientists can become involved, and demonstrate how these activities can directly impact cancer research. Early-career scientists who have participated in advocacy activities will present how and why they became involved and showcase how associate members can be effective advocates while still pursuing their research careers. This session will provide associate members with information about why it is critically important for scientists to begin a life-long engagement in science policy and advocacy activities early in their career, as well as how to become an effective advocate.
Located in AACRcentral on the exhibit floor, all early-career scientists are invited to take advantage of this space to network, meet with friends and enjoy special programming and resources.