Modern Missionary

Scientists must develop skills like NIH grant writing to have a successful career

Science is the key to a healthy economy. It underlies most of our progress over the last 100 years. It has led to inventions including the telephone, the computer, the internet, hybrid automobiles, lithium batteries, and many others too numerous to count. The world needs more scientists to help us face some critical challenges. Yet young scientists face incredible hurdles if they want to pursue a career in science. They must learn how to market their science, how to write great grant proposals, how to give great talks, and how to do the business of science. Just the one challenge of attempting to write their fist grant is enough to stop many investigators. In particular, NIH grant writing is a huge challenge for those trying to get a career started in the biomedical sciences. Though few and far between, there are resources starting to crop up to help people with careers in science. Many graduate schools don’t really prepare people for the other things that it takes for a successful scientific career, which is quite unfortunate. It is hopeful that the technologies of the internet will provide new avenues and learning opportunities for these kinds of skills.

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