NEW COMPLIMENTARY COURSE
FOR AUA MEMBERS! 

The AUA’s new online course, titled “Establishing Your Independent Urologic Research Lab," is a practical course for anyone who is just starting their career as an independent researcher. The course includes four modules with over two hours of content that provide guidance for negotiating a start-up package, mentorship, planning for tenure, lab management, and technology transfer.

​​​​​​Course Director: Dolores J. Lamb, Ph.D., HCLD (ABB)
Course Faculty: Li Xin, PhD and Margot S. Damaser, PhD

MODULE 1: NEGOTIATING YOUR START-UP PACKAGE

This module seeks to prepare new independent investigators to most effectively negotiate their first faculty start-up package (including personal salary, lab, clinic and office space, protected time, teaching, technical and/or clinical support) and then undertake the key activities necessary to get their laboratory up and running as quickly as possible. By the end of the module, you will have learned how to identify the best institution for the start of your faculty career and the important criteria that define the elements of a new faculty start-up package. This module also covers interpreting an offer letter and identifying the negotiable elements of the start-up package. Other topics include: managing two career families, handling multiple offers, efficient hiring, purchasing instrumentation, and other helpful tips.  This module is useful for physician-scientists and post-doctoral fellows prior to beginning their job searches and may prove helpful for faculty considering a move to another institution.

MODULE 2: GETTING ESTABLISHED AS A NEW PI

This module addresses the challenges that new investigators face when starting their independent laboratories: what they will need to open and operate new independent laboratories, how to identify good mentors and build long-term relationships, what kind of skills they will need for the long course of their career development, and how to construct a plan for promotions and tenure. This module would be useful for laboratory-based investigators in the biomedical research field who just start their independent career.

MODULE 3: LAB MANAGEMENT

This module lays out the principles of good laboratory management practice, dividing them into the categories of leadership and management of projects, time, personnel, budgets, and science. Each of these categories require their own process of planning and goal setting. An emphasis is given to setting SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, and Timed for short, medium and long term goals. Common mistakes of young investigators are considered and advice to address these common mistakes is provided. This module would be useful for both clinical and laboratory-based investigators in any topic or field who are establishing a new research laboratory or are interested in gaining tips for efficient organization and leadership of their laboratory.

MODULE 4: TRANSLATING RESEARCH FOR CLINICAL IMPACT

This module address the development of intellectual property in a research laboratory: what it is, how to both protect it, and how to develop collaborations with companies to translate your ideas to clinical practice. It covers the topics of who should translate the research and what it takes to develop technology for translation. It addresses how to work with your academic institution if you believe you have intellectual property that should be protected. This module is appropriate for both clinical and laboratory-based investigators in any topic or field who believe they have developed intellectual property worth protecting or those who are interested in translational research to benefit patients.

Registration Fees