Director's Note
NIDDK has a profound responsibility and opportunity to prepare our country and workforce for the future of science and medicine. Our dedication to supporting the next generation of biomedical researchers is a cross-cutting theme of the NIDDK Strategic Plan for Research, as well as within this Fall edition, in which we highlight the work and people of NIDDK’s training and professional development programs.
NIDDK offers research training and career development opportunities at every level. At the high school and undergraduate stage, NIDDK has summer and short-term programs available for young minds to spark and fuel an interest in research and scientific careers. In this issue, we learn how one of our longstanding training programs, STEP-UP, helps pave the way for participants as they progress on their academic and career journeys. We highlight the success stories of three STEP-UP alumni who, along with other high school and undergraduate aspiring scientists from around the U.S. and Pacific territories, recently gathered at NIH to share their research and attend professional development workshops.
At NIDDK, we understand that trainees and early career scientists can face several challenging transition points during their training and career development. For example, after undergraduate education, many students do not know their next steps, how to navigate them, or where to gain real-world experience to solidify their interests. Among the postbaccalaureate and postdoctoral opportunities across NIH aimed to help ease this transition, NIDDK recently established a special Distinguished Postbaccalaureate Scholars Program to support not only our commitment to training, but also to NIDDK’s inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and civility efforts.
Another important transition point occurs for new early- and mid-career investigators as they embark on or try to sustain their new research careers. NIDDK continues to hold workshops for its career development awardees and new principal investigators and emphasizes support through special funding consideration for talented new and early-stage investigators. This issue highlights some of those investigators, who showcased their research in recent symposiums organized by NIDDK at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions and ENDO 2024.
In this issue, we also get to know NIDDK’s Chief of the Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry Dr. Carole Bewley, and a postdoctoral fellow whom she mentors, Dr. Tori Klein. We are reminded that, to inspire the next generation, we must cultivate an environment where curiosity thrives, resilience is nurtured, and creativity is encouraged. And we reaffirm our commitment to creating opportunities for young people to gain hands-on experience, tackle real-world problems, and engage with seasoned experts who can offer guidance and inspiration.
Our collaborative learning environments and dedicated mentorship aim to instill not only technical proficiency, but also creative thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for groundbreaking work. In doing so, we can help shape a future where innovation is boundless, and each new discovery reflects the vision and determination of those who work tirelessly to achieve it.
In good health,
Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D., M.A.C.P.
Director, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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