scholarly journals Mentored postdoctoral training in Zimbabwe: A report on a successful collaborative effort

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Danai T. Zhou ◽  
Charles C. Maponga ◽  
Munyaradzi Madhombiro ◽  
Admire Dube ◽  
Runyararo Mano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
Research Output ◽  
Research Training ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Postdoctoral Training ◽  
Grant Applications ◽  
Research Training Program ◽  
Hiv Research ◽  
The University

Low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) have high disease burdens, necessitating increased research. However, LMIC research output constitutes only 2% of global total. To increase output, researchers must be capacitated. The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and the University at Buffalo (UB), developed and implemented the AIDS International Research Training Program (AITRP), in 2008, that focused on graduate scholars. The subsequent HIV Research Training Program (HRTP), begun in 2016, and piloted post-doctoral training to enhance research productivity at UZ. This report discusses the collaboration. As of 2016, prospective candidates applied by submitting letters of intent, research proposals, curriculum vitae and biographical sketches. The scholars research training included hypothesis and project development, completion of grant applications, research project budgets, research presentations to diverse audiences and the application of advanced statistics to research data. The first cohort of five postdoctoral scholars were trained at UZ and UB, between 2016 and 2019. Through the formalized postdoctoral training approach, scholars identified areas of focus. In 2017, one of the scholars obtained a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Emerging Global Leader Award and is now a highly-rated researcher based in South Africa. A second scholar made NIH D43 and K43 grant applications, while the remaining three are academicians and early researchers at UZ. Although research output in Africa and many LMICs is low, it can be built through cooperation similar to the UZ-UB HRTP. This manuscript reports on an effort aimed at building individual and institutional research capacity in Zimbabwe. This can serve as a model for building other similar training programs.

Factors influencing attrition from a researcher training program

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Schmidt ◽  
Keira Robinson ◽  
Emma Webster
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Research Training ◽  
Critical Time ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Attrition Rate ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Training Program ◽  
Building Program

Purpose – This study explored attrition from a novice health researcher training program. The aim of this paper was to identify factors contributing to attrition from the RRCBP that if understood could decrease attrition from this standalone researcher training program. Design/methodology/approach – Using a capacity building framework, this case-control study compared demographic characteristics and features of 30 withdrawn research trainees to 68 graduated trainees from the Rural Research Capacity Building Program, run by the Health Education and Training Institute of New South Wales, Australia between 2006 and 2010. Data were analysed using Exact Logistic Regression, Chi-square and Fisher's Exact tests. Findings – An attrition rate of 29 per cent was associated with a range of individual, organisational and supra-organisational factors. Withdrawals occurred prior to ethics submission (n=13, 43 per cent), after unsuccessful ethics submission (n=8, 27 per cent), or after receiving ethics approval (n=9, 30 per cent). Clinicians were less likely to withdraw than non-clinical staff (p=0.03). Profession, project ownership, funding sources and type of research were not significant factors in attrition, while the effect of location was mixed indicating a potential impact of peer support networks in areas with high numbers of trainees. Practical implications – This research demonstrates attrition from a research training program is associated with trainees receiving appropriate and timely support. In the formative stages researchers require support, particularly those working in professional or geographical isolation. Originality/value – This study is the first of its kind in examining in detail reasons for withdrawal from a standalone research training program and will allow coordinators of similar programs to target support to vulnerable research trainees at critical time points.

scholarly journals Process Evaluation of a Retreat for Scholars in the First Cohort: The NIH Mixed Methods Research Training Program for the Health Sciences

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy C. Guetterman ◽  
John W. Creswell ◽  
Charles Deutsch ◽  
Joseph J. Gallo
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Process Evaluation ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Research Training ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
National Institutes Of Health ◽  
Grant Applications ◽  
Research Training Program

The Mixed Methods Research Training Program for the Health Sciences aims to enlarge the national pool of trained investigators in mixed methods and improve the quality of grant applications to the National Institutes of Health. Selected scholars are assigned a consulting team, participate in webinars, and attend an annual “retreat” focused on learning mixed methods through application to their research. Our article summarizes the process evaluation of the retreat. Scholars identified strengths in small interactive groups to discuss individual projects and the opportunity to apply learning. Scholars wanted further opportunity to discuss individual projects, understanding interventions and mixed methods, and finding collaborators. Our findings will be useful to leaders developing workshops or similar programs at the faculty level.

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