Program Milestones

While recognizing that each KL2 scholar has an individualized program and timeline, Mayo Clinic Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCaTS) tracks specific program milestones.

After acceptance to the KL2 Mentored Career Development Program, an orientation is scheduled in the spring with incoming scholars, their mentors and program leadership to provide information regarding milestones, requirements, timelines and expectations.

Milestone 1: Annual National Institutes of Health (NIH) progress report and internal progress report

NIH progress report

This report is required by the NIH. Scholars and their mentors complete this form annually, and CCaTS submits it to the NIH.

Internal progress report

This report is required by CCaTS. CCaTS provides scholars with templates in the first year. For the remainder of the award years, scholars are sent their previous year's reports to add their achievements and progress.

CCaTS provides scholars with the NIH progress report and the internal progress report templates in early February, and the completed reports are due to the KL2 Education Coordinator by March 15.

Milestone 2: Annual review with CCaTS Education Resources

In the first year, each KL2 scholar meets with the CCaTS KL2 Leadership Committee to discuss program progress and goals for the next year, including publications and grant applications. This meeting takes place in the spring. Mentors are encouraged to attend.

Milestone 3: Didactics

The following courses are required to ensure each scholar leaves the KL2 Program with a set of core competencies. However, prior completions of the required courses are accepted.

Course Credits
CORE 6000: Responsible Conduct of Research 1
CTSC 5080: Introduction to Health Disparities 1
CTSC 5100: Academic Publishing 1
CTSC 5110: Grant Writing in the Sciences 1
CTSC 5300: Fundamentals of Clinical Epidemiology 1
CTSC 5600: Introduction to Statistics in Clinical and Translational Research 3
CTSC 6170: The Science of Team Science: Strategies for Success 1
Total 9

Milestone 4: Meetings, workshops and presentations

Meetings

  • KL2 Scholar Touchpoint and Reflection Space (K-STaRS)
  • Research Career Development Forum. These are typically held on a monthly basis.
  • Translational Science Meeting. The Association for Clinical and Translational Science holds an annual Translational Science meeting in Washington, D.C. KL2 scholars are required to attend this meeting at least once during the program. Additionally, scholars are required to submit an abstract in advance and attend the mock study section at the meeting. KL2 scholars receive a limited amount of travel funding that may be used to cover the expenses associated with attending this event. Early registration is encouraged, as the mock study section fills quickly.
  • Other specialty meetings. These are identified by the KL2 leadership or the scholars' mentors.

Workshops

  • Social Media and Science workshop
  • Sex as a Biological Variable workshop

Presentations

  • K-STaRS: End of grant year 1. During the first year of the appointment, new KL2 scholars present their progress to the current KL2 scholars.
  • CCaTS Scientific Review Committee: Middle of grant year 2. During the second year of the appointment, KL2 scholars present their progress to CCaTS Scientific Review Committee members. Mentors are encouraged to attend.
  • Grand Rounds: End of grant year 3. During the final year in the KL2 Program, scholars present their research findings to date at a Grand Rounds or similar venue in their research areas.

Milestone 5: Grant application submission

One marker of success in the KL2 Program is the ability to obtain extramural grant funding to support the scholar's research career.

The CCaTS KL2 Program requires that each KL2 scholar prepare and submit a grant application to a peer-reviewed funding source by the end of year two of the KL2 Program. Grant applications to intramural funding opportunities also are encouraged during this time.

Milestone 6: Outcomes reporting

At the end of the grant period, each KL2 scholar completes an exit survey, mentorship survey and participates in an exit interview.

Upon completion of the KL2 Program, scholars submit NIH biosketches that document their publications, grant support, academic rank and other scholarly activities.

CCaTS requests that scholars respond to an annual tracking survey and provide an up-to-date curriculum vitae and a general update about professional achievements on a regular basis.

Contact

The CCaTS Education Contacts page contains a listing of team members who can assist you with questions.