Sample research trajectory

The following sample assumes a fellow without prior research experience.

Year 1:

  • Select a mentor and a research project.
  • Begin reading background material to become familiar with the field.
  • Take relevant coursework. Begin learning laboratory techniques.
  • Begin generating data.
  • Towards the middle of this year, the fellow should begin to design their own experiments.

Year 2:

  • Continue acquiring data.
  • By the middle of this year, fellows should begin to design their own research plan.
  • Lay the groundwork for a publication: Identify the data required for a publication, and begin acquiring these data.
  • Write a preliminary outline of the publication.
  • Present preliminary data at a national meeting.

Year 3:

  • Finish gathering data for publication.
  • Submit publication.
  • Begin generating preliminary data for a career development award from the NIH or a private foundation

© 2007-2009 Seattle Children's Hospital, Research & Foundation