KL2 scholars' perceptions of factors contributing to sustained translational science career success

Abstract

Introduction: Identifying the most effective ways to support career development of early stage investigators in clinical and translational science should yield benefits for the biomedical research community. Institutions with Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) offer KL2 programs to facilitate career development; however, the sustained impact has not been widely assessed.

Methods: A survey comprised of quantitative and qualitative questions was sent to 2144 individuals that had previously received support through CTSA KL2 mechanisms. The 547 responses were analyzed with identifying information redacted.

Results: Respondents held MD (47%), PhD (36%), and MD/PhD (13%) degrees. After KL2 support was completed, physicians' time was divided 50% to research and 30% to patient care, whereas PhD respondents devoted 70% time to research. Funded research effort averaged 60% for the cohort. Respondents were satisfied with their career progression. More than 95% thought their current job was meaningful. Two-thirds felt confident or very confident in their ability to sustain a career in clinical and translational research. Factors cited as contributing to career success included protected time, mentoring, and collaborations.

Conclusion: This first large systematic survey of KL2 alumni provides valuable insight into the group's perceptions of the program and outcome information. Former scholars are largely satisfied with their career choice and direction, national recognition of their expertise, and impact of their work. Importantly, they identified training activities that contributed to success. Our results and future analysis of the survey data should inform the framework for developing platforms to launch sustaining careers of translational scientists.

Keywords: Career development; career satisfaction; career success; translational science; work impact.

Fig. 1.

Grants applied for and awarded at 1–12 years after KL2 training. Based on data from 489 Scholars. A: N = 543 with a missing N = 4 (Yes= 454, No=89). B: N = 542, missing N = 5 (Yes= 443, No= 99). Results are presented as the percent of individuals that applied for and did not receive (purple), received (green), or did not apply for (gray) different types of grants by category. The number of respondents is indicated on top of the bars. Abbreviations: Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Mentored Career Development Award (KL2), National Institute of Health (NIH), Principal Investigator (PI), Multi-Principal Investigator (MPI), Research Grant (R), Career Development Awards (K).

Fig. 2.

Opportunities available for career development. Opportunities were scored as being available and utilized (purple), available and not utilized (green) or not available (gray). Results are reported as the percent of total responses to each opportunity. Abbreviations: Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Mentored Career Development Award (KL2), Career Development Awards (K).

Fig. 3.

KL2 program features contributions to career success. The data are presented as the percent that felt the area contributed a large extent (purple), much (turquoise), somewhat (gray), little (green), or not at all (red). The number of responses for each area is indicated by N. Abbreviations: Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Mentored Career Development Award (KL2), Career Development Awards (K).

Fig. 4.

Factors that contributed to KL2 scholar success. The results are presented as the percent of respondents that perceived each area as contributing a large extent (purple), much (turquoise), somewhat (gray), little (green), or not at all (red) to their career progression and success. The number of responses for each area is indicated by N. Abbreviations: Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA).