Professional Development

Professional Development focuses on inter-institutional and inter-disciplinary programs that promote the development of a workforce to KUH basic, clinical, and translational research. To develop a community of KUH novices, trainees, and investigators who are interested in KUH research and to maintain their interest in KUH for their career, the vision includes a multi-dimensional approach to inspire, motivate, and engage different types of learners

Programs & Development Opportunities

ESTEEM Program

The ESTEEM program is designed to establish the development of mentoring and training skills for the early-stage faculty member and gap year intern. Funds are to be utilized to offset the salary/stipend of a gap year intern. The ESTEEM program includes providing a career coach for the applicant in hiring and mentoring the gap year intern. The gap year intern is defined as a new post-baccalaureate scholar with a desire for a career in graduate or medical school.

Request for Application

Congratulations to the 2025-2026 ESTEEM Faculty

Dr. Bryan K. Becker, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Dr. Carmen De Miguel, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Dr. Flor Alvarado, Tulane University
Dr. Bengard Ogola, Tulane University

Gap Year Internship Application

Ongoing application cycle

Gap Year Internship

Details

Faculty Benefits

Awarded funds for salary support for gap year intern (recent BA/BS/MS graduate)

ESTEEM Application Details

Interested and eligible Instructor or Assistant Professor is required to submit the following documents:

Cover Letter including an explanation of the rationale for applying to the ESTEEM Program
Biosketch
Other Support pages
A letter from the applicant’s department chair or division director confirming their faculty appointment status and start-up funds is required.
ESTEEM Program Strategy provided by the applicant (3-page limit):
- Description of how the applicant will interview and select the gap year intern
- Description of the impact of the ESTEEM gap year intern and the ESTEEM program on the applicant’s research
- Description of project, duties, and training/mentoring plan for the gap year intern
Before activation of the Award, the ESTEEM faculty will be required to submit the gap year intern statement of interest and CV

Timeline

April: Application Due
May: Award Announcement
May – July: Hire gap year | Career Coach Selection
July 1: Earliest funded start date for intern.

ESTEEM Selection Criteria

Review Criteria: The ESTEEM Program Advisory Committee members will review applications. The criteria focus on the applicant’s research potential, mentoring plan, and potential training for the ESTEEM intern.

KUH-GRIT Program

Competitive, five-month virtual research training institute for KUH early career investigators. KUH-GRIT aims to ensure that early career KUH investigators are well-trained in the design and conduct of clinical and translational research that promotes rigorous and reproducible KUH research. This program will engage the cohorts through a mentored approach to design, develop, and submit a career grant application.

Congratulations to our Fall 2025 KUH-GRIT Class

Dr. Abdelrhman Mohammed, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Dr. Catheryn A. Orihuela, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Dr. Elad Reznick, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Announcements and Details

Fall 2025 Program Details – Hybrid:

Thursdays, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM CT

Start: September 3, 2025
End: December 18th
In-person Gathering – Annual Symposium – January 2025.

GRIT 2024 Syllabus

Career Development Initiative

Career Coaches will facilitate career enrichment, including addressing career-focused needs, promoting self-efficacy, and providing insightful career support on career path options, such as academic/industry/government scientist, scientific publications/writing, science policy, etc.

Participant Eligibility

TL1 Pre and Post-Doctoral Awardees
ESTEEM and GRIT Faculty
ESTEEM Interns
KUHmmunity Members

Learn More

iSMART

Currently, in collaboration with the Cardio-Renal Physiology and Medicine Section at UAB, iSMART is an inter-institutional and inter-disciplinary Scientific Mentoring And Research Training (iSMART) program that includes study design workshops, scientific writing effectiveness, as well as manuscript and grant peer review. The iSMART program facilitates inter-disciplinary KUH training to the full extent with scholars, especially trainees, from all institutions and disciplines engaged and participating.

Learn More

Near Peer Mentoring Academy

The Near Peer Mentoring Academy, in collaboration with UAB Kidney Pipeline Programs and the KUH Symposium, trains pre- and postdoctoral scholars to mentor those nearest to their level of training. Topical sessions will be held in person during the spring, in collaboration with the summer R25 programs, and in January, in conjunction with the KUH Symposium.

Annual Symposium Mentoring Topics:
Managing Self-Efficacy in Mentoring
Case Studies in Mentoring (faculty level)

Managing Conflict in and between labs