Training & CER Workshops

Research Training Finder

All investigators funded by an externally sponsored project must complete grants management training (as explained here). A search tool has been developed for USC faculty, PIs, postdocs, students, research staff and lab technicians: This Research Training Finder tool is a comprehensive matrix for training courses that are required and suggested for University research compliance.

Spring 2020 CER Schedule

Guide:
↔ Collaboration
$ Funding and Grant Writing
✪ Professional Development
✎ Research Resources and Methods

Each semester, the Center for Excellence in Research organizes workshops for USC researchers. These courses are designed to provide faculty and postdocs across all fields of study with specialized skills and knowledge in seeking funding from government, foundation, and corporate organizations as well as a variety of other topics.

Do you have an idea for a CER workshop? We’d love to hear from you!

Lunch will be provided for those who register, and an assistive listening device is available upon request. For more information, contact us at usccer@usc.edu.

$ Securing Corporate Funding for Your Research — February 19, 12:00-2:00PM at UPC
In 2016, businesses provided $4.2 billion in academic research funding, largely directed toward life sciences and engineering. Michael Arciero will discuss the commercialization process and how the USC Stevens Center for Innovation can help you find a partner, negotiate a license, and market your product.

$ Obtaining Funding from Foundations — February 25, 12:30-2:30PM at UPC
There are thousands of charitable foundations around the world looking to fund research — the challenge is finding the right one for you. Learn from Hossein Pourmand how you can build a meaningful relationship with a foundation and the process, as well as resources available at USC to help you along the way.

USC Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Week (March 2-6)

✎ Ensuring Participant-Centered Research: Addressing Power and Positionality in Social Behavioral Research — March 3, 12:30-2:30PM at UPC
As researchers, we often don’t give attention to the way our race/ethnicity, language, socio economic status, gender, and other factors play out in our interactions with participants. Julie Slayton will discuss how ethical research conduct demands that we are conscious of the way our power and positionality affects the research process and those who we ask to learn from.

✎ The Role of Justice in Sampling and Recruiting — March 4, 12:00-2:00PM at HSC
There’s a fine line between making sure marginalized populations are included in research while making sure they’re not overrepresented. Julie Slayton will go over how justice should be central to biomedical researchers’ approaches to sampling, recruiting, and enrolling participants in their studies.

✎ Bias, Fairness and Justice: Are Algorithms the Solution or the Problem? — March 5, 12:00-2:00PM at UPC
AI systems are being used for everything from predicting crime to determining insurance rates — but what happens when human bias creeps in? Jonathan Gratch will discuss how machine learning algorithms can promote fairness and social justice but often serve to institute human biases and stereotypes.

✎ Introduction to Advanced Research Computing Resources and Services at USC — March 10, 12:30-2:30PM at UPC
Nearly all scientific and engineering disciplines confront challenges in dealing with a vast amount of data or modeling complex processes across many scales. BD Kim will will cover high-performance computing, cloud solutions, data workflow management, and other research computing related topics.

$ Designing and Writing a Successful NSF Broader Impacts— March 26, 12:00-2:00PM at UPC
A great NSF Broader Impacts statement won’t strengthen a proposal with poor science, but a poor one can sink a proposal with good science. Heidi Smith Parker, Dieuwertje Kast and Katie Mills will teach you how to develop your statement with examples of creative strategies, a brainstorming session to help you develop your ideas, and an overview of resources at USC.

$ Successful Strategies for a Mission Agency Young Investigator/Early Career Award — April 1, 12:00-2:00PM at HSC
Mission agencies are federal agencies that support research as a means of furthering the agencies’ goals, such as securing national defense, addressing national energy challenges, etc. James Murday will provide tips on how to structure a successful proposal, approach program officers, the amount of funding available, guidance toward topic selection, and due dates.

$ Understanding, Writing and Obtaining NIH K-Award: Tips from K-Award Recipients and Advisors — April 3, 12:00-1:00PM at CHLA
The NIH K-Award prepares early career investigators for independent research careers through mentored research training and tailored career development activities. Michele Kipke will present strategies that work and mistakes to avoid when writing a K application, as well as describe the types of K awards, eligibility requirements, and the various components of the application.

↔ How to Do International Research — April 7, 12:00-2:00PM at UPC
Are you interested in doing international research but don’t know where to start? This workshop brings together a panel of biomedical and non-biomedical scientists who will share their experience in doing research abroad, providing first-hand insight and best practices, including IRB approvals, funding issues and how to establish international collaborations. The panel will also address compliance-related questions as well as provide information on resources available through USC’s Global Initiatives office.

✪ Early Career Development in STEM — April 14, 9:30AM-1:15PM at UPC
Build a successful career for yourself as a junior faculty by learning all about career development, including student recruitment, lab space, teaching, as well as the promotion process and visibility. Panels will be led by faculty from STEM departments in the Viterbi School of Engineering and the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

✪ Digital Scholarship: Publishing and Promoting Your Scholarly Work in the Age of Tech — April 17, 12:00-1:30PM at CHLA
When you’re positioning yourself for career growth, it’s important to have an online presence to showcase your skills and experience. In this workshop, led by Margaret Trost, you’ll learn how to advance your scholarship via the internet, build a social media presence for networking and promotion, and troubleshoot common issues of professionalism and privacy.

$ How to Obtain NIH Funding — April 22, 12:00-2:00PM at UPC
The NIH is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, investing more than $32 billion a year. Steve Moldin will review the NIH grant process — from conceptualizing your proposal to getting funded — as well as show you how to identify which institute to target, prepare for the review process, and build relationships with agencies.

$ Preparing and Submitting NSF CAREER Award Proposals — April 28, 12:30-2:30PM at UPC
The Faculty Early Career Development Program is one of NSF’s most prestigious awards, supporting junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, education and integration of education and research. Randolph Hall and a panel of previous awardees will provide you insight into the requirements as well as proposal process for this award.

Navigating the University 2019

USC’s annual Navigating the University event offers new faculty from all disciplines, appointment types and levels the opportunity to learn about campus-wide resources available at USC. The event is also a great way to meet fellow faculty from across the university.

The two-day retreat has three parts: The Office of the Provost’s New Faculty Onboarding features sessions on professional development, teaching and USC culture. Then following the presentations, there’s an informal meet and greet for new faculty to introduce themselves to each other over refreshments and appetizers.

Finally, the Office of Research’s Research & Resources Management brings together USC faculty and staff to provide advice and first-hand experiences on research strategy, mentoring, financial management and budgeting, clinical research, and diversity in research. Below are the presentations from 2019’s event: