#SER2020 Q&A#2 Here's the question: some people have discussed different approaches to developing training aims for F/K grants. Some question the appropriateness of a novel (to the trainee) technique as opposed to one they already have experience in but haven't used a lot. 1/n

For F/K awards (U.S. NIH trainee awards), the training plan is critical. It's not too hard to write a good one though. Here's a few things to consider. 2/n

1st, think about who you want to be. What do you want to get out of this training experience? Where do you want to end up? What are the steps to get there? What do you need to know to be able to achieve that end goal? You need where you're going to write your training plan. 3/n

Often you want to know a new method(s) or want to extend to a new substantive area. For methods, it can be either truly new or something you've done before & want to do better. It doesn't matter which--it just has to make sense for your career. 4/n

Experiential aims can be v strong. For epifolks, it's hugely helpful to spend time with the people whose work you rely on or want to influence. Is your work clinically relevant? A training aim should be in a clinic/hospital to see how decisions are made & what the data mean 5/n

Is your work policy relevant? Spend time with people in that policy area. Are your data based on a lab assay? Go to the lab, see what the problems are with that assay. Knowing where the data come from or how your results will be used will make you a better epidemiologist. 6/n

But most impt point of training aims is to be sure that the 3 elements align: a) your training plan, b) your research aims, c) your career goals. Put it in a diagram. Show how they link together & how they will take you where you're trying to go. Training-->research-->career 7/7