Early-career physical therapist investigators are encouraged to apply for the United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) Young Investigators Initiative Program. This distinctive and well-regarded career development and mentoring program pairs promising new musculoskeletal investigators with experienced researchers who offer counsel on securing funding and other survival skills required for pursuing an academic career.

This grant mentoring workshop series is open to promising junior faculty, senior fellows, or postdoctoral researchers nominated by their department or division chairs. It also is open to senior fellows or residents who are doing research and have a faculty appointment in place or confirmed and have a commitment to protected time for research. Basic and clinical investigators, with or without training awards (including K awards), are invited to apply.

Participants, who will be assigned mentors, attend 2 workshops, 12 to 18 months apart. The next workshop for new participants will take place April 26-28 in Chicago. Participants will receive a solid grounding in proposal writing and have a chance to watch as experienced researchers review grant proposals in a mock study section. They also will meet 1-on-1 with their mentors over the course of the workshop.

When the group reconvenes for the second workshop, participants are expected to have submitted a grant proposal for government, foundation, military, or industry funding. For the second workshop, participant-mentor activities are built around responding to summary statements and study section comments, and strategizing to address other issues relating to performing and funding research. Participants are encouraged to take advantage of ongoing consultation with mentors through the remainder of the application process, until funding is secured.

The deadline to apply for the April workshop is January 15. Visit USBJI's website for application information.

APTA is a founding member of USBJI.