Early Career Researchers

Study of 900 NIH K-award scientists finds success tied to multiple mentors

A preprint analyzing nearly 900 recipients of NIH K career-development awards found that successful early-career researchers typically had a median of three mentors, with some reporting as many as 15. These mentors served distinct functions: research mentors mainly helped with publications and grant writing, while other mentors provided professional introductions, skill-building, or emotional support.

nature.com · 2026-09-11

UCL Chemistry Department Shares Fellowship Application Playbook From 40+ Researcher Program

Researchers running UCL's chemistry department fellowship support scheme have published guidance drawn from helping more than 40 early-career researchers win independent fellowships. The advice covers assessing whether a candidate's track record fits a target fellowship, shaping a competitive research proposal, and choosing the right host institution. The authors stress that early planning during a PhD and postdoc, including mapping publication milestones, is critical to building a strong application.

nature.com · 2026-08-25