next »

[kriket]

Hello,

I joined my current PI's lab as a post-doc ~4 years ago. My work got funded via a K99/R00 award and am now looking to move with it after nearing completion of the 2-year K-phase. As the time for me to find my own place approaches closer, I've started to get some pressure (which is building up) from my mentor to try and write an R01 from my postdoc instituion (with me as PI, with the mentor being coPI). This R01 apparently "is a great idea, since it nicely builds on all of the beautiful work I have done", "stands a great chance of being funded", "will allow me to carry a part of it when I leave so I can hit the ground running" and "define what would be done at my current institution vs. the other potential place I'd move to"

This sounds great, yes. Except the problem I am having is that this R01 is almost exactly what I would've written on my own, next year, once at a faculty position elsewhere. The idea, methods and goals would be the same, the techniques used would be the same and the preliminary data in the R01 would be what I collected during my K99.

How to deal with this situation? To write or not to write, that is the question... all views, comments, insights and thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks!

[sciencephd]

How much of the budget does he want? If its a small amount it may be to your advantage depending on what be brings to the table.

[kriket]

Ah, well - I think its being contemplated as 50/50 or 60/40. The point is to keep as much of the work at my current institution (since most likely I'll not be moving into an R1 institute of this size/research infrastructure as my current one).

As an additional point, I think whats happened is that the area of research I am involved with was non-existant in this lab prior to me starting off. Now, the PI has a graduate student (who's been working with me, for most) and realizes has collaborations with clinical folk that might not be sustainable if I were gone. Thus, the reason to starting to look for grant support to follow on with it... my 2 cents.
 

[kron3007]

From what you wrote, you have not yet secured a faculty position yet right?  If this is correct, I dont see why you would prolong writing the grant application so that in the event that you get a faculty position you can write it on your own.  Writing this grant would only improve your chances of finding a faculty position.  Further, from the sound of your situation, the grant may have a better chance of getting funded if you apply from the well established R1 with a more senior researcher as a collaborator.  Finally, if you apply now in collaboration with your current boss, they will do some of the work, it will open up more resources for you to use.  Obviously, I think that you should write the grant now, I would see this as an opportunity to increase your chances of success and start a mutually beneficial collaboration.

Research ideas are a dime a dozen, you can always come up with more once you secure a position.

     

[onthefringe]

How much overlap would you anticipate between the R01 your advisor wants to write and the R00 part of your current grant? Does your advisor have a track record of collaboration or competition with his former postdocs?

[kriket]

kron3007-- Thanks for the feedback. I think you are right on all counts. Writing it from here would mean a higher chance of getting funded. The only "loss" really is that of the new investigator status, but as you point out I think the benefits outweigh the costs.

onthefringe-- The R01 would have quite some overlap with the R00 part - I think it will take the main ideas proposed in the R00 and make them "sounder" and "fuller", overall. In any case, I think I would be able to maintain collaborations with my advisor. I can't clearly say whether his track record is more collaborative or competitive; overall, boundaries between what is "his" vs "his postdocs/collaborators" is often blurry. But I think he shares as much as he takes - so it should work out, eventually...