NIH Resilience Training Program (RTP)

NIH
The Molecular & Cell Biology Department, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3) and the University Health Services (UHS) have partnered to offer a virtual pilot program through the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education on Becoming a Resilient Scientist. 
 
Format: Participants will be asked to watch a webinar on their own time, followed by a synchronous discussion with the program co-facilitators, Dr. Amy Honigman, Graduate Assembly Counselor in the UHS and Rosanne Lurie, Director, Graduate & Postdoc Career Development in QB3. Please note: because this is a pilot program from the NIH intended to train our facilitators, an observer from the NIH will be attending all small group discussions.
 
The application to participate in the small discussions of this pilot program at Berkeley is now closed, but you may still watch the NIH webinars. To sign up for the webinars, please navigate to the units below and click the link that says “Register Here.” Recordings of each webinar will be made available to everyone who registers, so even if you cannot attend the live broadcast, you may still register to receive the recording.
 

Becoming a Resilient Scientist

Navigating scientific training the career exploration process, research environments, and the stress of life can seem overwhelming and lead us to doubt ourselves just when we need confidence the most. The goal of this series is to help you develop the resilience you need to navigate challenging situations in your training and/or life. The series will consist of six webinars, each followed by a small group discussion the following week. The webinars will highlight emotional intelligence competencies needed for academic success and for thriving in research and healthcare careers. We will discuss the cultivation of skills to help you realize resilience and identify and deal with obstacles that get in your way.

Unit 1: An Introduction to Resilience and Wellness 

We all experience setbacks and disappointments in science, work, and life. In this webinar, we will look at seven key elements of resilience with a focus on building habits that promote healthier responses and resilient behaviors in the face of set-back in educational and work environments.
  • Webinar Date: Tuesday, January 26
  • Time: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
  • Register here to watch webinar live or to receive a recording.
     
  • Small Group Discussion Date: Monday, February 1
  • Time: 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Unit 2: Exploring our Self-Talk: Cognitive Distortions and Imposter Fears 

We tell ourselves stories about what is happening to us and around us. In this webinar, we will explore how our self-talk is generated and look at ways our self-talk can either help us be more resilient or how it can hurt us and hold us back. We will look at two important elements of our self-talk, cognitive distortions, and imposter fears, and explore ways to recognize internal messages and input from others that distort our views of our abilities and accomplishments.

  • Webinar Date: Monday, February 15
  • Time: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
  • Register here to watch webinar live or to receive a recording.
     
  • Small Group Discussion Date: Monday, February 22 
  • Time: 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Unit 3: Emotions and Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace 

Emotions can play a critical role in how we communicate, navigate relationships, and manage conflict. In this webinar, we will discuss Emotional Intelligence and emotions and how they influence our resilience as scientists.

  • Webinar Date: Monday, March 8
  • Time: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
  • Register here to watch webinar live or to receive a recording.
     
  • Small Group Discussion Date: Monday, March 15
  • Time: 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Unit 4: Self-Advocacy and Assertiveness for Scientists

We all need to develop the skills needed to be assertive and to advocate for ourselves, especially in hierarchical environments where we sometimes feel we do not have a voice. In this webinar, we will discuss how to set boundaries, communicate expectations, ask for feedback, and discuss difficult issues with friends, mentors, colleagues, and supervisors.

  • Webinar Date: Tuesday, March 30
  • Time: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
  • Register here to watch webinar live or to receive a recording.
     
  • Small Group Discussion Date: Monday, April 5
  • Time: 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Unit 5: Developing Feedback Resilience 

We all need feedback to grow and learn but we often become defensive and are unable to learn from the feedback we receive, even if it is delivered well. In this webinar, we will talk about why receiving feedback is so difficult and explore ways to stay calm and engaged when receiving feedback. We will also talk about giving feedback in a calm and assertive way so that our voice can be heard.

  • Webinar Date: Tuesday, April 20
  • Time: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
  • Register here to watch webinar live or to receive a recording.
     
  • Small Group Discussion Date: Monday, April 26
  • Time: 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Unit 6: Managing Up to Maximize Mentoring Relationships 

We all need mentors to support and encourage us throughout our educational and career journey. In this webinar, we will talk about the mentoring relationship in research environments with a focus on improving your relationship with your PI, finding mentors, and improving communication and interpersonal interactions. The webinar will help clarify what you need from your supervisors and mentors and address how to get what you need from these important interactions.

  • Webinar Date: Monday, May 10
  • Time: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
  • Register here to watch webinar live or to receive a recording.
     
  • Small Group Discussion Date: Monday, May 17
  • Time: 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm