When early investigators join GRASP, the popular Harvard Catalyst grant-writing program, they may not realize they’re joining a support group of sorts. That’s how long-time GRASP advisor Lisa Samelson, PhD, describes it for young scientists looking to make the transition to an independent lab.

In the face of the current challenges in funding scientific research, that piece alone fills a dire need. But in GRASP, which stands for Grant Review and Support Program, learning to write a successful grant is only the beginning. Mentorship, project management, peer review, and mutual support are also central features of GRASP.

The program has an astronomical success rate in getting investigators funded on the first try – 52% for independent research grants such as R01s and U01s. Tellingly, there’s a clear “dose-response” effect: the more engaged GRASP participants are over the course of their multi-year K award, the more likely they are to be funded the first time.

Samelson is faculty for Harvard Catalyst Education and has been an advisor for GRASP since 2017. She is an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and associate scientist at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife, where her research focuses on how declines in vascular function affect bone health in older adults. As associate program director for resident research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, she supports internal medicine residents as they launch their research careers.

We caught up with her to get her take on what makes GRASP different.

“Another important component is guiding new investigators as they develop relationships with mentors and build interdisciplinary research teams. We provide that guidance.”

GRASP has many different learning components beyond grant-writing – project management, mentorship, peer review, and mutual support. What do you think is the most valuable piece for young investigators trying to start an independent lab?

All of it. The “GRASPees”, as we call them, are all very vocal about how helpful this is. You know, it’s basically a support group. Writing and getting grants, and running your lab is like running a small business, and you typically do not learn how to do this in graduate training. Whether it’s medical school, doctoral training, or fellowship, few individuals really get hands-on advice as far as how to develop your career or effectively communicate your science.

Another important component is guiding new investigators as they develop relationships with mentors and build interdisciplinary research teams.  We provide that guidance.

You use the term “support group” to describe GRASP. Why is the support piece important?

People have challenges in so many arenas, including developing their research programs, making significant career decisions, and navigating the political environment too.  It’s very nice to be able to have a cohort who can provide support for each other, read each other’s specific aims pages, and do peer-to peer-mentorship. I think the multifaceted components of the support and its longitudinal nature are definitely key to what makes GRASP different.

“It’s very nice to be able to have a cohort who can provide support for each other, read each other’s specific aims pages, and do peer-to peer-mentorship.”

Mentorship is a big part of GRASP. Why is finding the right mentor so critical to early-career development?

Mentoring is one of the skills that you might not learn in graduate training. How do you find a good mentor? And equally important, how do you be a good mentee? How do you build and support that relationship? It would be helpful if these questions were included in any research training program.

How do you find “a good mentor”?

Finding the right mentor is kind of a Goldilocks thing. You need somebody who is a well-recognized scholar in the field who can introduce you to leaders in your field.  On the other hand, you can’t have somebody who has so much going on that they won’t have sufficient time available to mentor you.  In addition, mentors play different roles across the continuum of your career. Early in your career, a mentor who can connect you with senior investigators to help build collaborations is key. As a mid-career investigator, a mentor who helps advance your career is critical, helping you set goals and evaluating your progress.

What about being a good mentee?

Being a good mentee means appreciating your mentor’s time. That’s where the work plan comes in with GRASP. Certain benchmarks are built-in so you can monitor progress together with your mentor.  Being a good mentee also means communicating regularly and effectively with your mentor.  Regular meetings that you prepare for by circulating an agenda in advance and keeping meeting minutes that can help you stay on track are very helpful for both the mentee and the mentor.  Just these basic suggestions alone can really help the mentor who has two, three, four, or five other mentees in their lab requiring attention. I think it really pays off if you are organized and on the ball.