Impact of a Grant Writing Workshop on Grantsmanship Confidence on Postdocs: A Mixed Methods Approach

• In Event: Career Development in the Professions: Mentorship, Training, and Transformative Learning

Abstract

While postdocs often have strong research training, they may lack structured support in areas such as grant writing, teaching, leadership, and career planning. Professional development opportunities help postdocs build these essential skills. This study explores the impact of a grant writing workshop on postdocs’ confidence in grant writing. Using a mixed-methods approach, 33 postdocs completed pre- and post-workshop surveys assessing their confidence in conceptualizing, designing, and funding a study, and a subset participated in interviews. Results showed statistically significant gains in grantsmanship skills, while interviews highlighted key workshop features as critical programmatic structures for promoting these gains. Findings highlight the value of structured professional development opportunities in fostering essential skills in postdocs.

Authors

• Robyn Pennella, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

• Eric Rivera-Peraza, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

• Katherine Ayers, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

• Sally McIver, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

• Laura Wilt, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital