Coaching experiences, interest, and preferences among early career researchers.
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, 5841 S Maryland Ave, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
- 2University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, 924 E. 57th Street, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
- 3Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, 5841 S Maryland Ave, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
- 4Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, 5841 S Maryland Ave, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA. [email protected].
- 5Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, 5841 S Maryland Ave, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Coaching is an innovative approach to career development in the biomedical sciences, distinct from mentorship and advising. Past research suggests coaching can improve the retention and success of early career researchers (ECRs), especially those underrepresented. Despite potential benefits of coaching, little is known about ECRs' perceptions of coaching. This study assessed ECRs' experiences, interests, and preferences in coaching and examined differences between demographic and professional groups.Methods
As part of a national cross-sectional study in fall 2021 to query strategies to support ECRs after the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors surveyed ECRs who held National Institutes of Health (NIH) F32 or K-level grants in 2020. Descriptive statistics, thematic analyses, chi-square tests, and logistic regressions summarized data and characterized differences by demographic and professional characteristics.Results
Of 4,440 eligible ECRs, 1,587 ECRs (35.7%) completed the survey, and 1,481 (33.4%) met inclusion criteria for this study. About one in six respondents (16%) previously participated in coaching. Respondents described diverse coaching experiences that varied in effectiveness. About half reported interest in future coaching (52.4%). Respondents who identify as gender and sexual minority (GSM) and heterosexual females reported greater coaching interest than heterosexual males (60.5% vs. 56.5% vs. 43.3%, p < 0.001), which remained significant in adjusted models (GSM: OR 2.03, 95% CI [1.34, 3.07]; heterosexual females: OR 1.67, 95% CI [1.32, 2.12]). Underrepresented racial/ethnic respondents were more interested in coaching than White and Asian respondents (60.0% vs. 51.9%, p = 0.03), though this finding did not remain significant in adjusted models. Most respondents identified certain topics as important for coaching: project management (66.4%), team management (64.8%), leadership (62.7%), grant writing (55.2%), and financial management (50.3%). Topic importance varied by demographic and professional characteristics.Conclusion
This study demonstrated interest in coaching among ECRs, especially sex/gender/sexual and racial/ethnic minorities. Tailored coaching may be well-received among ECRs and could contribute to efforts supporting a diverse biomedical workforce.
Related
- Factors Associated With STEAM Career Interest Among Female Students in Bangladesh: A Cross‐Sectional Study
- Internal Grant Review: A Pre-Submission Program for Early-Career Clinical and Translational Researchers
- Addressing heterogeneity in trauma responses in research and clinical practice: reflections and recommendations from early career researchers.
- Predatory publishing in radiology: advice for early-career researchers
- 3Rs principles for biomedical research in Africa: Evidence, challenges, early career researchers' perspectives, and pathways for One Health research governance.
BibTeX
@article{alejandro2026coaching,
title = {{Coaching experiences, interest, and preferences among early career researchers.}},
author = {Lucy O Alejandro and Monica Kowalczyk and Julia Chael and Valerie G Press and Rachel K Wolfson and Vineet M Arora and Anna Volerman},
journal = {BMC medical education},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12909-026-10036-w},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928183},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Coaching experiences, interest, and preferences among early career researchers.
AU - Lucy O Alejandro
AU - Monica Kowalczyk
AU - Julia Chael
AU - Valerie G Press
AU - Rachel K Wolfson
AU - Vineet M Arora
AU - Anna Volerman
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/29
JO - BMC medical education
DO - 10.1186/s12909-026-10036-w
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928183
AB - Background Coaching is an innovative approach to career development in the biomedical sciences, distinct from mentorship and advising. Past research suggests coaching can improve the retention and success of early career researchers (ECRs), especially those underrepresented. Despite potential benefits of coaching, little is known about ECRs' perceptions of coaching. This study assessed ECRs' experiences, interests, and preferences in coaching and examined differences between demographic and professional groups.Methods As part of a national cross-sectional study in fall 2021 to query strategies to support ECRs after the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors surveyed ECRs who held National Institutes of Health (NIH) F32 or K-level grants in 2020. Descriptive statistics, thematic analyses, chi-square tests, and logistic regressions summarized data and characterized differences by demographic and professional characteristics.Results Of 4,440 eligible ECRs, 1,587 ECRs (35.7%) completed the survey, and 1,481 (33.4%) met inclusion criteria for this study. About one in six respondents (16%) previously participated in coaching. Respondents described diverse coaching experiences that varied in effectiveness. About half reported interest in future coaching (52.4%). Respondents who identify as gender and sexual minority (GSM) and heterosexual females reported greater coaching interest than heterosexual males (60.5% vs. 56.5% vs. 43.3%, p < 0.001), which remained significant in adjusted models (GSM: OR 2.03, 95% CI [1.34, 3.07]; heterosexual females: OR 1.67, 95% CI [1.32, 2.12]). Underrepresented racial/ethnic respondents were more interested in coaching than White and Asian respondents (60.0% vs. 51.9%, p = 0.03), though this finding did not remain significant in adjusted models. Most respondents identified certain topics as important for coaching: project management (66.4%), team management (64.8%), leadership (62.7%), grant writing (55.2%), and financial management (50.3%). Topic importance varied by demographic and professional characteristics.Conclusion This study demonstrated interest in coaching among ECRs, especially sex/gender/sexual and racial/ethnic minorities. Tailored coaching may be well-received among ECRs and could contribute to efforts supporting a diverse biomedical workforce.
SN - 1472-6920
ER -