Updates from CREST.BD trainee lead

1. CREST.BD Trainees: An update
19th June 2014
Jehannine Austin
Trainee Lead

2. CREST Trainees: Where we started
In 2013 we consulted with:
• Mentors
• Trainees
• Attendees at 2013 meeting in Miami

3. Trainee Strategy
• Support for broad conceptualization of “trainee”
rather than simply MSc/PhD/PDF
• Trainees should be engaged in some kind of
project (Research/KE) that meshes well with
CREST practice/values
• Support for a transparent/rigorous process for
becoming a trainee (“inclusive with boundaries”)
• Active recruitment of trainees from certain
areas/disciplines

4. Goals from last meeting
• Define role of Trainee Lead by conferring with
mentors and current trainees
• Develop short document for trainees on what
CREST.BD is committing to (e.g., expectations,
relationships and outcomes)

5. Role of CREST Trainee lead
• Solicit nominations from mentors of potential trainees, obtain bios and
liaise with administrative lead to initiate a membership vote. After
approval:
• Meet with each trainee to determine and define:
a) trainee career goals
b) the role that crest can play in helping trainee in getting there,
c) expectations crest has of trainees
d) term of trainee appointment within crest
• At least annual check in with each trainee to discuss
progress/successes/problems/developments
• Facilitate the establishment of relationships between trainees and CREST
mentors
• Facilitate sharing of news about trainee achievements/accomplishments
with the network.
• Organize at least two trainee events per year, of a nature decided upon
mutually by the trainees and trainee lead. One should be in person, at
the annual meeting, the other may be via webinar/conference call etc.

6. Roles of CREST Trainees
• Let the Trainee Lead know about your successes and
accomplishments so that we can help you celebrate and
publicize them.
• Reflect on needs and desires for professional advancement and
let Trainee Lead know about them so that CREST can help.
• Take advantage of opportunities as they are presented to you
by CREST.
• Share your ideas with Trainee Lead about what you would like
as a trainee within CREST, but also as a member in general – be
active participants and make this your network!

7. Our trainees
• Guillermo Perez Algorta, PhD
• Cindy Holmes, PhD
• Emma Gliddon, PhD Candidate
• Dennis Jasper, RN, BSN
• Alicia Semaka, PhD
• Emma Morton PhD Candidate
• Laurent Coque, PhD

8. Trainees’ plans/strategies/
wants/needs….
• Majority of trainees really clear about their plans
and strategies for getting there.
• Interest in interacting with other trainees, just to
share experiences, and broaden their networks
• Keen interest in establishing relationships with
individuals who are in peer+1 types of positions

9. Successes and accomplishments
• Guillermo: Secured a lectureship in Lancaster!
(Steven Jones)
• Cindy: MSFHR Postdoctoral fellowship award!
• Alicia: CIHR and MSFHR Postdoctoral
fellowship awards!

10. Next steps
• Make trainee mentor matches
• Share resources with trainees on getting the
most out of your relationship with a mentor
• Work on setting up an online chat forum/date
for our trainees.

11. For consideration today
• When does a trainee cease to be a trainee? And what
happens to them then?
• How do we recruit trainees from other areas (e.g.
journalism)?
• How do we recruit and support non-academically traditional
trainees?
• Strategy for growing the number of trainees within the
network?
• Let me know if you’re interested in being a mentor!
Jehannine.austin@ubc.ca