Research Acceleration Holistic (REACH) Program

The SHP Office of Research and innovation (SHP-R&I) is committed to supporting our faculty’s academic research and scholarly development through structured mentoring, coaching, and grantsmanship training. The REACH program, designed to promote REsearch ACceleration through a Holistic approach, gives SHP faculty the tools to find their own unique paths to becoming fully funded scholars and researchers.

Who is REACH for?

REACH supports all faculty with 100% appointments in SHP who are pursuing steady funding for their research groups. REACH uses a combination of mentoring, coaching, and training to help faculty be more productive with less stress. REACH also supports senior faculty who wish to develop program/center grants, training grants, or grants with multiple coordinating projects.

What does REACH involve?

REACH seeks to grow a community of independent investigators from diverse backgrounds who will benefit from a holistic approach to research. SHP-R&I meets with faculty members individually to determine which of the program’s offerings are most beneficial. Together, we create a professional development plan, including timeline and deliverables.

REACH can teach you the soft skills that help you manage your time and make long-term research sustainable. Through mentoring and coaching, you’ll attain the skills required to run a research group, including:

• Laboratory and research development, management, and leadership
• Creating a positive lab culture (hiring the right people, navigating difficult conversations, ensuring creativity and confidence among lab members so that they can do their best work)
• Building team connections and trust while equitably managing the logistics of allotting time and shared equipment for faculty, students, and trainees

REACH can equip you with the hard skills related to grant application preparation by training you directly in researching, writing, and submitting grants. Our REACH Writing Group for junior and mid-career investigators provides support and accountability and serves as a feeder program for the UAB Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education’s Grant Writing Intensive Cohort (GRIT), which has a proven track record of graduating federally funded investigators. If you are ready to pursue your first K grant or R01 and would like additional support in grant writing and other aspects of the application process, joining the REACH Writing Group is a good start.

Our commitment to you

We want your feedback and will continue to refine REACH to ensure we provide the tools SHP faculty members need. Our goal is to help you reach your academic goals and your true professional potential.

REACH out to us:

Click here to schedule a one-on-one meeting with Ritu Aneja, Ph.D., associate dean for research and innovation. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., to learn more about engaging editorial services and research support resources at the university and school for grant writing. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions about the REACH writing group.