NEWS

Research Infrastructure Optimization for New Mexico (RIO-NM) held its first Early Career Workshop on June 3-4 at UNM's Center for High Technology Materials in Albuquerque. Led by NM EPSCoR, RIO-NM is an NSF EPSCoR E-CORE project focused on strengthening New Mexico's research ecosystem. The two-day event brought together 18 postdoctoral researchers and early-career faculty from six institutions across the state.

Participants came from ENMU, NMT, UNM, NTU, NMSU, Sandia National Laboratories, and the DREAM Center, an NSF EPSCoR E-RISE project housed at NMSU. The workshop focused on practical skills including proposal writing, project management, and science communication.

William K. Michener, the former director of NM EPSCoR and a previous NSF program officer, alongside Selena Connealy and Brittney Van Der Werff, served as the instructional team and provided training on navigating the research funding landscape and developing essential career competencies.

Workshop sessions addressed the professional skills often not covered in traditional academic training but critical for research career success. Participants worked on designing competitive research proposals, managing scientific projects, and communicating the value of their research findings effectively.

The initiative reflects RIO-NM's ongoing efforts to support early-career researchers in New Mexico's academic institutions and foster connections across the state's research ecosystem.

Event photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1n4Dsygz4lj_Kt1ec3wXpmPxak-r1cB3c