As a research coordinator at the University of Chicago’s Department of Family Medicine, Artria Irving wears many hats. But she credits the university’s GROW Program with helping her find her niche in the workplace.
The program — an acronym for Guiding Research Professionals in the University Of Chicago Workforce — is designed to help clinical research staff partner with experienced University of Chicago mentors.
“The conversations I had with my mentor really helped push me to figure out not only which parts of my job I excel at, but also which parts I enjoy doing the most,” Irving said.
Now in its third year, the program launched in 2023 after being developed and designed around competencies focused on leadership and mentorship developed by the Joint Task Force for Clinical Trial Competency.
Although many GROW Program mentees are in the early stages of their careers, anyone who is looking for professional development and guidance is encouraged to apply. The deadline for applying to the next cohort, starting in August, is July 3.
“We often see clinical research professionals end up in silos, where they become experts at only part of the broad suite of skills and opportunities for professional growth that exists within their field,” said Justin Bell, director of clinical research operations at UChicago’s Office of Clinical Research.
“The GROW Program is designed to give mentees a much broader context for what’s possible.”
New paths and potential
Irving joined the August 2024 cohort of mentees and was paired with mentor Jacqueline Ansted, a Clinical Trial Monitor at the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center.
But while Irving’s day-to-day involves helping principal investigators with scheduling, financial management, leading study application reviews and working with the Institutional Review Board, she gained a key career insight from Ansted.
The lesson: Working in research can be very nonlinear.
“I learned how I could be doing a plethora of things with a clear start and finish, and I can still grow professionally and gain more certifications through credentialing groups like the Association of Clinical Research Professionals,” Irving said.
Through the program, mentees not only have one-on-one sessions with mentors, but they also have group meetings with other mentees in their cohort, giving them the chance to network and learn about the many professional resources at their disposal.
Each mentor is typically paired with two to four mentees, and many mentors have enjoyed the program so much, they’ve returned to work with new enrollees.
Two-way exchange
One mentor returning for the upcoming August 2025 cohort is Anuradha Bangaley, MSGH, CCRP, a regulatory affairs manager with the Biological Sciences Division’s Clinical Trials Support Office and a member of the mentoring committee for the university’s Professional Development Certificates Student Advisory Board.
With a background in healthcare and regulatory writing, Bangaley said she enjoys sharing insights with her mentees. She also likes to emphasize the importance of effective communication in her mentoring approach.
And the benefits go both ways: Bangaley recently expanded her own skill set from a mentee who is a grant writer.
“I’m a regulatory writer — I never do grant writing,” Bangaley said. “So, one day I just asked, ‘Hey, can you show me how you write proposals?’ and we had a wonderful exchange of knowledge.”
Enduring connections
Nicole Masen, lead education specialist in the Office of Clinical Research, developed and oversees the GROW Program. She credits its success to the high quality of mentor and mentee applicants they received each year.
“It’s inspiring to see these individuals put in so much dedication, focus and engagement,” said Masen, adding that mentors and mentees often end up staying in touch after the program concludes. “They really put in the effort with one another.”
Feedback from past participants has led Masen to add more monthly open hours for program administrators, mentors and mentees to ask questions within the GROW Program community. They’ll also be adding extra mentor trainings and career development sessions to help mentees with “soft skills,” in the areas of communication, presentation and administrative tasks. Social opportunities have also been added by request to strengthen the community amongst the program participants.
For the GROW Program’s August 2025 cohort, interested mentees and mentors must complete an online application before the July 3, 2025 deadline and must be direct employees of the University of Chicago. More information can be found at https://voices.uchicago.edu/ocr/mentorship-for-early-career-professionals/.
