Scientific Management Accelerating Research & Tenure (SMART)

SMART is a dynamic, day-long scientific leadership and management program designed to empower early career faculty on the tenure-accruing or clinical scholar tracks to fast-track their research success.

Program Goals

SMART is designed to help newly appointed principal investigators jumpstart their careers. Tailored for basic science and clinical translational investigators, SMART breaks down silos, fosters collaboration, and helps build a vibrant, supportive research community.

What You'll Gain:

Insights from UTSW’s top research leaders
Tools to lead your research group with confidence
Strategies to secure funding and build your reputation
A dynamic community of peers and mentors

Why SMART?

At UT Southwestern, your success matters. Becoming an independent investigator at a leading medical center is exciting and challenging. Critical skills—like leadership, negotiation, strategic networking, and long-term career planning—may not be part of your traditional training. That’s where SMART comes in.

SMART is developed collaboratively by UT Southwestern’s top clinical and basic science faculty to help you:

Break down silos
Build powerful collaborations
Navigate academic “unwritten rules”
Maximize your research impact

Program Highlights

Date & Time: October 24, 2025 | 8:30 AM – 4 PM (in-person)
Location: The Conference Center at Pegasus Park
3000 Pegasus Park Drive Dallas, Texas 75247
Registration: Click Here to Register

Chair & Center Director Panel: Insights from Research Leaders

Find out what it takes to thrive directly from our experienced leaders:

Ralph DeBerardinis, M.D., Ph.D.
Lora Hooper, Ph.D.
Catherine Spong, M.D.
Joseph Takahashi, Ph.D.
Thomas Wang, M.D.

The SMART Toolkit: TED-Style, Expert-Led, Interactive Sessions

Six powerhouse presentations packed with practical strategies:

Getting Started – Vinnie Tagliabracci, PhD & Heidi Jacobe, M.D., M.S.
Building & Leading Teams – Ondine Cleaver, Ph.D. & Lina Chalak, M.D., M.S
Time Management & Resilience – Ayesha Zia, M.D., M.S. & Jenna Jewell, Ph.D.
Strategic Networking – Sam McBrayer, Ph.D. & Tian Zhang, M.D., MHS
Building Your External Reputation – Lisa VanWagner, M.D., M.S. & Jen Liou, Ph.D.
Funding Success – Mike Henne, Ph.D. & Anand Rohatgi, M.D., M.S.

Lunchtime Roundtable Discussions

Engage with mentors and peers in focused conversations that spark new ideas and collaborations.

Plenary Session: Workplace Workstyles

Alyssa Hasty, Ph.D., shares how to tailor your mentoring style to support team growth and drive performance.

Promotion & Tenure

Russell Debose-Boyd, Ph.D. & Heidi Jacobe, M.D., M.S., offer real-world advice on aligning your efforts with long-term career goals.

Organizers

Sponsors: Alyssa Hasty, Ph.D., and Helen Yin, Ph.D., from the Office of Faculty Development.

Planning Committee: Vincent Tagliabracci, Ph.D., Heidi Jacobe, M.D., M.S., Ondine Cleaver, Ph.D., Ayesha Zia, M.D., M.S., Jenna Jewel, Ph.D., Jenna Jewel, Ph.D., Mike Henne, Ph.D. & Anand Rohatgi, M.D., M.S.

Project Manager: Traci Barros, M.B.A.