Advice for the Novice Investigator

Dr. Nick Stergiou is the Distinguished Community Research Chair in Biomechanics and Professor as well as the Director of the Biomechanics Research Building and the Center for Research in Human Movement Variability at the University of Nebraska at Omaha where his primary appointment is. Recently he was also appointed as the Assistant Dean of the Division of Biomechanics and Research Development. He is the Founding Chair of the first ever academic Department of Biomechanics that graduates students with a BS in Biomechanics. His secondary appointment is as a Professor of the Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health of the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. His research focuses on understanding variability inherent in human movement and he is an international authority in the study of Nonlinear Dynamics. He has been inducted to the National Academy of Kinesiology and as a Fellow to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. Dr. Stergiou’s research spans from infant development to older adult fallers, and has impacted training techniques of surgeons and treatment and rehabilitation of pathologies, such as peripheral arterial disease. He has received more 30 million dollars in personal funding from NIH, NASA, NSF, the NIDRR/US Department of Education, and many other agencies and foundations. He has received the largest grant in the history of his University, a NIH P20 grant that was worth 10.1 million dollars. This grant allowed him to develop the Center for Research in Human Movement Variability. He has also several inventions and has procured a private donation of $6 million to build the 23,000 square feet Biomechanics Research Building that has opened in August of 2013. This is the first building dedicated to biomechanics research in the world. It is also the first building on his campus exclusively dedicated to research. Recently was able to procure 11.6 million to build a 30,000 square feet expansion to this building.

"This book is excellent reading for anyone considering or starting a scientific academic career in the USA. it touches upon all the essentials to excel in research. The text is very well structured, with several helpful examples that readers can refer to in their daily work."- Federico Formenti, King’s College"This book offers practical advice for those beginning careers in biomedical sciences. Most new faculty members do not have experience negotiating a start-up package, writing NIH grants, managing a lab, or dealing with ethical problems. This book offers the sort of important yet practical advice that they do not learn as a part of their PhD studies."- Thomas S. Buchanan, University of Delware"The book provides essential insight for the novice investigator to ‘hit the ground running.’ The personalized nature provides the authenticity needed to make a connection. The author provides practical advice in key areas of grant writing, publication, time management, ethics, and motivation, but never forgets to emphasize the importance of producing the highest quality science possible." Dr. Robert Full, University of California at Berkeley

• Chapter 1. Strong Inference. Chapter 2. Getting Your Grant Proposals Funded. Chapter 3. Writing Grant Proposals. Chapter 4. Writing Manuscripts. Chapter 5. Ethics. Chapter 6. Management and Organization. Chapter 7. The Necessary Tasks. Chapter 8. Motivation.