Join us at the 2026 USASP Early Career Forum, a dedicated pre-conference event on March 23rd at the Loews Hotel Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA, designed to support trainees (currently completing their degree) and early-career professionals. Note, junior faculty are considered early-career professionals and strongly encouraged to participate in this event.
This year’s program will offer a flexible, interactive experience with a variety of sessions to help you gain critical skills, connect with experts in the field, and build a network of peers. Whether you are interested in expanding your research skills, exploring non-academic career paths, or developing essential professional tools, the Early Career Forum offers tailored opportunities to meet your goals.
Tentative Program Highlights:
Concurrent Session Tracks: Choose from sessions that meet your unique needs, including:
Journal of Pain Editorial Fellowship Program Panel: Learn about an overview of the program and hear about individuals' experiences. Panelist will also provide tips for publishing.
Industry and Non-Academic Career Panel: Explore diverse career paths beyond academia with professionals who have made these transitions, gaining practical advice on how to navigate similar paths.
Funding Mechanism Panel: Learn about how funding works across several agencies, including the NIH, as well as information about the new NIH scoring system.
Mentorship Roundtables: Take part in intimate, guided discussions with mentors across multiple career stages. With a "choose your own adventure" format, attendees can rotate among topics and mentors, enhancing their networking and learning opportunities.
Rapid-Fire Poster Pitch Session: Showcase your research in a fast-paced, 1-minute presentation to highlight key findings and encourage connections. This session provides an additional platform for trainees to present their work before the main conference. More information to come!
The 2026 Early Career Forum is designed to be flexible, allowing participants to customize their experience to maximize personal and professional growth. Mark your calendar and be part of a dynamic community focused on advancing knowledge and building future leaders in pain research!
Immediately prior to the USASP Early Career Forum, the NIH-funded PURPOSE Network will hold their early career meeting. This meeting will also take place at Loews Hotel Philadelphia. For more information about the PURPOSE Network Meeting, please go to painresearchers.com.
