About us

Established in 2021, the Investigator Career Advancement Program (iCAP) aims to develop and retain early-career, research-focused faculty. We want to ensure all faculty persist and succeed in the life sciences. All tenure-track, early-career, research faculty at UMass Chan will be invited to participate in iCAP upon accepting their offer to join the faculty.

iCAP is efficient, cohort-based, and staged to best engage junior research faculty. iCAP empowers junior faculty with the tools they need for a successful career in academic research by integrating:

a faculty development curriculum,
robust mentoring networks
community-building activities, and
individualized support from a dedicated Sr. Scientific Writer.

iCAP is part of a broader commitment at UMass Chan Medical School to transform the workplace culture to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the life sciences, from bench to community, as illustrated through the university-wide strategic planning effort that culminated in IMPACT 2025. Our strategic framework provides a model for curricular and structural innovations that enhance faculty development and retention, combining scientific excellence with a transformative commitment to DEI.

iCAP Leadership:

Mary Munson, Ph.D. (She/Her)
Associate Vice Provost for Equity in Science

Cynthia Fuhrmann, Ph.D.
(She/Her)
Co-Lead, iCAP

Matthew Schwartz, Ph.D.
(He/Him/His)
Senior Program Manager - Faculty Development, iCAP

Catarina Kiefe, Ph.D., M.D.
(She/Her)
Co-Lead, iCAP

Justine Pinskey, Ph.D.
(She/Her)
Senior Scientific Writer, iCAP

Loretta Opoku (She/Her)
Administrative Coordinator II, Office of Health Equity

Our Goals:

To empower new tenure-track faculty to:

	Champion inclusive excellence as a fundamental value by developing awareness, listening actively, and employing concrete strategies to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging.
	Lead and manage a research group by recruiting a top-notch team with diverse strengths, effectively managing time and expectations, and fostering trainee development.
	Communicate science effectively by refining writing and presentation processes and leveraging individualized coaching and editing support from a dedicated scientific writer.
	Navigate collaboration and team science by establishing mutual expectations, managing group dynamics, and valuing the personal and professional identities and contributions of each team member.
	Manage grant applications and budgets by prioritizing relevant funding opportunities, generating and submitting applications, navigating peer review processes, and learning best practices for financial stewardship.
	Hone a unique scientific identity by (re)defining success, practiciing indivudal planning, engaging with broader scientific and non-scientific ecosystems, and cultivating professional relationships.