About the Junior Section
The Society for Pediatric Research Junior Section introduces residents, fellows and early career faculty members to SPR by providing a variety of resources and educational opportunities. The goal is to promote networking within pediatrics and continue the development of scientists, as well as to foster transition to a career in pediatric science and eligibility for SPR Active Member status.
Junior Member nomination is open to individuals who are currently enrolled in or not more than six years graduated from established residency, fellowship or postdoctoral program related to pediatrics in an academic institution. The information below will be requested when submitting an application/nomination:
- Applicant’s personal and professional contact information.
- Applicant’s residency, fellowship or postdoctoral completion date or anticipated completion date.
- Applicant’s Program Director (Residents/Fellows) or Department Chair’s (Junior Faculty) contact information.
Benefits of SPR Junior Section
- Aids fellows in transition from fellowship to faculty through a variety of programs including:
- SPR Grant Writing 101 Program provides intensive, hands-on support for early career stage investigators.
- SPR Bridging to Success Award grant provides critical financial support as researchers transition to independent researcher status.
- SPR PRomotion of FellOwS‘ PEdiatric Research (PROSPER) Diversity Award provides material support and mentoring for a one-year pediatric research project that will facilitate an academic research-focused career trajectory for fellows from under-represented minority background(s).
- Supports transition to SPR Active Member status.
- Professional networking key to achieving independent researcher status.
- Opportunities for participation in regional/national SPR programs.
- Recognition through an extensive awards program and travel grants.
- Opportunities to advocate for child health research funding.
- Dues-free professional society membership.
SPR Helps Trainees Build a Successful Academic Career. Here’s How
The Junior Section is led by a President and a President-elect who are currently in a fellowship program. Together, they work with the SPR leadership to manage and enhance the Junior Section. Nominations are accepted in July.
This is an excellent opportunity to:
- Expand your CV.
- Develop leadership skills.
- Work directly with SPR Officers and Council.
- Shape the growing SPR Junior Section.
Eligibility:
- Current member of the Junior Section
- Second year of fellowship.
Term:
- 2-years: 1-year President-elect; 1-year President
Applications accepted in July.
Current Officers
President
Jingshing Wu, MD
Jingshing Wu is a physician-scientist and fellow in Neonatology at UCSF. She conducts research on developmental biology and congenital heart disease with a focus on the interface between cell biology and genetics. In addition to research, she has a long-standing interest in supporting diversity and mentorship.
Her journey thus far as a physician-scientist would be impossible without the fantastic mentorship and guidance that she has had, but she also realizes that this privilege is not easily accessed or universally available. Consequently, her vision is to focus on expanding SPR’s ability to support residents and fellows through dedication to outreach and mentorship through the following:
1) Promote diversity by recruiting trainees who have lacked the resources to previously consider participation in research and to help them identify opportunities for engagement within their academic community.
2) Boost active participation within our mentorship program and increase networking opportunities between trainees/junior faculty from different institutions.
3) Expand career training resources such as exploration of different career pathways and media/social media training on how to better engage in public scholarship and communication to prepare us for appropriate dissemination of our research work.
4) Increase leadership opportunities within the section so that we may incorporate a variety of backgrounds/experiences to identify and develop ways of supporting the greater SPR Junior Section and to increase advocacy efforts to raise research support.
Past President
Maria Susana Rueda Altez, MD
After medical training in Peru, Dr. Rueda Altez completed a pediatric residency in Washington, DC and then entered pediatric infectious diseases fellowship training. She has conducted clinical and translational research projects in neonatal sepsis since 2014 and her current research focuses on neonatal antimicrobial and diagnostic stewardship. She is also passionate about the peer-review process, and currently serves as a Guest Editor and social media editor for The Journal of Pediatrics. As SPR Junior section president, her primary goal is to ensure more trainees benefit from networking opportunities. She plans to leverage her online communications experience to increase awareness, membership and participation in SPR among students, residents and fellows.
President-elect
Lillian Juttukonda, MD, PhD
Dr. Juttukonda is a physician-scientist in the Harvard Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship. Her interest is understanding how maternal health in pregnancy shapes the neonatal immune system and predisposes to chronic health conditions during childhood. She is passionate about mentoring, and has had the opportunity to provide research mentorship to undergraduate and medical students, including international students and students from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine. As an MD/PhD student, she served as a leader in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) as a member of the Admissions Committee, organizer of the biannual Leadership Workshop, and chair of the weekly MSTP Seminar Series. She is passionate about scientific mentoring, changing medicine through discovery, and experiencing joy in both work and life.