In this episode, I sit down with Brienne Miner, MD MHS—a physician, researcher, and recent K to R Essentials graduate—for a powerful conversation about what it really looks like to step into your role as a PI with clarity and purpose.

Brienne shares how her clinical work with older adults and their care partners shaped her research questions—and how she learned to own her expertise through the K to R transition. We talk about the internal work of recognizing your intellectual contribution, the pressure of feeling behind, and why the strategic pause matters more than rushing into the next grant deadline.

If you’ve ever questioned whether your ideas are “good enough,” or wondered if there’s a more balanced way to approach your research career, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What made the transition from K to R funding feel so intimidating—and how she worked through that
  
  

• Why strategy didn’t come naturally to her (and what changed after K to R Essentials)
  
  

• How the North Star exercise helped her articulate the impact she wants to make
  
  

• The power of slowing down and saying no, even when something feels like the “perfect” fit
  
  

• What she’s learned about trust, timing, and protecting time for her own ideas
  
  

Whether you’re early in your K award or eyeing your next submission deadline, this conversation is a reminder that you already hold the wisdom you need—and it’s okay to take the time to do it your way.