Transitioning from K to R grant funding demands more than just technical knowledge—it requires a fundamental shift in scientific identity and leadership. K to R Essentials graduate Haixia Zheng, PhD shares her journey from K Award success to preparing for her R grant submission.

In our conversation we discuss:

• Comparing grant writing to "playing chess without knowing the rules"
• Developing "inner mentorship" skills to evaluate advice critically
• Learning to decline mentor suggestions that didn't align with research vision
• Using prioritization to overcome productivity challenges
• Overcoming tendencies to avoid difficult but important work
• Gaining clarity on research vision and leadership approach

 Her story reminds us that creating a sustainable research career requires not just technical expertise, but the courage to define your own path and prioritize what truly matters.

Ready to transform your approach to research leadership? Visit https://sarahdobson.co/k2r to join the waitlist for the next K to R Essentials cohort.