PROJECT ABSTRACT – CAREER ENHANCEMENT CORE The Career Enhancement Core (CEC) will provide professional development and educational resources specific to tobacco regulatory science (TRS), enhancing the capacity of the research community to conduct impactful TRS research. We will use a variety of established and innovative approaches, both virtual and in- person, to expose students, trainees, postdocs, new and early-stage investigators, mentors, and seasoned investigators to research experiences that increase their knowledge base and sharpen their TRS research skills. Through our work on the Center for Evaluation and Coordination of Training and Research in Tobacco Regulatory Science (CECTR) and the Center for Coordination of Analytics, Science, Enhancement and Logistics (CASEL) 1.0, the Westat team is uniquely well-positioned to provide the infrastructure, networking, and professional development opportunities needed to build the capacity and strength of the TRS research community. The CEC will be led by Dr. Andrea Stroup, who currently leads the CEC in CASEL 1.0. As a former TRS trainee in a Tobacco Center for Regulatory Science (TCORS), Dr. Stroup brings a valuable perspective to her leadership role. Dr. Stroup will work collaboratively with the TCORS and other U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP)-funded grantees to develop educational resources, collect and disseminate training resources, and provide networking and career development opportunities. We will leverage and build on our experience, existing infrastructure and resources, and the expertise of our team to achieve the aims of this Core.