Mentor’s advice

Peer advice

Why a fellowship

Write aCompelling storyPilot data

Letters of recommendation

What budget can be used for

Goal setting

MSTP Fellowship and Career Development SupportAlison Hall, Ph.D.

Office of Graduate Education

Career Development

De-Mystifying the Process

1.Support as an MSTP student1. Fellowship—NIH F30/312. Non-federal funding

2. Next funding steps after graduation1. Career Development—NIH K082. Independence—NIH K02/R01

3. Components of an effective proposal

• National Research Service Awards (NRSA)– F30, 31 Predoctoral Fellowships– F32 Postdoctoral Fellowships

• Career Development Awards– K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development

Awd– K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awd– K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research – K99/00 Pathway to Independence Award

Who has NIH support?

NIH Reporter http://projectreporter.nih.gov/reporter.cfm

Examples…Graduate Education Office..

The NIH NRSA Ruth L Kirschstein

Stipend FY 2011Predoctoral $21,600

Postdoctoral Years of Experience:0 $38,4961 $40,548

TuitionTraining Related ExpensesPredoctoral Trainees: $4,200Postdoctoral Trainees: $7,850

F awardhttp://grants.nih.gov/training/f_files_nrsa.htmF KIOSK

Up to 3 years funding

Tips and samples http://grants.nih.gov/grants/grant_tips.htm_process.htm

Deadlines 3 times per year usu Apr 8, Aug 8, Dec 8

electronic submissions!

F30 / 31 funding for MSTP students

F31 Diversity PA-11-112 for URM students supports PhD phase, includes most institutes

F31 NIH PA-11-111* supports PhD phase

F30 Parent MD-PhD NIH PA-11-110* supports MD and PhD phases

*NCI, NIA, NIAAA, NIDCD, NIDCR, NIDA, NIMH, NINDS, NCCAM

NRSA predoctoral proposal components:

Specific Aims (1 page) 3 aimsResearch Strategy (6 pages)Sponsor/co-sponsor infoRespective Contribution (1 page)Responsible Conduct of Research (1 page)Goals for fellowship training and career (1 page)Activities planned under this award (1 page)Dissertation and other research experience (2 pages)

Three letters of referenceBiosketch including courses and gradesMore than research--incorporate training goals

Reviewer Criterion ScoresApplicantSponsors, collaboratorsResearch Training PlanTraining PotentialInstitutional environment, commitment to training

new techniquesnew collaboratorspresent at meetings, go to coursestimeline including publication planadvisory committee meet six mos for feedback

Non-Federal (Foundations, Corporations, etc)

Grantsnet

Advanced search“Research Funding” , Individual “early doctoral student” “PhD dissertation student”Research area (optional, choose many)

Often single deadline per year

…Plan to apply to Feds and Foundations

Example

American Society Of Microbiology Robert D. Watkins Minority Graduate Fellowshiphttp://www.asm.org/Education/index.asp?bid=6278

3 yearsgraduate coursework completed by activation datementored by an ASM memberMay 1 deadline annually

Example

American Heart Association(Great Rivers affiliate)

Cardiovascular and stroke research

$22,000 plus $1K fringe1-2 years, option 3

Jan deadline, starts July

Inform Cliff before preparing the application

MSTP specific instructions maximum allowable period, 6 yr max on an NIH training mechanism

Choose best funding for MD-PhD training incl covering the MD phase if possible

Project max. training period, max. tuition—

anything left over will revert back to the NIH

Career Development AwardsK01 Mentored Research Scientist Development AwdK08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Development AwdK23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research K99/00 Pathway to Independence Award

Provides protected time for mentored research

Get pilot data during residency/fellowship

2. Next funding steps after graduation

K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Development AwardK Kiosk http://grants.nih.gov/training/careerdevelopmentawards.htm

For clinically trained persons to pursue research careers in basic or clinical sciences

Must apply within 3 years of clinical trainingpartial salary (up to $100K)

some research costs (30-50K) up to five years

Not uniform salary—see Institute!! (this is NCI)75% effort (50% surgery)

The K08

Three letters of referenceSpecific aims 1 page

All in 12 pages:Candidates backgroundCareer goals and objectivesCareer development plan/ training activitiesTraining in RCRResearch Strategy

The K08

AGAIN

Career Development Plan (very important)

• learn new techniques, new area, fundable

• present at meetings, review grants, courses

• Update didactics

• Timeline including publication plan

• advisory committee familiar with research, career goals, meet six mos for feedback

Copyright restrictions may apply.

Dickler, H. B. et al. JAMA 2007;297:2496-2501.

First-Time Applicants for R01 Grants by Degree (1964-2004) and Percentage Awarded (1964-2003)

# physician investigators applying for first R01s

little change for 3 decadesThose proposing clinical work less successful

MD-PhDs are few, but successful!

3. Components of an effective proposal

Most applications electronic

Assigned to Scientific Review GroupStudy section review

NIH Scores 1 (great)- 9 (poor)Summary sheet

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/partners/NexusImages/September06/submit.jpg

Write for the Reviewers

• Reviewers are:– Smart– Accomplished– Dedicated– Fair

Phyllis McBride, Ph.D.p-mcbride@tamu.edu

Write for the Reviewers

• Reviewers are also:– Busy– Overworked– Skeptical– May not be as

knowledgeable about the details

Phyllis McBride, Ph.D.p-mcbride@tamu.edu

What is the benefit of answering your question?Who will it help and how?

Make a definitive statement on purpose of your researchwhy it should be funded

A strong research idea passes the “so what” test

Specific Aims (1 p max)

Propose 2 or 3 aims

Provide a rationale—where did hypothesis come from? why is this a strong idea?

Provide a hypothesis to be tested with a specific aim

Have objectives that are measurable and focused

Research Strategy (6 p max)

background and significance no more than a pagenot a wikipedia on the subject!!lead to remaining question each paragraph

Pilot data--perhaps a year of work? Plan to submit right after qualifier

Research Strategy, continued

How test hypothesis, what approach?

Propose to learn two techniques within planDescribe who will teach you and howInclude collaborators, letters as needed

Cite, but do not expect reviewer to read papers

Provide general scope of experiment

Include “Anticipated outcome and Alternative interpretations” for each aim

Sponsor/co-sponsor inforesearch expertisetraining experience and successmay need to choose add’l senior persondescribe when meet

Responsible Conduct of ResearchIBMS 500 + advanced ethics

Goals for fellowship training and careerthesis committee composition, mtgscoursework CSH, other instnspublications, national meetingsProfessional skills

Plan to submit the research training proposal to several agencies; you can submit to many, but accept only one

You will get a summary statement, and may have to resubmit—address questions in Introduction

Every MSTP student is fundable—