Selection Criteria

• A compelling 2-year individualized mentored research plan that includes all required components and focuses on translational research around a significant health problem. Clear articulation of how this research will facilitate building a research-oriented career. The study should be designed to be realistically completed in two years. 

• A compelling 2-year career development plan addressing professional and personal growth that is supported by the mentorship team. This plan should include expanded training specific to translational science (e.g., coursework, workshops etc) and clearly go beyond what is offered in the applicant’s PhD program. 

• A clear long-term career plan with milestones.

• A mentoring team that includes a primary mentor who is an experienced senior researcher with a strong training record (i.e., has successfully trained predoctoral students and/or postdoctoral fellows to degree/project completion) and active funding to support the applicant’s research project, along with an interdisciplinary mentor and a data scientist mentor who complement the expertise of the primary mentor. The team must also demonstrate translational research experience.

• Qualifications of the interdisciplinary mentor and commitment to the applicant’s interests in developing expertise in clinical or translational research

• Quality of the training environment(s)

• Clearly described plans for regular interactions with each mentor and with the entire mentoring team together. 

• A clear description of previous research, academic experience, academic potential, and achievement index* over time. 

  • *Achievement Index: What you have accomplished in research given the opportunities available to you, your personal circumstances and time devoted to research” that demonstrates you are committed to translational research/science and a career in academia or industry. 

• Clear financial/resource support from the mentoring team for conducting the research. 

After formal review of the applications, the top rated applicants will be interviewed by CTSI-Ed leadership and final decisions will be made based upon a combination of the grant review score, the interview, and having balance in disciplines and diversity in the program. We expect interviews to take place the week of April 29 - May 3. Applicants should hold these dates for potential interviews.