HIGHLIGHTS

• $50,000 research funds 

• Applicants must have a minimum of 50% time protected from other expectations (clinical/education/service) and devoted to research for the entire period of the award. 

• Two-year mentored career development

• Focused project refinement support during initial 3 months of award, to optimize project feasibility and preliminary data for successful K application

• Underrepresented in health -related sciences only Assistant Professor with salaried faculty appointment (in rank ≤ 4 years)

• Mentorship team including:  primary mentor, career development mentor, and a data scientist (methodologist or biostatistician)

• Weekly (Wednesdays, 1:15pm) K Scholar Multidisciplinary Seminar Series  (75% attendance required)

• Monthly KAP check-in meeting

• Individualized educational and training plan

NATURE AND PURPOSE OF THIS RFA

The K Accelerator Program is designed to provide project development support, mentorship, oversight, and pilot funds to junior faculty underrepresented in health-related sciences.  This two-year program aims to place early-stage investigators on the path to be competitive for NIH K awards.  The KAP project will provide preliminary data for a K submission. Applicants will submit a letter of intent (LOI). If selected after the LOI review, applicants will receive advising on their application and assistance with mentor team development and will submit a research proposal and career development plan. Upon acceptance after review, KAP scholars will receive additional focused project refinement support during initial 3 months of award, to optimize project feasibility and the likelihood that KAP project will yield preliminary data for successful K application.  

Applicants will receive some advising on their applications.  Questions can be directed to Megan Larson at mclarson@umn.edu.