Fellowship Toolbox
Transcript of Fellowship Toolbox
Mentor’s advice
Peer advice
Where to lookFor fellowships Why a fellowship
Write aCompelling storyPilot data
Letters of recommendation
What budget can be used for
Experimental design
Goal setting
Fellowship Toolbox:Alison Hall, Ph.D.
Office of Graduate Education
Why do you want a fellowship?
1. Makes the relationship with the PI explicit
2. Benefits associated with grant
3. Looks good on your resume
4. Great learning experience
Crystal Miller, Neuroscience NRSA postdoc cxk81Vernon Ruffin, Physiology, NRSA postdoc vernon.ruffinVictoria Barron, Genetics, AHA predoc vab8
Where do you start?
Communicateyour PI, potential mentors/committeethe Office of Research, Office Grad Education
Are you ready?pilot datatime to focusappointment statusdeadlines
Do you qualify?
some restricted to US citizens, permanent residents
• National Research Service Awards (NRSA)– F30 Predoctoral Awards for MD/PhD Fellowships
– F31 Predoctoral Fellowships– F32 Postdoctoral Fellowships
• K Awards– K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development Awd
– K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award
– K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award
– K99/00 Pathway to Independence Award
The NIH NRSA Ruth L KirschsteinF KIOSKttp://grants.nih.gov/training/f_files_nrsa.htm
Stipend FY 2010Predoctoral $21,180Postdoctoral Years of Experience:
0 $37,7401 $39,7562 $42,6243 $44,304
Training Related ExpensesPredoctoral Trainees: $4,200Postdoctoral Trainees: $7,850
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellows (Parent F31) (PA-10-108)National Institutes of HealthNational Center for Complementary and Alternative MedicineNational Institute on AgingNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and AlcoholismNational Institute on Drug AbuseNational Institute on Deafness and Other Communication DisordersNational Institute of Dental and Craniofacial ResearchNational Institute of Mental HealthNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral MD/PhD and Other Dual Doctoral Degree Fellows (Parent F30) (PA-10-107)National Institutes of HealthNational Institute on AgingNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and AlcoholismNational Institute on Drug AbuseNational Institute on Deafness and Other Communication DisordersNational Institute of Dental and Craniofacial ResearchNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institute of Mental Health
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellowships to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Parent F31 – Diversity)National Center for Complementary and Alternative MedicineNational Cancer InstituteNational Center for Research ResourcesNational Eye InstituteNational Human Genome Research InstituteNational Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institute on AgingNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and AlcoholismNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesNational Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin DiseasesNational Institute of Biomedical Imaging and BioengineeringEunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute on Drug AbuseNational Institute on Deafness and Other Communication DisordersNational Institute of Dental and Craniofacial ResearchNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institute of General Medical SciencesNational Institute of Mental HealthNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeNational Institute of Nursing Research
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows (Parent F32) (PA-10-110)National Institutes of HealthNational Center for Complementary and Alternative MedicineNational Cancer InstituteNational Center for Research ResourcesNational Eye InstituteNational Human Genome Research InstituteNational Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institute on AgingNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and AlcoholismNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesNational Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin DiseasesNational Institute of Biomedical Imaging and BioengineeringEunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute on Drug AbuseNational Institute on Deafness and Other Communication DisordersNational Institute of Dental and Craniofacial ResearchNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institute of General Medical SciencesNational Institute of Mental HealthNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeNational Institute of Nursing Research
Prepare the NRSA Application: read the instructions!!start early, seek internal reviewers
a. Candidate (grades, GREs, etc)a. US citizen or permanent residentb. Doctoral degree (many ok)
b. Mentor Training Planc. Research Proposal
a. Up to 3 yrsb. It’s training, not just science!
• Vertebrate Animals, Human Subjects etc.• 3 times per year, usu Apr 8, Aug 8, Dec 8
electronic submissions!
The A1, you may have to resubmit…
http://grants.nih.gov/training/nrsa.htm
The F32 NRSA success is about 30%
http://grants.nih.gov/training/data/tf_trends/sld006.htm
Grantwriting Resources
ScienceCareers.orgCareer Development Articles
NIMH Grant Application Processhttp://www.nimh.nih.gov/researchFunding/grantprocess.cfmhttp://www.nimh.nih.gov/researchFunding/training.cfm
FASEB Grantsmanship Training Programhttps://ns2.faseb.org/careerutilities/grantprg.htm
Grant Application Writer’s Handbook, Reif-Lehrer
See also http://casemed.case.edu/gradprog/
Who else might fund my research?
How do you find the right match? Searchable database Grantsnet.org
Private Foundations-support from a family or corporation
Public Charitable Organizations:-MDA, AHA, ACS support from the public
American Heart Association(Great Rivers affiliate)
Cardiovascular and stroke researchDo not have to be a citizen or PRJan deadline, starts July
Predoc $22,000 per year plus 1,000 healthPostdoc year one $43,000 – stipend $41,000, plus $1,000 for health, $1,000 for travel
2008 Success Rate Postdoc# Applications Reviewed: 159# Applications Awarded: 44Success Rate: 30 percent
What happens to your application next?
Most applications now electronic
Scientific Review GroupStudy section review
Scores and percentilesSummary sheet
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/partners/NexusImages/September06/submit.jpg
Write for the Reviewers
• Reviewers are:– Smart– Accomplished
– Dedicated– Fair
Phyllis McBride, [email protected]
Write for the Reviewers
• Reviewers are also:– Busy– Overworked– Skeptical– May not be as knowledgeable about the details Phyllis McBride, Ph.D.
A strong research idea should pass the “so what” test. What is the benefit of answering your question? Who will it help and how?
If you cannot make a definitive statement about the purpose of your research, it is unlikely to be funded.
Get Started: The Research Idea
Specific Aims Make sure you:
Provide a rationale—where did hypothesis come from? why is this a strong idea? why did you choose this over others?
Have objectives that are measurable and highly focused
Provide a hypothesis to be tested with a specific aim
Have aims that are feasible in technique, time and money
http://www.theresearchassistant.com/tutorial/2-1.asp
Background and significance
Pilot data--perhaps a year of work?
The goal of this section is to demonstrate experience and competence to perform the proposed project
Often, the feasibility of your proposed study is demonstrated through the report of pilot data
Can include work of others in lab, explain
Experimental Design and Methods
How will you test hypothesis, approach?
Cite, but do not expect reviewer to read papers
Include “Anticipated outcome and Alternative interpretations” for each aim
Do not give up!!
You want to earn supportYour mentor wants you to earn supportYour study section wants you to earn support
Pay attention to the summary statement
resubmit