The grant supports research career development of junior faculty members in Obstetrics & Gynecology, known as WRHR Scholars, who have recently completed clinical training or postdoctoral fellowships, and who are beginning:
- basic research
- translational research
- clinical research
- and/or health services research
Who is eligible? 1
Professional Credentials
The Scholar position is a junior faculty appointment (not a fellowship). At the time of the award, candidates must:
- be a physician holding the M.D. or D.O. degree;
- have completed postgraduate residency training in obstetrics-gynecology or postdoctoral fellowship training in its subspecialties, if they have chosen subspecialties;
- identify an approved mentor with extensive research experience;
- be able to spend at least 75% of full-time professional effort conducting research and research career development.
Citizenship
Candidate must be a U.S. citizen or non-citizen national, or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence and possess an Alien Registration Receipt Card (1-151 or 1-551) or some other verification of legal admission as a permanent resident. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible.
Prior research experience
Eligible:
- Former Principal Investigator on NIH Small Grants (i.e., RO3s) or Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21s)
- Prior training did not focus on patient-oriented research but wish to shift focus to this area
Ineligible:
- Principal Investigator with current or prior support on NIH research projects grants (RO1)
- FIRST Awards (R29), sub-projects of program project (PO1) or center grants (P50), or the equivalent
Previously supported on NIH or non-NIH career development awards dedicated to training patient-oriented researchers
Candidates may not concurrently hold any other PHS award that duplicates the provisions of this award. Scholars are encouraged to apply for independent research grant support during this award support period.
What is provided?
- Salary and fringe benefits for 75% protected time, capped at $91,079 for both salary and fringe, to develop as an independent researcher with the expectation that the successful candidate will obtain individual funding within a two (2) year period. 2
- Structured mentorship and training, access to research core resources, grant facilitation, and up to $1,500 per year for related travel, books, tuition, and supplies.
Application Procedures:
Completed applications will include:
| (1) |
Current Curriculum Vitae for candidate; |
| (2) |
Current NIH Biosketch for candidate; |
| (3) |
Four-page biosketch of the primary mentor(s) and summary of training commitments; |
| (4) |
Candidate narrative containing the following: |
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| (a) |
personal statement (1-page) clarifying specific research interests including past research experience, prior exposure to cross-disciplinary curricula (e.g., biostatistics, epidemiology, etc.), long-term career goals and how the WRHR award will help to fulfill these goals, including optional didactics; |
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| (b) |
research plan outline developed in conjunction with the Lead Mentor (2 pages or less) describing the hypothesis, specific aims, significance, preliminary studies, and methods. |
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| (5) |
Letters of support from: |
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| (a) |
Two faculty members (other than Lead Mentor) with whom the applicant has worked and/or had research experience; |
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| (b) |
Applicant's Division Director, to include divisional commitment to the applicant and his/her faculty position, guarantee of 75% protected research time, specific details regarding non-research activities of the candidate, including clinic and teaching responsibilities, inpatient coverage, etc. An example of a weekly schedule for the Scholar should be included; |
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| (c) |
Proposed Lead Mentor, including statement of commitment and intent to participate in the program. |
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| Application Deadlines: |
1st Wednesday in October for January 1 appointment |
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1st Wednesday in April for July 1 appointment |
Submission of Application:
Submit two (2) hard copies and a CD containing electronic versions (in MS Word) of Items 1-4 above to:
| Mailing: |
Center for Women's Health Research at UNC |
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Attn: Anita Baldi |
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Campus Box 7521 |
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Chapel Hill, N.C. 27599-7521 |
| Street |
104B Market Street |
| Address: |
Chapel Hill, N.C. 27516 |
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Phone: (919) 843-7720 |
Selection: Applicants who meet eligibility requirements will be invited to interview with members of the WRHR Leadership Team and Advisory Committee. Preference will be given to candidates who can begin their award January 1 but start dates may be January 1 or July 1.
1 RFA for parent program available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HD-03-020.html
2 Successful candidates are appointed to the program for a 12-month period and must submit a progress report each year to be considered for reappointment. We anticipate that each Scholar should be able to obtain individual support (K23, foundation career development award, and/or RO1) by the end of the second year of K12 support. Total support will be limited to three years maximum to help the Scholar retain eligibility for an individual award.
