Fellowship Toolbox:
Alison Hall, Ph.D.
Office of Graduate Education
Experimental
design
Mentor’s advice
Where to look
For fellowships
Why a fellowship
What budget
can be used for
Letters of
recommendation
Pilot data
Goal setting
Write a
Compelling story
Peer advice
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 cxk81
Vernon Ruffin, Physiology, NRSA postdoc vernon.ruffin
Victoria Barron, Genetics, AHA predoc vab8
Where do you start?
Communicate
your PI, potential mentors/committee
the Office of Research, Office Grad Education
Are you ready?
pilot data
time to focus
appointment status
deadlines
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
– K99/00Pathway to Independence Award
The NIH NRSA Ruth L Kirschstein
F KIOSK
ttp://grants.nih.gov/training/f_files_nrsa.htm
Stipend FY 2010
Predoctoral
Postdoctoral
$21,180
Years of Experience:
0
$37,740
1
$39,756
2
$42,624
3
$44,304
Training Related Expenses
Predoctoral Trainees: $4,200
Postdoctoral Trainees: $7,850
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual
Predoctoral Fellows (Parent F31) (PA-10-108) National Institutes of
Health National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine National
Institute on Aging National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism National Institute on Drug Abuse National Institute on Deafness
and Other Communication Disorders National Institute of Dental and
Craniofacial Research National Institute of Mental Health National 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-10107) National Institutes of Health National Institute on Aging National Institute
on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism National Institute on Drug Abuse National
Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Institute of
Dental and Craniofacial Research National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive
and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences National 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 Medicine National
Cancer Institute National Center for Research Resources National Eye Institute National
Human Genome Research Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National
Institute on Aging National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism National Institute
of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and
Skin Diseases National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Eunice
Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National
Institute on Drug Abuse National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication
Disorders National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences National Institute of General Medical Sciences National Institute of Mental
Health National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of
Nursing Research
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual
Postdoctoral Fellows (Parent F32) (PA-10-110) National Institutes of Health National
Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine National Cancer Institute National
Center for Research Resources National Eye Institute National Human Genome
Research Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institute on
Aging National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism National Institute of Allergy
and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Eunice Kennedy
Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute
on Drug Abuse National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication
Disorders National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences National Institute of General Medical Sciences National Institute of Mental
Health National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National 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 resident
b. Doctoral degree (many ok)
b. Mentor Training Plan
c. Research Proposal
a. Up to 3 yrs
b. It’s training, not just science!
c. Vertebrate Animals, Human Subjects etc.
d. 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.org
Career Development Articles
NIMH Grant Application Process
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/researchFunding/grantprocess.cfm
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/researchFunding/training.cfm
FASEB Grantsmanship Training Program
https://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 research
Do not have to be a citizen or PR
Jan deadline, starts July
Predoc $22,000 per year plus 1,000 health
Postdoc 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: 44 Success Rate: 30 percent
What happens to your application next?
Most applications now electronic
Scientific Review Group
Study section review
Scores and percentiles
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
Get Started: The Research Idea
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.
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 support
Your mentor wants you to earn support
Your study section wants you to earn support
Pay attention to the summary statement
resubmit