OFFICE OF TRAINEE AFFAIRS:  TRAINEE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT AWARDS 2024

1.  Graduate Student Research Awards will be available to cover graduate student stipend and resident tuition for one year.  The purpose of these awards is to target and recruit exceptional students that have a high probability of obtaining extramural research support for their dissertation research. Priority will be given to students completing their first year choosing to perform their dissertation research at NCH.  Graduate students working toward their Ph.D. degrees at NCH are eligible to apply.  Applicants already holding doctoral degrees or previous awardees are not eligible to apply.

For all Graduate student awards, applications will consist of a brief research proposal (2 page double-spaced maximum that includes specific aims, a statement of significance and a research plan), bio sketches of the applicant and mentor, two letters of recommendation limited to a single page each (one must be from the trainee’s mentor), cover page, a half-page describing the plan for obtaining outside funding for the project and a half-page diversity statement in which you detail your academic, employment, and life experiences that provide needed perspectives in research.  The mentor’s letter should address the applicant’s role in developing the project and writing the grant application.

2.  Postdoctoral Idea Research Awards ($20,000/award) will be available for original work proposed by postdoctoral researchers (at least 80% protected research time).  The purpose of this research award is to identify and support promising scientists in their project development and data collection for the preparation of transition career awards and other external fellowships. Proposed research cannot overlap with funded grants or ongoing research and should have a high probability of leading to extramural research support.  Funds must be used for supplies and travel relevant to proposed research or salary support of the postdoctoral researcher.  No more than 50% of the award may be used for salary support.  Applicants with DVM, M.D., D.O. or Ph.D. degrees are eligible to apply.  Awardees must be NCH trainees for the duration of the award.  Previous awardees are not eligible to apply.

For all Postdoctoral Idea awards, applications will consist of a brief research proposal (3 page single-spaced maximum that includes specific aims, a statement of significance and a research plan), bio sketches of the applicant and mentor, two letters of recommendation limited to a single page each (one must be from the trainee’s mentor), cover page, a half-page describing the plan for obtaining outside funding for the project and one-page budget summary on how you plan to spend your funds. The mentor’s letter should address the applicant’s role in developing the project and writing the grant application.  For the Postdoctoral awards, the letter from the project mentor should additionally address the novelty of the research and any overlap with ongoing research in the lab.   

Research Proposal applications will be due on the 4th Monday of February by 11:59PM.

The number of awards in each category will depend on the number of meritorious awards submitted as well as available funds.   Up to 6 research awards will be available. All awardees will commit to present their work as a poster of the week during the tenure of the award.