Year-off and Pre-doctoral research Fellowship programs for medical

students

Colin Sumners, Ph.DJuly 15, 2015

Outline

• Available Fellowship Programs– Year off Programs– MD/PhD Fellowships (NIH F30 Programs)

• Applying for an HHMI year-off fellowship.

HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program

http://www.hhmi.org/programs/medical-research-fellows-program

4

HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program

5

HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program

NIH Medical Research Training Program

http://clinicalcenter.nih.gov/training/mrsp/index.html

Doris Duke Foundation Fellowships

http://www.ddcf.org/Programs/Medical-Research/Goals-and-Strategies/Build-the-Clinical-Research-Career-Ladder/International-Clinical-Research-Fellowship/

Sarnoff Foundation Fellowships

http://www.sarnofffoundation.org/?page=Fellowship_Info

NIH Research Training Opportunities

http://grants.nih.gov/training/nrsa.htm

NIH Predoctoral Fellowship Programs – F30 Availability at NIH Institutes

Purpose. The purpose of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (Kirschstein-NRSA) is to provide support to individuals for combined MD/PhD and other dual doctoral degree training (e.g. DO/PhD, DDS/PhD, AuD/PhD). The participating Institutes award this Kirschstein-NRSA individual fellowship (F30) to qualified applicants with the potential to become productive, independent, highly trained physician-scientists and other clinician-scientists, including patient-oriented researchers in their scientific mission areas.

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-107.html

F30: Individual Predoctoral Research Training Fellowship for MD/PhD or other dual doctoral fellows

HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program– Deadlines & Application Process

• Be aware of the application deadlines (for HHMI Medical Fellows it is Jan 11, 2015).

• Visit www.hhmi.org/medfellowships for program information and to apply online.

• Follow the guidelines to the letter. • You will apply online, but be sure to make back up copies of

your application.Tips: • Plan your work on the application such that you have it

completed at least a week prior to the published deadline. This allows you to give it a final read over, and gives you time to get it through the U.F. administration (Department; College; Proposal Processing) for on-time submission.

• Candidate (student)• Faculty Mentor/Environment (Training Plan)• Research Plan

HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program– The basic components

Candidate (student) Student’s academic credentials. Previous research experience. Personal Statement.Letters of Recommendation.

HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program– The Candidate

Previous Research Experience Present the topic of your research in a way that makes

it clear why it is of interest. Be sure to place your work in the context of the relevant scientific field.

Emphasize the scientific question you addressed, the general approach you took, and your findings and conclusions rather than the techniques you learned.

Clearly describe the contributions you made in the laboratory.

HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program– The Candidate

Personal Statement Explain the career options you are considering at

this point. If you have limited research experience, explain

what prompted you to apply for the fellowship program and what you hope to gain from the research experience.

If you have had extensive research experience, explain how you would further benefit from the proposed year of research.

HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program– The Candidate

Personal Statement (contd.) Explain your intellectual, and personal motivations

(e.g., inspiration by a key mentor) for the year of research training.

Note extenuating circumstances that resulted in atypical test scores or grades or to explain why a previous research mentor did not provide a reference letter.

HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program– The Candidate

Reference Letters Select individuals who know you, have a good

understanding of your intellectual research abilities. Often this is someone with whom you have previously done research.

Provide your references with a résumé of your education and research experience and a copy of your research plan, if possible.

Describe the program to the referee and explain how this fellowship will affect your career goals.

Give your referees enough time.

HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program– The Candidate

Faculty MentorYour choice in mentors can significantly affect the outcome of your application. Your mentor should be well-funded, have an active

research program and have recent publications in your proposed research area.

Deans, chairpersons, and course directors are excellent resources for identifying potential mentors. They can help guide you to productive laboratories with interest and experience in training medical students.

HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program– The Mentor

Faculty Mentor (contd.)Your choice in mentors can significantly affect the outcome of your application. You are encouraged to consider an HHMI investigator as

your mentor. Talk with several possible mentors. Confirm that the

mentors have experience training medical students. Does the mentor have the appropriate resources (reagents,

equipment) for the planned studies. You have to be able to get along with the mentor. Talk to people in the mentor’s lab.

HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program– The Mentor

Research Plan Your project should be hypothesis-driven— that is, you

should ask a specific and substantive question about biological processes or disease mechanisms that can be tested experimentally.

Avoid a plan that is too descriptive, one that confirms a hypothesis rather than testing a hypothesis.

Emphasize the scientific and, if possible, the medical importance of the question.

Your work must be novel.

HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program– Research

Research Plan (contd.) Include details on data analysis, quantitation methods, if

applicable, and overall design of experiments. Include a proposed timeline for the experiments.

Anticipate potential problems in the research and present alternative strategies.

Get input/feedback from your mentor, and specify his/her role in writing the proposal vs. your role. It is expected that some of your mentor’s ideas will be in your plan, but don’t copy your mentor’s grant proposal text. Reviewers want to read your presentation of the issues and approaches.

HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program– Research

Research Plan (contd.) Ask the mentor to consider the feasibility of the project. Is it suitable for a one year experience? What is the training

value? Make sure it’s not just a technical exercise.

HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program– Research

HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program– Financial Support

Stipend of $30,000 for the 2015-16 year Loan Deferment during HHMI year Research allowance of $5,500 for research-related

enrichment activities (Med Fellows regional events, HHMI investigator meetings, scientific conferences), research-related books, and some research-related costs.

Fellow’s allowance of $5,500 for health, dental, and vision insurance; education-related expenses; and moving expenses (up to $1,500 round trip if research is at an institution other than the student’s school)

HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program– Scientific Meetings and Enrichment Opportunities

Med Fellows Regional Groups. Fellows will attend regional meetings and other events where they can share their research interests and receive career advice from program alumni and prominent physician-scientists.

HHMI Science Meeting. Fellows will have a chance to interact with HHMI investigators and learn about their latest findings by attending a science meeting at HHMI headquarters or the Janelia Farm Research Campus.

Student Conferences. In the fall of their fellowship year, students will attend the Medical Fellows Kick-Off Meeting. At the end of the fellowship year, students will travel to HHMI headquarters in Chevy Chase, MD, to present their research at the annual Medical Fellows’ Scientific Meeting.

Scientific Conferences

NIH Predoctoral Fellowship Programs- The Application Process

204 Pages!

NIH Announcement: PA-14-150 (F30)

Overall Tips

• Begin early. Writing a successful application takes time.• Make sure you are organized as to which components of

the application are required, and who (you, sponsor or the administrator) will be responsible for a particular section of the proposal.

• Work with your sponsor on all phases of the application. Be sure to develop the Research Plan and the Training Plan with your Sponsor.

• Make sure you follow all technical guidelines (allowed fonts; font size; page limitations).

QUESTIONS

Colin Sumners, Ph.Dcsumners@ufl.edu