NIDCD and Your Career
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Research Training Basics
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
(NIDCD) is one of the institutes of the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
and is the federal focal point for research on human communication.
NIDCD funds research and research training in more than two dozen
disciplines including . . . molecular genetics, physiology, cellular
biology, linguistics, psychoacoustics, molecular genetics, epidemiology,
bioengineering, nanotechnology, toxicology, computational biology,
immunology, structural biology . . . the full range of biological
sciences.
NIDCD funds research and research training in the normal and disordered
processes of
- Hearing
- Balance
- Smell
- Taste
- Voice
- Speech
- Language
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Your Guide is Your "Program" Person
The Division of Scientific Programs manages the research and research
training portfolios of grants and contracts for the NIDCD. No matter
what your level of training need, the scientific program person
will be a key resource for you. Here are selected program staff
members:
Daniel Sklare, PhD
research training across programs
Amy Donahue, PhD
psychoacoustics, cochlear physiology, effects of noise on auditory
system
Lynn Luethke, PhD
systems-level auditory neuroscience, audiology, tinnitus, hearing
aids and haptic communication aids
Bracie Watson,
PhD
immunology, clinical and molecular genetics of hearing impairment,
otitis media
Christopher Platt,
PhD
balance and vestibular system
Nancy Freeman, PhD
cellular, molecular and developmental biology of auditory system
Roger Miller, PhD
auditory and other neural prostheses
Barry Davis, PhD
chemical senses (smell & taste)
Judith Cooper, PhD
language sciences
Lana Shekim, PhD
voice and speech
Julianna Gulya, MD
clinical trials
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What Are We Looking For?
Individuals with the highest potential to develop into successful
scientists through training opportunities.
What Am I Eligible For?
Each of the "mechanisms" for training support has a
different purpose. You will want to review the criteria carefully.
You Will Want to Look For Four Things
- Level of experience required
Predoc? Postdoc? Newly Independent Investigator?
- Status requirements
No requirements as long as you are a U.S. Citizen, a
Permanent Resident, or a Non-Citizen National (living
in U.S. territories)
- Eligibility for specific programs
- Individual who is a member of an under-
represented group
- Individual who has a disability
- Scope of support from a mechanism
- Stipend?
- Tuition/Fees?
- Health insurance?
- Travel to scientific meetings?
- Is there a service payback obligation?
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How Will Your Application Be Reviewed? How Long
Will It Take?
The NIDCD Communication
Disorder Review Committee (CDRC)
- Reviews and scores all training applications
The NIDCD Training Board
- Makes recommendations to the NIDCD leadership for final funding
decisions
- You can expect that it will take 4-5 months to know if you have
been funded
- Fellowship programs have the three deadlines listed below for
each year
Deadlines:
April 5, August 5, and December 5
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And When Do I Plan To Apply... Read the Web
- For NIDCD areas of interest
www.nidcd.nih.gov
Select "Research"
(and remember to take a look at the NIDCD Strategic
Plan)
- NIH homepage
www.nih.gov
Select "Grants and Funding Opportunities"
- For Center for Scientific Review
www.csr.nih.gov
Select "Resources for Applicants"
How Can I Be Sure To Get a Timely Review?
- Comply with all application instructions such as page limits
and formatting
- Include three sealed letters of reference with the application
- Include a training plan in the responsible conduct
of research or document if such training has recently
been completed
- Comply with human subjects protections
- Comply with animal welfare requirements
- Comply with inclusion of human subjects requirements
(gender, minority status and inclusion of children)
- Submit applications on time
- Submit an additional copy to:
NIDCD Scientific Review Branch
6120 Executive Boulevard
Room 400 C, MSC-7180
Bethesda, MD 20892-7180 (regular mail)
or Rockville, MD 20852 (for express mail)
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Training Mechanisms at a Glance
Ruth
L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards
- Up to 5 years of predoctoral support--FY03 stipend level: $19,968
- Up to 3 years of postdoctoral support--FY03 stipend levels:
$34,200-$50,808
- Must be a U.S. Citizen, Non-citizen National, or Permanent Resident
- Service payback obligation for first-year postdocs
- Provides: stipend, partial coverage of tuition, fees, health
insurance, and trainee travel
Dual-Degree
Predoctoral Fellowships F30 for Training Clinician-Scientists
- Provides up to six years of support for the combined clinical
and research training of MD/PhD students
- Must propose doctoral dissertation research within
the NIDCD research mission under the sponsorship
of an NIH-funded investigator
- Typically submitted during the first year of medical school
NIDCD
NRSAs F31 for Individual Predoctoral Fellows
- Aimed solely at doctoral candidates engaged in dissertation
research
- Students within three months of doctoral candidacy can apply,
but activation awaits official designation of candidacy
- Continued participation in trans-NIH F31 programs for students
from underrepresented minority groups and students with disabilities
(not limited to dissertation stage; nonexpedited, CSR-based review)
Individual
National Research Service Awards for Postdoctoral Fellows F32
- Opportunities for full-time postdoctoral-level training support
to acquire needed research competencies and conduct a specific
research project in a host laboratory under a mentor's sponsorship.
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What Are the Fellowship Review Criteria?
- The Candidate
Who is the candidate? Is his/her training and the sponsor laboratory
a clear match?
- The Sponsor/Training Environment
Are the sponsor and laboratory a good match for
the research project? Does the sponsor have a strong research
record, mentorship experience or federal funding record? Can the
mentorship team fill in appropriate expertise? Does the environment
offer a challenging training setting that is appropriate for the
mentee's background and experience?
- Research Proposal
Is the research proposal cohesive, feasible and hypothesis driven?
Does the proposal acknowledge experimental pitfalls? Is there
an adequate understanding and review of the relevant literature?
Has the candidate had a clear role in developing the application?
- Training Potential
Does the training reasonably augment research career growth in
the candidate's chosen direction? Will the candidate become proficient
in the experimental techniques and approaches? Is the training
plan both broadly conceived and sufficiently detailed in the application?
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Am I Eligible For a K08/K23?
- YES. Are you a clinically-trained, junior faculty member
(or equivalent in a non-academic setting) with two or more years
of prior research experience who is on a clinician-scientist career
path?
- NOTE. You may not be a Principal Investigator (current
or
past), on an NIH research grant [with the exception of an
NIDCD
Small Grant (R03)]
Mentored
Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08)
- Foster the development of highly promising clinician-
scientists into independent investigators who integrate
fundamental research and clinical practice in their careers
Mentored
Patient-Oriented Research* Career Development Award (K23)
- Complementary program to the K08
Both the K08 and K23
- Require at least 75% professional effort for three, four or
(typically) five years of mentored research training
- Provide salary (up to $105K/yr) and research development support
(up to $50K/yr)
*Patient-Oriented Research
Research on human subjects or material of human origin in which
the investigator directly interacts with human subjects to address:
(1) the mechanisms and consequences of human disease; (2) the epidemiologic,
behavioral outcomes or health services; (3) development of new technologies;
or, (4) therapeutic interventions and clinical trials.
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What Makes a K08/K23 Application Successful?
Applicant
- Do you have prior research experience?
- Have you been first author on published or in-press experimental
research papers?
- Have you held a small, peer-reviewed research or seed grant
from a funding agency or professional society?
- Do you have strong institutional support (favorable research
start-up package, protected research time?)
- If you are submitting a revised application, have you
provided strong responses to reviewer critiques?
Note: The mentored K Awards are viewed
as a "jumpstart" to a career in research. It is a validation
of the awardee as viable clinician-scientist. There are considerations,
however, that applicants should weigh. The mandated 75% "protected
time" is a challenge even within the most supportive institution
and the primary mission of research can conflict with a service-providing
institution's primary mission and greatest source of revenue--patient
care. The challenge for subsequent research funding is viewed as
an ongoing obstacle to establishing an independent research career.
NIDCD
Small Grant (R03) Program
- Support newly independent investigators and postdocs transitioning
to research independence; need not have one's own research space
- Provides up to $50K per annum for up to three years
to conduct pilot or feasibility studies that will launch
a research program (to be supported by a K Award or
New Investigator R01 award)
- 8-page research plan
- NIDCD-based review
- Historically, 50% of successful R03s subsequently win R01 funding
- Can provide one year of support for acquiring pilot or
feasibility data for budding clinician-scientists to launch
a successful K Award
- Can augment the research development support of K Awardees who
require additional research resources to transition to independence
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So, Where is All of This Leading? An Independent,
Research Career
The
Investigator-Initiated R01
- Mainstay of NIH research support for new and established investigators
- Need pilot data and publication record
- Modules of 25K up to $250,000 direct costs per year for 3, 4
or (usually) 5 years
- Over $250,000 direct costs per year need detailed budget
- 25-page research plan
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Is There Something Else I Should Know?
Loan Repayment
Support for the doctoral-level health professional who seeks a research
career that includes clinical research and/or pediatric research.
Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident. He or she may be eligible
for up to $35,000 per year in educational loan repayment during
a two-year commitment to conduct clinical or pediatric research
funded by non-profit or government sources. Individuals must commit
at least 50% effort for the two-year period of the award. For more
detailed information about eligibility, specific criteria, and deadlines:
www.lrp.nih.gov
Do you qualify for the minority supplement, disability supplement
or the Partnership Program?
NIDCD recognizes the need to provide opportunities to individuals
who are minority scientists from underrepresented groups and individuals
with qualifying disabilities who are capable of entering or resuming
research careers. These programs provide a continuum of support
from high school through investigator status or for faculty members
in post-secondary institutions. The NIDCD Partnership Program is
focused on recruiting and retaining individuals from underrepresented
groups to careers in research in human communication through in-depth
experiences in the NIDCD intramural program working with senior
scientists on cutting-edge research.
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Additional Information
For additional information about NIDCD Extramural Training Programs
and NIH Loan Repayment Programs:
Daniel A. Sklare, PhD
Research Training Officer and Loan Repayment Program Coordinator
Division of Scientific Programs
Voice: (301) 496-1804
For more information about the NIDCD Minority Supplement and
Disability Supplement Programs:
Judith A. Cooper, PhD
Director
Division of Scientific Programs
Voice: (301) 496-5061
For information about opportunities in the Intramural Research
Program:
David L. Robinson,
PhD
Deputy Director
Division of Intramural Research
Voice: (301) 496-1601
For information about the NIDCD Partnership Program for individuals
from groups underrepresented in communication disorders research and
summer programs:
Kay Johnson Graham
EEO Officer and Partnership Program Coordinator
Voice: (301) 496-3403
For additional information about NIDCD and its programs:
Marin P. Allen, PhD
Communications Director
Chief, Office of Health Communication
and Public Liaison
Voice: (301) 496-7243
NIH Publication No. 04-5481
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NIDCD FY 2004 Funding Guidelines
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