Application: MS in Clinical Investigation

Applications are open August 15-November 1 for January start date, and January 1-April 15 for Summer or Fall start date.

Only complete applications will be reviewed.  Applications will not be considered complete until all supporting documents have been submitted.

Supporting documents may be updated and resubmitted online prior to the application deadline.  Please note that the selection committee will only receive the latest version of each document that is uploaded to the online site.  Applicants may also attach notes within the online application system after the application form has been submitted if they wish to include additional information (i.e. awards, publications, etc.) for consideration during the selection process.

Application Checklist

Seven items needed for a complete application:

  1. Application form
  2. Current Biosketch or CV
  3. Individual Development Plan – including a course plan
  4. Research Plan
  5. Mentor Letter of Support
  6. Department Chair or Division Chief Recommendation Letter
  7. Official Transcripts

Program eligibility

  • Level of Education: Candidates must either be enrolled in a pre- or post-doctoral mentored research program at Washington University School of Medicine or hold a post-doctoral appointment in health science at Washington University or one of the ICTS affiliates – SLU, UHSP, and MU.
  • Citizenship: Eligible applicants must be citizens, non-citizen nationals, permanent residents, or hold a valid US visa and a postdoctoral appointment at Washington University or one of the ICTS affiliates. 
  • Research Project: All applicants must be conducting clinical and translational research. Clinical research is defined as patient-oriented research, that is, research conducted with humans subjects or on human tissues, specimens or cognitive phenomena.
  • Mentor: Applicants must have an established relationship with a senior faculty member prior to beginning the MSCI Program.

Application materials

The below materials must be included in your Application form.

1. Current Biosketch or CV

Applicants must upload either their NIH Biosketch or an updated version of their Curriculum Vitae in the Washington University format.

2. Individual Development Plan

A three-page career development plan (timeline and references are not included in page count) should include, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Career goals
  • Past research experience and relevant past graduate coursework
  • Research mentor(s) and why they have been selected
  • Planned coursework to be taken during the Postdoctoral MTPCI, and how this coursework is beneficial to the identified research project
  • Add a timeline for planned coursework and research activities – up to one page
3. Research Plan

The required Research Plan should follow the standard NIH format (PHS 398).

Please note the new NIH requirements for this section around Rigor and Reproducibility.

The Research Plan includes:

  • Project Summary/Abstract (1 page limit)
  • Specific Aims & Research Strategy (Significance, Innovation, and Approach)* (5 page limit)
    • A justification of sample size, including power calculations, should be described if quantitative analyses are proposed in your research plan.
  • Protection of Human Subjects, Inclusion of Women and Minorities, Inclusion of Children, Vertebrate Animals (3 page limit)
  • Targeted/Planned Enrollment Table (1 page limit)
  • Bibliography and References Cited/Progress Report Publication List (include PMCID # if applicable) and Consortium/Contractual Arrangements (No page limit)

All applicants must be conducting clinical, translational research. Clinical research is defined as patient-oriented research, that is, research conducted with humans subjects or on material of human origin such as tissues, specimens and cognitive phenomena, for which as investigator or colleague directly interacts with human subjects.

4. Mentor Letter of Support

Proposed mentors are required to submit a letter of support. Applicants must establish a relationship with the proposed mentor prior to submission of the MSCI application. Please do not select a mentor without his/her prior approval.

The proposed mentor must provide a letter of support by the application deadline. Upon submission of the online application form, an e-mail will be automatically generated to the mentor with guidelines and instructions on how to upload the required letter. It is the responsibility of the applicant to verify that the identified mentor has received the e-mail. Applicants may view a confirmation of the documents that have been uploaded via the online application site.

Mentor Letters of Support should address the following items: 

  • The Mentor’s research qualifications in the area of the proposed research.
  • The candidate’s potential and his/her strengths and areas in need of improvement.
  • Plans for monitoring and evaluating the scholar’s progress toward independence.
  • Description of the quality and extent of the mentor’s proposed role in providing guidance and advice to the candidate.
  • The Mentor’s previous experience in fostering the development of independent investigators.
  • The Mentor’s previous research productivity and peer-reviewed support.
5. Recommendation Letter

Each applicant’s Department Chair or Division Chief is required to submit a letter of support describing the applicant’s potential for participation in the MSCI program. This letter of support must be uploaded by the application deadline. Upon submission of the online application form, an email will be automatically generated to the identified Department Chair or Division Chief with guidelines and instructions regarding how to upload the required letter. It is the responsibility of the applicant to verify that the identified reference has received the email. The online application site provides applicants with a checklist on which they may view confirmation of the documents that have been uploaded to their application.

Department Chair/Division Head Letters of Support should address the following items: 

  • Intent to support the matriculation and continued studies of applicant in the CRTC MSCI program.
  • The applicant’s potential for an independent clinical research career in academics.

Letters of Recommendation must:

  • Be uploaded by the Department Chair or the Division Chief, not the applicant
  • Include the Department Chair or the Division Chief’s signature
  • Be submitted on letterhead

Required format for supporting documents

  • Black font of either Arial, Helvetica, Palatino Linotype or Georgia
  • Font size of 11 points or larger (a symbol font may be used to insert Greek letters or special characters; the font size requirement still applies.)
  • Type density, including characters and spaces, must be no more than 15 characters per inch
  • Single spaced paragraph type
  • Margins should be at least one-half inch margins (top, bottom, left, and right) for all pages, including continuation pages
  • PDF versions are encouraged for supporting documents to form to preserve page limits and formatting; Alternate formats are allowed
  • Appendices are not allowed

Transfer of Credit

A maximum of 9 graduate credits may be transferred from another Washington University degree program or from another university. Transferred credits are approved on an individual basis. Transfer credits will only be accepted if they were earned in the last 5 years. To transfer credits, a copy of the course syllabi and a copy of your transcript should be provided to the Program Coordinator. The Program Directors will review and approve all courses and determine what degree requirements (core courses, electives, etc.) they will fulfill. Transfer credit will not be accepted for the Certificate in Clinical Investigation.

SPRING & FALL APPLICATION CYCLE TIMELINES

Spring
  • January 1 – April 15: Applications accepted
  • June: Scholars announced
  • July 1: Scholar start date
Fall
  • August 15 – November 1: Applications accepted
  • December: Scholars announced
  • January 1: Scholar start date