MTPCI Application

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

NIH Biosketch Template and Example »

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

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: https://grants.nih.gov/faqs#/rigor-and-reproducibility.htm

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.

Translation is defined by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) as the process of turning observations in the laboratory, clinic and community into interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public — from diagnostics and therapeutics to medical procedures and behavioral changes. Projects completed as part of this program may consist of pre-clinical, clinical, implementation, or public health research.  More information on the translational spectrum may be found on the NCATS website.

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

The proposed mentor must provide a letter of support by the application deadline. Upon submission of the online application form, an email 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 email. 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.

Mentor Letters must:

• Be uploaded by the mentor, not the applicant
• Include the mentor’s signature
• Be submitted on the mentor’s letterhead

Each applicant’s Department Chair or Division Chief is required to submit a letter of support describing the applicant’s potential and guaranteeing the protected time (60%) required for participation in the MTPCI. 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 MTPCI program.
• Guarantee to provide a minimum of 60% protected time for the applicant (50% for surgeons) for two years.
• Intent to provide tuition support for the applicant in the CRTC MTPCI 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