Applicants must submit all required documents in order to be considered for the TL1 Program. Applications are due March 1, 2025.
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Program eligibility
- TL1 Postdoctoral Trainees are required to have a PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or DVM degree prior to starting the program.
- Applicants must be citizens, non-citizen nationals of the United States, or permanent residents.
- Individuals supported by other Federal funds are not eligible for concurrent support to be provided by the TL1 Program.
- Interest in accelerating translation through commercialization and entrepreneurship.
Application overview
Please read the following prior to filling out an application:
- Only complete applications will be reviewed. Applications will not be considered as complete until all supporting documents have been submitted.
- All application materials must be submitted online.
- Supporting documents may be updated and re-submitted online prior to the application deadline. Please note that the selection committee will only receive the last version uploaded for each document. Failure to upload all required documents and letters (complete and in the proper format) will result in the application not being reviewed. Missing EVEN ONE (1) item by the deadline will result in the application being rejected. It is the responsibility of the applicant to monitor the status of ALL required documents.
- Applicants must complete the online application form and upload supporting documents.
Application materials
Each applicant is required to submit a current NIH Biosketch.
Applicant must submit a 3-5 page individual development plan (no more than 5 pages; references are not included in page count) that includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Career goals
- Past research experience and past graduate coursework that is relevant
- Who your mentors are and why you have selected them
- Coursework you are planning to take and why
- Your plans for the next 2-3 years if you do not receive the award
- How the award will change or affect your career plans
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)
- Introduction – Resubmission only; NIH PHS 398 form is NOT required (1 page limit)
- Specific Aims & Research Strategy (Significance, Innovation, and Approach) (5 page limit)
- 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)
Mentoring is a critical part of the TL1 Program, and who your mentors are is very important. The TL1 application requires two mentors from different disciplines. Applicants must identify one mentor as primary and one as secondary. Applicants must establish a relationship with the proposed mentor prior to submission of the TL1 Program application. Please do not select a mentor without prior approval of the mentor.
The review of your TL1 application will include a critique of your selected mentors. Reviewers will examine whether they are appropriate and suitable for your research project and career development. Please be sure that your mentors are the best suited for you and your research, and not simply meeting the minimum qualifications required of a TL1 mentor.
Mentor Selection:
- If the mentor(s) an applicant has selected do not already appear in the online application, please be sure that they are qualified to be a mentor (see FAQ) and are willing to dedicate the time to you and this program.
- Please email the TL1 program if you would like to have a mentor approved for the TL1 application. For approval, please submit the proposed mentor’s NIH Biosketch, Other Support Form, and Trainee Table documents. The application form and subsequent supporting documents cannot be submitted until a mentor has been approved and selected in the online form. All mentors will ultimately need to be approved by the Program and the NIH, therefore, new mentor approvals must be completed well in advance of the deadline.
The primary mentor must provide a letter of support, an updated NIH Biosketch, Other Support, and Trainee Tables by the application deadline. It is the responsibility of the applicant to verify that the identified mentors have submitted the documentation. Applicants may view a confirmation of the documents that have been uploaded via the online application site. Please note that letter of support is only required for the primary mentor.
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 required for participation in the TL1 Program. This letter of support must be uploaded by the application deadline. It is the responsibility of the applicant to verify that the identified reference has submitted the letter.
Letters of Recommendation from the Department Chair or Division Chief 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
The last document uploaded will be the document reviewed. It is important for the Department Chair to understand that their letters must include a signature and be on official letterhead. The link sent to each Department Chair is unique for each applicant, and one link cannot be used to upload documents for multiple applicants.
Each applicant is required to have a letter of recommendation submitted by reference in addition to the Department or Division Head. This letter should describe the applicant’s potential to succeed as an independent researcher. The letter of recommendation must be uploaded by the application deadline. It is the responsibility of the applicant to verify that the identified reference has submitted the letter.
Letters of Recommendation must:
- Be uploaded by reference, not the applicant
- Include the reference’s signature
- Be submitted on an official letterhead
The last document uploaded will be the document reviewed. It is important for references to understand that their letters must include a signature and be on official letterhead. The link sent to each Reference is unique for each applicant, and one link cannot be used to upload documents for multiple applicants.
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 required
- Appendices are not allowed