Faculty Instructor - Full-Time - Pediatrics

CHP SCHOLARS/K12 Program Request for Applications AY2022-23
Introduction:
The goal of the CHP/K12 Scholars Program is to support early-stage junior faculty members with additional
training to ultimately become independent physician-scientists. Subspecialty senior fellows and faculty
members within the first year of appointment (MD or MD/Ph.D.) are encouraged to apply to continue mentored
research with the goal of securing extramural funding (e.g., NIH sponsored K-series career development
awards or R-series research awards). All types of biomedical research can be supported by this award,
including laboratory science, clinical/patient-oriented science, translational studies, health services research, and multidisciplinary research, including bioinformatics. Awardees will be provided with salary and financial
support to continue their research endeavors for one to two years. Academic enrichment for awardees includes
formal instruction in grant writing, career development and research mentoring, and the opportunity to present
their research within UPMC CHP research forums (e.g., the Pediatric Discovery Day Annual Symposium).
Applications should be written in sufficiently general terms to allow reviewers who do not have in-depth
knowledge of the field to adequately evaluate the research plan for its merits. As such, the use of jargon and
acronyms should be minimized or avoided.
Application Instructions:
1. Eligibility:
a) US citizens or a faculty-eligible VISA
b) In the final year of fellowship in the Department of Pediatrics (DOP) as of AY21 or junior faculty in the
DOP (within the first year of appointment)
2. Supporting Documentation:
a) Applicant cover letter that includes the title of the proposal
b) Nominating letter from the division director describing the strengths of the applicant and the applicant’s
potential to become an independently funded physician-scientist (two-page limit)
c) Reference letter from the research mentor. The mentor letter should include their area of research, a
record of their former trainees, the training environment, and how the proposal can be developed into a
career award for independence. (three-page limit) If the research mentor is the Division Director, a
single letter can be submitted (five-page limit).
d) Candidate’s NIH Biosketch
e) Mentor(s) NIH Biosketch
3. Research Plan (one-inch margins, Times New Roman or Arial 11-point font):
a) Summary (250-word limit)
b) Specific aims (one-page limit)
c) Research Strategy (three-page limit) including Significance, Innovation, and Approach
i. Significance
1. Explain the importance of the problem or critical barrier to progress in the field that the proposed
project addresses.
2. Explain how the proposed project will improve scientific knowledge, technical capability, or
clinical practice in one or more broad fields.
3. Describe how the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative
interventions that drive this field will be changed if the proposed aims are achieved.
ii. Innovation
Revised 6/07/20
1. Explain how the application challenges and seeks to shift current research or clinical practice
paradigms.
2. Describe any new theoretical concepts, approaches, or methodologies, instrumentation or
interventions to be developed or used, and any advantage over existing methodologies,
instrumentation, or interventions.
3. Explain any refinements, improvements, or new applications of theoretical concepts,
approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions.
iii. Approach
1. Describe the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses to be used to accomplish the specific
aims of the project. Include how the data will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted as well as
any resource sharing plans as appropriate.
2. Discuss potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success anticipated to
achieve the aims.
3. If the project is in the early stages of development, describe any strategy to establish feasibility,
and address the management of any high-risk aspects of the proposed work.
4. Point out any procedures, situations, or materials that may be hazardous to personnel and
precautions to be exercised.
d) Career Development Plan (two-page limit)
i. Describe the professional responsibilities/activities including other research projects beyond the
minimum required commitment (10 person-months or 85% full-time professional effort) to the
Career Development award. Explain how these responsibilities/activities will help ensure career
progression to an independent research investigator, including (1) didactic (if any) and research
components; and (2) relevant research and educational resources of the institution. The didactic
and research components must be designed to develop the necessary knowledge and research
skills in scientific areas relevant to the candidate’s career goals.
ii. Describe the mentor’s role in the career development plan. If more than one mentor is proposed,
their respective areas of expertise and responsibility should be described.
iii. A timeline including a publication plan and expectation for outside funding (K-award or another
award) should be provided.
iv. Composition of an advisory committee to assist with the development of the program of study and
to monitor the candidate’s progress during the career development program. Specific details of
timelines and milestones are required.
v. Plan for training in the responsible conduct of research.
4. Budget:
a) Can request salary support (up to $100,000 including fringe), travel support (up to $1,000), and
research support (up to $24,000) per year will be provided.
b) An additional year of funding is competitive and will be determined based on the progress made in the
first year (a progress report will be due approximately nine months into the first year of the award).
c) A budget justification in the application is required.
Application review information:
The selection committee will be composed of the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, the CHP Scholars
Program steering committee, and ad hoc experts from the University of Pittsburgh when needed. Selection
committee members will score each application using the 1-9 NIH scoring system. Review criteria for NIH K awards
will be applied in the following categories: candidate, research plan, career development plan, and
mentor. Candidates with the most favorable scores will be selected to fill the available positions.

Interested candidates can inquire about potential opportunities available in the Department of Pediatrics by indicating their area of specialty and applying to requisition number #22003576 on Pitt Talent Center by visiting https://www.join.pitt.edu/.

See appended documentation

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