The Duke CTSA TL1 physician fellowship is a 2-year training program aiming to provide 2 years of funded time to support the research training of physician-scientists. All eligible physician trainees may apply, but we have particular interest in applicants who are interested in broadening their previous training to include a new category of research methodology (e.g., applicants with a bench science background looking to gain training in translational or clinical research, or vice versa). We also have particular interest in applicants looking to obtain training in data science methodology. The Duke CTSA TL1 will typically be for two years, will provide tailored professional development support, an NIH-scale postgraduate stipend, as well as federally-designated training-related expenses.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants will be US citizens or resident aliens with an MD or MD/PhD and no more than 2 prior years on a federal postdoctoral training grant. Applicants must be prepared to spend at least 40 hours a week engaged in research activities for the full length of the training period, and may perform no more than 25% non-research activities (e.g., clinical care).
Application Process
Applications require a brief (300-600 word) personal statement describing the applicant’s intended scientific career trajectory, and a 4-5 page scientific project proposal describing in some methodological detail a core project to be completed during the training period. The project should be an important, novel scientific endeavor, and should be feasible but not trivial to complete over the two year training period. This project proposal will be evaluated for significance, innovation, and soundness of approach, and will be the most important element of the application. Applications should also include the applicant’s NIH biosketch.
Mentors
Scientific mentors must support the application. Applicants must have identified an outstanding senior primary research mentor at Duke with whom they will work closely to complete scientific projects with the goal of achieving career development or independent funding. The mentorship team should also include a quantitative mentor (ie, a statistician or other strong data analyst), and may have other faculty members as expertise is needed for the proposed science. Applications should include the primary mentor’s NIH biosketch, and a letter of support from the primary mentor indicating both intellectual and resource support for the applicant. This letter should include a statement as to whether or not the mentor is willing to review applications to the program for years during which the mentor has a trainee supported by the grant.
Coursework
Didactic Coursework directly relevant to the trainee’s professional development may be proposed and should be delineated in a separate document as part of the application. A degree program, typically a Masters Degree, is expected for applicants without a prior scientific advanced degree (i.e., Masters or PhD in a scientific research field). This degree-granting program’s tuition will usually be paid for in part or whole by the CTSA TL1. The specific degree-granting program should be specified and a proposed course plan within that degree should be presented. Where applicants have a prior scientific degree, additional coursework should be specified by location and number of hours, and the applicant’s need for each course should be justified. Applicants proposing a very new direction—for example, the blending of clinical into basic science—should strongly consider proposing course work to support the new methodology.
Admissions
Applications are due Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Up to 3 fellowships may be awarded. Awardees may start at any reasonable time after acceptance, but a July 1 start date is targeted.
Application Materials
Applications require the following:
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A brief (300-600 word) personal statement describing the applicant’s intended scientific career trajectory.
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A 4-5 page scientific project proposal describing in some methodological detail a core project to be completed during the training period. The project should be an important, novel scientific endeavor, and should be feasible but not trivial to complete over the two year training period. This project proposal will be evaluated for significance, innovation, and soundness of approach, and will be the most important element of the application.
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Applicant’s NIH biosketch.
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Primary mentor’s NIH biosketch.
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Letter of support from the primary mentor that includes a statement as to whether or not the mentor is willing to review applications to the program for years during which the mentor has a trainee supported by the grant.
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Letter from your Department Chair indicating that he/she has approved a plan for protecting at least 40 hours a week for research activities for the full length of the training period (up to two years), with no more than 25% of your time dedicated to non-research activities (e.g., clinical care).
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NEW - Description of proposed mentoring/training plan (include didactic coursework, if applicable).
Please include a footer on each section uploaded by applicant with name of section and page number (i.e. Mentor Biosketch_Page 1 of 5; Department Chair Letter_Page 1 of 3, etc.).
To Apply
Proposals are submitted via Duke’s MyResearchProposal online submission system.
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To apply, visit MyResearchProposal and click “Create New User” (or log in if you already have an account).
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Download a step-by-step user's guide for applying via the MyResearchProposal software.
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Proposals must be submitted under the applicant’s name.
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Enter Access Code ‘CTSI’ then select the “Duke CTSA TL1 Physician Fellowship 2021” funding opportunity and follow the instructions to submit your TL1 application.
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For questions concerning MyResearchProposal passwords or system issues, please contact Anita Grissom or Lesia O’Hara at myresearchproposal@duke.edu.
Submit the completed online application form and provide all supporting documents.
All supporting documents must be submitted as pdfs.
Contact for questions about the program
Stephanie Molner, MSW
CTSA Education Administrator
Stephanie.Molner@dm.duke.edu
David Edelman, MD, MHS
Program Director
David.Edelman@dm.duke.edu
Kevin Thomas, MD
Program Director
Kevin.Thomas@duke.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do you accept applications from external institutions?
No. You must have an appointment at Duke University Medical Center (as of the start of the funding period) to be eligible for the Duke CTSA TL1. -
My mentor is not in the School of Medicine. Is this allowed?
Yes. -
My mentor is not affiliated with Duke. Is this allowed?
It is strongly preferred that your primary mentor be at Duke. However, if a mentor outside of Duke can best provide you the guidance and knowledge pertinent to your research project and interests, your primary mentor does not have to be located at Duke. -
Can a mentor be on more than one person’s application?
Yes. -
Does the quantitative mentor need to be a faculty member or can it be someone from the Biostatistics Core?
The quantitative mentor must be a faculty member. -
The statistician my group works with does not have a faculty appointment, and our group does not have an established relationship with a faculty member statistician. Do you have any recommendations for finding a quantitative mentor?
It has come to our attention that many people are having a difficult time identifying a quantitative mentor. If your group has worked with a Masters' Statistician, it may be helpful to ask that person for a recommendation of a Statistician with a faculty appointment. If you are unable to identify a quantitative mentor at the time of application, please indicate as such in the application and, if you are awarded the TL1, we will assist you in finding a quantitative mentor. -
Does the five-page limit for the proposed research project also include references?
No. -
If I begin the online application form, can I and stop and save it to submit later? Or once I begin, do I have to complete and submit it?
Yes, you can save your application form and submit it later. -
Is there a specific font/font size/margin I should use for my application?
Yes. Please refer to NIH submission guidelines for this information.