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2008 BIRCWH Call for Applications

Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH)

Call for Applications

Funding from the NIH-sponsored Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) Program is available to support career development of Ph.D. and M.D. researchers interested in Women’s Health. The program will provide mentored faculty with multidisciplinary training to help them establish independent biomedical research careers in areas relevant to women’s health and will create an environment that nurtures non-traditional interdisciplinary collaborations in focused and interactive research areas that are essential to improving the health of women.

Established researchers will mentor junior faculty in one of four interacting areas of women’s health: (1) neuroscience and neurodegenerative diseases and their disproportionate impact on females, (2) metabolic and nutrition-related syndromes and their repercussions for women, (3) cardiovascular science and its relationship to gender, and (4) lifespan biology and transitions, such as early development, adolescence, and menopause, that bring unique risks to females. Faculty conducting research in other areas of women’s health are also encouraged to apply.

Interdisciplinary Women’s Heath Research (IWHR) scholars in the BIRCWH program will devote a minimum of 75% of their professional time to women’s health research studies and to developing an independent, federally-funded or externally funded research program.

The grant will provide 75% salary support for up to $75,000 per year for two years. In addition, scholars will receive $10,000 for supplies and $1,000 for travel annually.

Eligibility Criteria:

  1. A junior faculty member in the tenure-track, in-residence, clinical or adjunct faculty appointment at UC Davis, with less than 6 years of postdoctoral research experience.

  2. Evidence of interest, experience, and/or training in women’s health and demonstrated potential for development as a successful independent researcher.

  3. Commitment of laboratory space, and 75% protected time for women’s health research from appropriate department, college, or school.

  4. Commitment of funds from IWHR Scholar’s department, college, or school to supplement BIRCWH salary commitment to ensure total salary consistent with UCD standards.

  5. IWHR Scholar cannot be receiving concomitant salary support from any other federal grant.

  6. IWHR Scholar cannot be or have been a Principal Investigator on an R01 or subproject of a Program Project (P01), Center (P50, P60, U54) grant, or mentored career development (K-series) grant (R03 and R21 awards are okay.

  7. The scholar must be a United States Citizen or non-citizen national, or have legal admission into the United States as a permanent citizen.

Application Process:

  • An application packet containing the following documents should be submitted: Completed application cover sheet, available from Kristen Venditelli (E-mail address below)

  • One-page cover letter detailing career goals and how the BIRCWH program will contribute to those goals

  • Two-page research proposal (plus references), 12 pt font, ¾” margins, including:
    1. One paragraph on objectives
    2. One paragraph on rationale
    3. Methods
    4. One paragraph on significance to women’s health
  • Proposed timeline for project

  • Proposed research and career mentors

  • Recent NIH BioSketch including all sources of current extramural funding (applicant’s role, % effort and % salary support)

  • Letter from department chair, with commitment to protect 75% of scholar’s time toward BIRCWH, co-signed by division chief, if appropriate, and indicating provision of space needed to complete project

  • Letter from chair or division chief, assessing applicant’s potential

All proposals should be sent electronically to kristen.venditelli@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu.

In addition, one hard copy should be sent to:

Kristen Venditelli, BIRCWH Program Representative
Office of the Dean
School of Medicine
C/O Clinical and Translational Science Center
2921 Stockton Boulevard, Suite 1400
Sacramento, CA 95817

Deadline for Applications:February 15, 2008

Review Criteria:

  • Potential of the applicant for a successful research career in Women’s Health:
    1. Importance of the research proposal
    2. Likelihood of obtaining subsequent funding
  • Impact of BIRCWH program on career goals

  • Evidence of research experience and productivity including having applied for peer reviewed funding and having written and published manuscripts with data obtained and analyzed by the applicant.

  • Additional considerations to ensure a diverse pool of IRWH Scholars:
    1. Broad recruitment of candidates with emphasis on minorities
    2. Attempts to achieve diversity (in research areas, disciplines, gender, ethnicity) in the scholar pool

Starting Date: April 1, 2008

For more information, visit the BIRCWH website at http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/bircwh

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