AHRQ T32 Health Services Research Award: Postdoctoral Program
We are not currently accepting applications for this funding opportunity. When a slot becomes availalbe, an RFA will be announced to the community.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet all the following requirements for the AHRQ T32 Postdoctoral program:
- U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident. Individuals with temporary or student visas are not eligible.
- Hold a clinical doctorate (e.g. MD/DO, DMD/DDS, DNSc, PharmD, PsyD, DSW, ND, OD, DC, DVM) or a research doctorate (PhD, DrPH, ScD).
Selection Criteria
A campus-wide OHSU selection committee will be formed for this purpose and will conduct the selection process in two steps. The first step will follow the model of the NIH peer review process; a second step may follow to include an in-person presentation to the committee. Selection criteria will focus on the strengths and potential of the candidate as a researcher judged in five major domains:
- Potential of the applicant: potential to conduct health services research judging by research expertise and prior training; publications; prior participation in research.
- Research Plan: Scientific value, potential clinical importance, and feasibility of the written research plan.
- Training Plan: Quality, appropriateness, and composition of the team of the proposed mentors; plan to gain didactic and other training at OHSU or elsewhere.
- Mentors: Tangible commitment and resources provided by the home department and the mentor, and suitability of the mentor team to help the applicant accomplish his or her goals.
- Career Potential: Global assessment of the likelihood that the candidate will develop a career as an outstanding independent investigator and conduct research that will have an important impact on health. Individuals from underrepresented groups in research (women, ethnic minorities, and the disabled) are encouraged to apply. Special consideration will be given to individuals in disciplines traditionally under-represented in clinical research.
Expectations of Mentors
Developing a successful research career requires strong relationships with a mentor team. Each AHRQ T32R scholar will have at minimum a lead mentor and at least one other mentor from a different discipline. This may commonly include a mentor in the focused area of research that the scholar proposes, as well as a mentor for specific research methods as appropriate, such as a basic scientist, biostatistician, clinical trialist, epidemiologist, pharmacologist, or other methodologist. An eligible lead mentor should have a substantial track record of research funding and should have independent research support to help cover the costs of the proposed research project. The selection committee may suggest individuals to augment this mentor team.
Lead mentors will provide guidance to the fellow to assure that projects are moving satisfactorily on the path to presentations, publications, and grant applications, and they will provide advice about career directions, national networking, and academic promotion. They will also help to assure that the fellow’s total work week is protected from clinical and administrative duties and fully available for training and research. Co-mentors will be responsible for working with the lead mentor on these responsibilities and will provide guidance in one or more complementary areas of expertise.
Expectations of AHRQ T32 Fellows
Each fellow is expected to participate fully in the following activities:
- Full time research, defined as 40 hours a week.
- Active participation in a relationship with the mentor team.
- Didactic program to learn the competencies of health services research, tailored to the fellow’s interests and needs.
- Seminars and conferences in health services research.
- Practical experiences in activities of AHRQ-funded research groups, as appropriate for career development.
- Seminars and programs in research career development.
- Biannual presentations to training grant leadership to report progress.
- Completion of training grant reporting requirements.
Fellow Support
The following resources are provided to each scholar selected:
- 100% of the fellow's salary in accordance with NIH post-doctoral trainee support.
- Current support is set at the following by years of post-doctoral experience: 0 years, $37,740; 1 year, $39,756; 2 years, $42,624; 3 years, $44,304; 4 years, $45,960; 5 years, $47,940; 6 years, $49,836; 7 years, $52,068.
- Trainees may receive separate salary when employed for special services on a limited part-time basis, up to 20 hours per week. Compensation may not be paid from a research grant that supports the same research that is part of the trainee’s planned training experience.
- All outside employment must be approved by the training program director.
- Tuition costs for participation in a master’s degree program: Master of Clinical Research, Master of Public Health, or Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics degree.
- $7,850 in research support (Please note that this must be used to pay for health insurance).
- Access to a pool of highly qualified research mentors who will guide research projects and career development.
T32 Fellows will receive up to two years of salary support at 100% of full-time professional commitment. This time commitment is based upon a 40 hour work week. The successive year of funding is contingent on satisfactory progress toward the scholar's individual career goals, continued support from the scholar's mentors and department, and participation in educational opportunities and OCTRI activities.
Fellows who accept this award incur a payback obligation in the first 12 months of a postdoctoral T32 (NRSA). The 13th and subsequent months of postdoctoral NRSA support can satisfy this obligation. Normally, individuals who complete two years of NRSA postdoctoral support have no further obligation. In the case in which only one year can be completed, acceptable payback includes participation in health-related biomedical or behavioral research; health-related teaching; direct administration or review of health-related research; or any combination thereof.
