Award-Limited Submission - Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Awards (IRACDA) (K12); August 8, 2011

The purpose of the Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA) Program is to develop a diverse group of highly trained biomedical and behavioral scientists who are available to work on NIH-funded research and to address the nation’s biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs. An IRACDA program involves a consortium of multiple institutions. The lead applicant institution must be a research-intensive institution (RII), and it must serve as the primary site of the postdoctoral research experience. The consortium must include one or more partners that are institutions which, for the purposes of this FOA, are defined as public or private nonprofit universities, two-year or four-year colleges or universities, offering associate and/or baccalaureate degrees with a historical mission and a demonstrated commitment to the training and encouragement of, and assistance to students from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral research enterprise of the nation.

Applicant institutions have wide latitude in the design of the program. However, career development activities, which should last two to four years, must include the following three components:

• A mentored research experience that is typical of other competitive postdoctoral opportunities.
• A mentored teaching experience, the practicum of which will take place at a partner institution. Approximately 25% of the effort must be spent on this activity, the timing of which may be flexible over the duration of the award. The activity must emphasize modern pedagogy.
• Other mentored and/or didactic experiences to improve academic skills (e.g., problem-solving, communication, time management, and grant writing, etc.) and provide career development opportunities that are deemed important for an individual to prosper in an academic environment.

The Program must have a strong research base, comprised of established scientists who will provide expertise, resources, and mentoring to the IRACDA scholars. Faculty research mentors must have active, externally funded research projects relevant to the mission of NIGMS (http://www.nigms.nih.gov/About/),, and track records in mentoring and training students and postdoctoral researchers.

Guidelines and additional details:  http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-11-255.html

Because only one application per institution is allowed, the University of Kentucky has established an internal selection process. Individuals interested in submitting to this program are to send the following information electronically to the Office of the Vice President for Research at vpr@email.uky.edu and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Monday, August 8, 2011:

· Names and departments of Program Director and mentors

· Participating partner institution(s)

· Program overview (1-2 pages) – describe the immediate and long-term program objectives and proposed training or career development activities

A committee will be appointed to review the information and make recommendations as to the University’s submission. The NIH deadline is September 22, 2011. Questions about the submission process may be sent to Ms. Annette Evans in the Office of the Vice President for Research (alevan4@email.uky.edu or 257-1663.)