How to Apply

Appointments are made for a term of one year with the possibility of renewal. However, trainees are expected to seek support beyond the first year from other funding sources during their appointment.  The program expects all appointed trainees to demonstrate commitment to a research career in KUH science, including applications for career development awards or independent funding.

Stipends: For postdoctoral scholars, the standard NIH stipends for this award depend on the number of years of relevant postdoctoral experience at the time of the award. For current stipends, see the most recent NRSA stipend announcement at http://grants2.nih.gov/training/nrsa.htm. There is also a contribution toward health insurance.

Travel to national meetings: The training program has resources to provide support for travel and 
subsistence for trainees who wish to attend meetings in their research area. The program requires that 
trainees submit abstracts and attend meetings at one (or more) scientific meetings/year.

Payback Agreement: Postdoctoral (but not predoctoral) awards are subject to the provisions of Public Law 93-348, National Research Act, which requires that if suitable research or teaching positions are available, the award recipient will engage in research or teaching for a period equal to the period of support (see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/416/phs6031.pdf).

Nominees for predoctoral positions must be currently enrolled in a M.D., M.D./PhD., Ph.D., or D.V.M program and for postdoctoral positions must have an M.D., M.D./PhD., Ph.D., D.V.M, and must be sponsored by an affiliated institution's faculty member. Applicants will be considered based on their potential for creative research accomplishments and relevance and strength of their proposed training program to their relevant field; potential to obtain a career development or K award (for MD and MD/PhDs) or extramural funding; and commitment of the applicant to academic careers in research. The goal of this program is to attract and cultivate basic, translational, and clinical scientists who are superbly trained to think creatively and collaboratively and to innovate in non-malignant kidney, urology, and hematology (KUH) disciplines. Trainees must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. UCSF does not use race, gender, sex, or other protected categories or proxies for protected categories in the selection process.

Postdoctoral and predoctoral candidates for the Training Program and their mentors must provide the following:

PART I – APPLICANT

1. A completed Application for Appointment form available here: https://redcap.ucsf.edu/surveys/?s=TL8E3HLRLT9TA7XH

• Please note that you may save your application progress in REDCap and receive a return code to continue your application later. Please be sure to take note of your return code. If needed, you may email us at [email protected] for any lost return codes. If we receive multiple applications from you, only the last submission before the deadline will be used. Once you have fully completed your application packet, please email us at [email protected] to confirm your final submission.

2. The applicant's NIH style biosketch
3. The names, email addresses, and telephone numbers of at least two professional references - including the primary mentor and one other individual.

• Please enter your reference writers as soon as possible and notify them to expect an email from the LAUNCH Program to submit their letter. We will solicit letters of recommendation for you - please do not send these to us directly. Letters of recommendation are due preferably within 1 week of application submission for 2026-27 - please provide advanced notice to your reference writers. Please double check that your reference writer received a solicitation email. If they did not, please have them check in their spam folders as the reference request will come from REDCap.  We will reach out to you if we do not receive letters by the deadline. If your research mentor is also listed as one of your professional references, please note that the letter of recommendation is separate from the mentor materials, though it is up to your mentor if they want to use the same text for your letter of recommendation as the text in their mentor materials in support of your application.

4. Please upload a description of your research that will be undertaken. Explain its relevance to kidney, non-malignant urology, or non-malignant hematology - the first page should be in the format of a specific aims page. You have the option of providing a second page with additional data (e.g. preliminary data) but please do not exceed two  pages, excluding references. Font should be no smaller than Arial size 11 with 0.5 inch margins.

PART II – MENTORS OR MENTOR TEAMS

Mentors must provide items # 5-8 below. In the case of mentor teams, the primary mentor (the first mentor listed in your application) can upload combined PDFs of mentor and co-mentor materials (i.e. a PDF containing both mentors' individual training plans, a PDF containing both mentors' biosketches, etc.). The individual listed as Mentor #1 will receive an email requesting these materials. These documents should be uploaded by the primary mentor when this request is received. These materials are due preferably within 1 week of the solicitation email for 2026-27.

5. A description of the training plan that describes the mentor’s training and career development plans for the applicant. In the case of mentor teams, the specific role of each mentor in the program should be described.

6. A brief description of the Overall Research program in the proposed mentor’s laboratory (please limit to one page).

7. A list of all predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees currently in the mentor’s laboratory and their sources of funding.

8. The mentor's NIH Biosketch with publications most closely related to non-malignant kidney, urology, and/or hematology and Other Support (10 pages combined max).

Can I save my application progress and work on it at a later time?

• Yes! You may receive a return code to return to your application at a later time. After the instructions page, you will see the application form where you enter your information. At the bottom of the page, click “Save & Return Later”. Your individual return code will display; please take note of this return code. When you re-open the application link, a textbox will prompt you to enter your return code to continue working on your application.
• If you have lost your return code, please email us at [email protected]

If I have a co-mentor team, who should fill out my letter of recommendation and submit mentor materials?

• In the case of co-mentor teams, the primary mentor will submit a letter of recommendation and receive the submission link for mentor materials. Mentor(s) are required to submit a description of the applicant’s training plan, a brief description of the overall research in the mentor’s lab, a list of all predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees in the lab, and the mentor’s NIH biosketch. The primary mentor will submit 4 PDFs of combined co-mentor materials (i.e. a PDF containing both mentors’ training plans, a PDF containing both mentors’ biosketches).

Are extra letters of recommendation accepted?

• No, additional letters of recommendation will not be accepted or considered in the application review process. Two letters of recommendation are required for application and one letter must be from the primary mentor.

Can my primary mentor submit the same document for their letter of recommendation and mentor training plan?

• Yes, your mentor may use the same letter for their letter of recommendation and training plan document. However, we encourage your mentor to submit different letters to fully highlight your abilities and their mentorship plan.