This LAUNCH Training Program supports comprehensive didactic training in nephrology, non-malignant urology, non-malignant hematology and stem cell biology, and clinical or laboratory research training under a faculty sponsor.
LAUNCH has multiple training positions available for predoctoral and postdoctoral level trainees.
Post-doc Timeline:
- Application process begins: February 1st
- Application Due Date: March 30th
- Interview dates (for applicants selected to interview): April 30th and May 7th
- Decision: May/June
- TL1 Support start date: July 1st
Pre-doc Timeline:
- Application process begins: February 1st
- Application Due Date: May 31st
- Interview dates (for applicants selected to interview): June 6th and June 13th
- Decision: June 30th
- TL1 Support start date: September 1st
Support
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: 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: This award is 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.
Eligibility
Nominees for predoctoral and postdoctoral positions must be currently enrolled in a M.D., M.D./PhD., Ph.D., or D.V.M program or 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.
Application Procedure
Postdoctoral and predoctoral candidates for the Training Program and their mentors must provide the following:
PART I – APPLICANT
- A completed Application for Appointment form available here: https://redcap.ucsf.edu/surveys/?s=NDEMEDF88PRDCHR8
- 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.
- The applicant's NIH style biosketch
- 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 reference will be due approximately 10 days after every application deadline. Please double check that your reference writer received a solicitation email after the close of the application cycle. 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.
- 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.
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).
Additional Information & Questions
For further information, determination of eligibility or assistance in identifying mentors, please contact [email protected]