BIRCWH Call for Applications

Applications due June 1, 2025

BIRCWH

The BIRCWH Career Development Program

The BIRCWH Program provides advanced research training, mentoring, and career guidance for junior faculty pursuing a research scientist career. BIRCWH research spans the entire spectrum of women’s health topics, and the program is open to all types of disciplines, clinicians, and non-clinicians.

BIRCWH scholars receive salary support (up to $100,000 per year) for a minimum of two years and must dedicate 75% of full professional effort (9 person months; 50% effort, 6 person months for surgical specialties) to research and professional development related to their BIRCWH project. The award also includes funds for research support and travel. Scholars work closely with at least two mentors, one of whom is outside of their primary field. At least one mentor must be from the approved mentors list.

Eligibility

We invite junior faculty from NCCU and Duke to apply. Fellows and post-docs may apply with a letter from their chair stating that by the first date of their award they will have a faculty appointment, which is not contingent on their receipt of BIRCWH funding. Applicants from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups, or from a disadvantaged background are encouraged to apply. Applicants can be associated with any department and should be pursuing a research career related to women’s health or sex/gender differences in human health and disease.

The following additional eligibility requirements apply:

  •     Clinical doctorate, or PhD, or equivalent
  •     Have no more than 8 years of research or research training experience beyond the last doctoral degree (usually PhD or completion of fellowship). Those who may have had a career hiatus due to family responsibilities, uniformed service, etc. can be accommodated with NIH approval.
  •     United States citizenship or permanent residency (green card)
  •     Not be or have been a PD/PI on an R01, R29, or subproject of a Program Project (P01), Center (P50, P60, U54) grant, or independent mentored career development (K-series) grants, or other equivalent research grant awards; except for R03 and R21

Application

Complete the application process in Qualtrics. The application must include the following:

  1. Completed Applicant Information form (located in the Qualtrics Application linked above)
  2. NIH Biosketch (including your eRA Commons Name and link to bibliography)
  3. Current CV (dated)
  4. Project title and a two-sentence description of the research project
  5. Personal statement (2 pages max) that includes:
    1. Description of long-term career goals
    2. Professional development plan: Description of career development goals (include course work, training, and milestones for publications and grant submissions) for the next 2-3 years.
    3. Description how the BIRCWH program will help meet your career and professional development goals
    4. Plan for securing 75% protected research time and explanation of commitments for your 25% non- BIRCWH time
  6. Brief research proposal (2-3 pages plus references) for a specific project to be accomplished during the next 2-3 years as a BIRCWH scholar. The project must be aligned with the BIRCWH mission to support interdisciplinary basic, translational, behavioral, clinical, and/or health services research relevant to the health of women and, where appropriate, the use of both sexes to better understand the influence of sex as a biological variable on health and disease. Describe how your mentors will support you in your research endeavors.
  7. Provide a budget for your proposed BIRCWH research project (limit $33,000/year).
  8. Plan for future funding (1 page): Briefly describe what question your future major grant application will investigate. Describe how the completion of your proposed BIRCWH project and your proposed career development goals will support that future major grant application.
  9. Letters of support your proposed mentor(s), a letter from at least one other person knowledgeable about your prior accomplishments and suitability for this program, and a letter from your department chair or division chief  indicating their agreement to designate 75% (9 person months; or 50% effort and 6 person months for surgical specialties) of your total professional effort towards BIRCWH-related research and career development, and specify steps that will be taken to assure this protected time. See

 

BIRCWH Scholar Expectations

Year 1: Scholars are expected to focus on generating data for publications and improving their standing as productive and recognized members of their field.

Year 2: Scholars must submit at least one extramural grant for government, industry or foundation support.

Year 3: Scholars are expected to submit an R01, individual K-award, or the equivalent by the end of their 3rd year. After obtaining this type of grant award, they rotate off the program.

Scholars who have been judged by the Advisory Committee (AC) as likely to succeed, and who are recommended by the AC for continuation, will be reappointed for a 12-month period.  Scholars must re-apply for their position at the beginning of their 4th year and again at the beginning of their 5th year for reappointment, justifying the need for more time on the K12 grant.