Formatting Guide

The following specifications are required for each application for the UNC BIRCWH (KL2) Program.

• Font Size: no smaller than 11 point.
• Page Limits: adhere to limits where specified.
• Header: last name, first name on each page
• Pagination: in footer at bottom right of each page (example: page X of Y)

Listed below are the required sections of the application. There are two parts to the application:

1. Candidate, research and mentor information is described below. Please assemble the application, including mentor information, into one PDF file that can be uploaded. Before you submit the application, please make sure you have the emails, phone numbers, mailing address for you, your department chair, and your mentors. You will also need the ERA Commons IDs for you and your mentors to submit with the application.
2. Letters of reference from each mentor, two additional individuals, and a letter of support from your department chair are needed. These letters should be addressed to: Susan Pusek.

Application Sections:

Abstract (LIMITED to 450 words)

Table of Contents (label as Sections A-G)

A. NIH Biosketch (not to exceed 4 pages)

B. Curriculum Vitae

C. Background and Research Training, Research Interests, and Career Goals (not to exceed 2 pages)

Use this section to provide any additional information not described in the Biosketch such as past scientific history, and research and/or clinical training experience. Research interests should highlight if there are consistent themes or issues that have guided previous work; if your work has changed direction, reasons for the change should be indicated. The Career Goals should outline your short-term and long-term career goals as well as a paragraph indicating how the award will fit into developing or expanding your research career.

D. Career Development Plan (not to exceed 3 pages)

Didactic coursework: This section should address by semester and year of your time in the BIRCWH program the details of any coursework you wish to pursue. In addition, please note if you plan to pursue a degree., information on the MPH and Masters of Science in Clinical Research is available at sph.unc.edu.

Begin this section with whether you plan to take the core curriculum courses for clinical/translational researchers OR if you have had prior training in these areas. You will not be granted an exemption if you think the coursework does not apply to your area of research.

Course days/times DO NOT CHANGE and we follow the UNC academic calendar. If you are selected for the BIRCWH program, you will need to obtain appropriate release time from clinics, OR schedules, teaching responsibilities, etc. to allow for attendance in the didactic coursework.

E. Women’s Health Relevance

Please include a section addressing the women’s health relevance of your research question (not to exceed 1 page).

F. Participation in Research

Each Scholar is expected to actively conduct research throughout the time on the KL2. Use this section to describe:

• Scholar-Initiated Independent Research (not to exceed 4 pages)
  The Candidate with the assistance of the proposed Lead Mentor and mentoring team should write a research plan based on one of the candidate’s independent research questions. This research project should lead to preliminary data that will be used to support the applicant’s next grant application. The research plan should include:
  • Specific Aims
  • Background and Significance
  • Preliminary Studies
  • Research Design and Methods
  • Literature Cited (maximum 1 page additional)

This research project is meant to demonstrate both the ability of the candidate to generate a unique question and the ability of the Candidate and mentors to work together.

G. Resources (not to exceed 1 page)

Specify the Facilities (Clinical, Animal, Computer, Office, Other)to be used for the conduct of the proposed mentored and Scholar-initiated research. Also include major equipment items already available for this project, noting the location and pertinent capabilities of each. Indicate the performance sites and describe capacities, pertinent capabilities, relative proximity, and extent of availability to the project. Under “Other”, please indicate your affiliation with a University center, institutes, or laboratory available to you. The Primary Mentor letter should confirm access.

H. Mentors

Applicants should identify a Lead Mentor who will have primary responsibility for working with the applicant to assist them in the transition to independent funding. The Lead Mentor should work with the applicant to identify other individuals who will form an interdisciplinary mentoring team designed to support the training goals and translational aspects of the research.

For EACH Mentor, applicants should obtain:

• Biosketch
• Other Support
• Trainee Table (in the following format)

• Brief description of past and current research for each Mentor
• Signature on the Lead and Team Agreements. Lead Mentors will sign both agreements, other members of the mentoring team will sign the Team Agreement.