NIH K12 Career Development Support for Women’s Health Research

The Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH, pronounced “birch”) is a mentored career development program designed to connect junior faculty, known as BIRCWH Scholars, to senior faculty with shared interest in women’s health and sex differences research. The mission of the UNC BIRCWH Program is to mentor and train early career investigators to become independent interdisciplinary translational science researchers who study high priority areas in women’s health, explore biological sex influences on health and disease, and incorporate research strategies to diminish health disparities for women across the lifespan. Core NIH research priority areas aligning with strengths at UNC include maternal health, metabolic disorders, behavioral health, infectious disease, and cancer. Applicants to the BIRCWH program will be doctorate (e.g., MD or PhD) degree holding women’s health researchers recruited from any school in UNC or being recruited to UNC. These junior faculty should have an academic rank no higher than assistant professor. Post-doctoral fellows and instructor-level faculty are eligible to apply. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents.

The Women’s Reproductive Health Research Program (WRHR, pronounced “were-her”) is a mentored career development program for trained obstetrician-gynecologists (Ob-Gyns) working in the field. Entering our third cycle, the WRHR Program seeks to: (1) catalyze the early career development of promising Ob-Gyn clinician investigators in women’s reproductive health research through mentorship, collaboration, and tailored skills building; (2) enhance engagement of Ob-Gyn researchers in multidisciplinary and translational team-based science within and outside of the UNC Department of Ob-Gyn; and (3) advance women’s reproductive health through the design, conduct, and dissemination of cutting-edge research, in areas aligned with NIH scientific priorities. Scientific areas can span the reproductive life course for women. To be eligible, candidates must have completed their medical degree, finished Ob-Gyn specialty training, and be a US citizen or permanent resident. At this time, the WRHR Program is recruiting assistant professors or senior fellows being recruited for a new faculty position in the UNC Department of Ob-Gyn.