New initiatives from the Office of Research address biomedical workforce training as part of Accelerate Forward Together, the new strategic plan for the School of Medicine (SOM). These initiatives, listed below, focus on postdoctoral and postbaccalaureate training in SOM basic and clinical research spaces and are housed in the Office of Graduate Education (OGE), which is part of the SOM Office of Research. Please contact Donita Robinson (Associate Dean for Graduate Education, DLR@unc.edu) if you have questions.
1) Supplemental Funding for Postdoctoral Fellows
- The Research Pillar of SOM Accelerate Forward Together provides supplemental funding to help retain our talented SOM postdoctoral fellows. This year, we focus on retention by providing limited funding to labs in need of financial support to raise postdoctoral fellow stipends to the new NIH minimum of $61,008. Due to the nature of these funds, this SOM research initiative is available only to primary/joint faculty members in SOM whose grants run through SOM. To assist as many labs as possible, we anticipate awards of up to $5,000 per lab. The application portal is here. Application deadline is December 4, 2024, with announcements of awards on December 18, 2024.
2) Expand Support for Postdoctoral Fellows: Call for Faculty Director
- Under the Research Pillar of the Accelerate Forward Together strategic plan, we will appoint a faculty director for SOM postdoctoral fellows who will work closely with the OGE as well as the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs on main campus. The goal of this initiative will be to provide additional career development support to our SOM postdoctoral fellows. Information about duties and responsibilities of this position can be found on the application portal here. Application deadline is December 10, 2024.
3) Postbaccalaureate Research Initiative in Science and Medicine (PRISM): Call for Faculty Director
- Under the Research Pillar of the Accelerate Forward Together strategic plan, we will appoint a faculty director for PRISM who will work closely with the OGE, HR and SOM faculty on this program. This initiative will provide students who are near graduation, or have recently graduated, with the opportunity to build their research skills by taking part in a 1-to-2-year lab-funded or clinical-funded research opportunity. The goal will be to prepare them for future careers in the biomedical sciences (e.g., pursuit of medical, doctoral, or other advanced degrees). Information about duties and responsibilities of this position can be found on the application portal here. Application deadline is December 10, 2024.