NIGMS Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRAT) Program Overview and Application Process Jessica M. Faupel-Badger, PhD, MPH PRAT Program Director and Erika Ginsburg, M.A. Intramural Signing Official for NCI

2 NIGMS Research Areas Cell biology Biophysics Genetics Developmental biology Pharmacology Neuroscience Physiology Biological chemistry Immunology Computational biology Technology development Bioinformatics Studies employing model organisms are encouraged.

A Brief History of the NIGMS PRAT Program 3 Pharmacology Research Associate (PRAT) Program established in 1965 as NIGMS’ only intramural activity In 2012 was renamed Postdoctoral Research Associate Program to reflect broader research areas Supports approx. 20 fellows annually in intramural NIH and FDA labs; ~ 7 fellows selected each year and supported for 3 years Many successes: Alumni are leaders in academia, industry, and government, including 1 Nobel laureate

PRAT Program Components 4 Three year program providing: Outstanding laboratory experience Access to extensive NIH resources – facilities, expertise, collaborations Personal mentorship Extensive career development activities Networking Possibility of short-term placement in non-lab setting

Additional Benefits of Structured Training Programs 5 Additional mentoring Inclusion in a community of scholars Peer network Communicating with others in aligned and diverse disciplines Confidence Credibility

NIGMS Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRAT) program - Eligibility 7 Scientific focus – All research areas supported by NIGMS** Career stage – Early postdoctoral career; apply before coming to NIH or no more than 24 months at NIH at time appointed to PRAT program Application - Identify an NIH research mentor and write proposal (NIH Fi2 application, similar to NIH F32)** Citizenship - US citizens and permanent residents

NIGMS Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRAT) program – 2016 Recruitment 8 Applications accepted through October 2, 2015 for fall 2016 start ( files/PAR html) files/PAR html Must identify a research mentor in advance and submit the proposal via Grants.gov NIGMS provides position, stipend, benefits, and travel allowance for three years

Funding Opportunity Announcement Guidance Read everything thoroughly Specific guidance for each part of the application (e.g. length, content, due date)

Link to NIGMS PRAT funding opportunity announcement NIGMS PRAT Fi2 mechanism (i=intramural) – uses NRSA/F32 template html

NIGMS PRAT Funding Opportunity

Important Dates: Due Date – October 2, 2015 (begin working with Institute Signing Official well in advance) Review timeframe- Feb/March 2016 Click here to download application package

Landing page after clicking on link in funding announcement:

Yes, pay attention to all instructions Ignore this. You get this information from the NIH Institute or Center submitting your application Click here to download forms

Interacting with Institute Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) Application needs to be submitted by Institute where proposed work will be conducted. Each Institute has one or more designated AORs. Make sure you contact your AOR early in the process (contact if you need help identifying who this is, most likely the person who submits K99s for The AOR will submit the application on your behalf and has important information you need. The AOR needs to create an eRA Commons account for all PIs and Sponsors You will need to schedule a time to upload your grant with your AOR. Respect the AOR’s deadlines.

Information Institute Signing Official (Authorized Organization Representative/AOR) provides to you EIN DUNS Congressional District AOR information Location of these fields highlighted on next 7 slides Remember the Institute is the Applicant. You are the PI. You do not need to register for these as an individual. You use the Institute’s numbers.

Enter IC’s DUNS number

The applicant is the IC, not the PI

The AOR should be listed here, not the PI

Enter IC’s EIN

Select “Other” in the pull down menu and then enter Federal Government in the “Other” Box

You, The PI, are listed here

AOR info again

Everything highlighted in yellow is required but some things not in yellow also are required – Read instructions

Research and Training Components Demonstrate integration of research and training components, and additional training potential

Research and Training Components

Sponsor(s) Information and Budget Sponsor(s) information is uploaded here by applicant. Budget is fixed for stipend and benefits. No additional information is needed and no extra funds should be requested.

You are the PI on this application Your eRA commons name

Next you fill in the Sponsor/Co-Sponsors Your Sponsor’s eRA commons name Many NIH Intramural PIs do not have an eRA commons account – Sponsor(s) may need to have one created (another reason to talk with Institute Signing Official in advance) You can have more than one sponsor and co-sponsors can be intramural or extramural Additional fields can be added by clicking on box at bottom right corner

Page limits for fellowship applications

Supporting materials New Biosketch can be no more than five pages - files/NOT-OD html files/NOT-OD html Letters of reference submitted to eRA Commons by referee

Reference Letters Electronic submission of a letter of reference is a separate process from submitting an application electronically. Letters can be submitted well in advance of application being submitted. Reference letters are submitted directly through the eRA Commons and do not use Grants.gov Therefore, this process requires that the referee be provided information including – the PI’s (candidate’s) eRA Commons user name, – the PI’s first and last name as they appear on the PI’s eRA Commons account, and – the number assigned to this Funding Opportunity Announcement. **Letters due by 5pm on due date – no grace period** No reason to delay contacting people who are providing letters

Common Mistakes – Big Picture Not giving yourself enough time to: Identify a mentor in the NIH Intramural Research Program Work on the proposal Work with the AOR on logistics of submission

Common Mistakes - Logistics eRA Commons username is not included for PI or sponsor(s) PI lists themselves as the applicant PI lists themselves or sponsor as person to be contacted about the application Missing required attachment (and all attachments must be pdfs) Reference letters not submitted on time Forgetting to send an update if a paper is accepted between submission and review of the application

AOR Timeline for October 2 Due Date Every NIH Institute and Center is different. Find your AOR and talk with him or her now. Learn Institute-specific timeline and preferences for submission.

Other Important Dates You have the 48 hour window to make corrections only if you submit more than 48 hours before the due date. All applications are final at 5 pm on the due date. Letters of Reference also must be received by 5pm on the due date. No grace period.

NIGMS Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRAT) program – 2016 Recruitment 38 For more information – PRAT home page - PRAT Funding Opportunity Announcement -

NIGMS PRAT program 50 th Anniversary Scientific Symposium to be held November 6, 2015 Natcher Conference Center Bethesda, MD th-year-with-scientific-symposium/ 50th-year-with-scientific-symposium/