Program Purpose
The goal of Pediatrician-Scientist Research Career Development Award Program is to provide new junior faculty members of the Department of Pediatrics at CHLA with state of the art mentored training in an academic research setting to stimulate pediatric research over a variety of disciplines, to assist junior faculty in their transition into productive pediatrician scientists in pediatrics and to promote the performance of research and transfer of findings that will benefit the health of children. This will be accomplished by supporting research career development of new faculty-level pediatricians who can take advantage of new technologies and who have made a commitment to independent research careers, The Award is designed to facilitate their transition to more advanced support mechanisms, e.g., K08, K23 and R01 and to encourage transdisciplinary research. Trainees will receive extensive individual, research, career and faculty development mentoring from established NIH funded faculty.
Award Description
The award is for a one-year period, with possible funding for up to two years upon satisfactory annual review. Award will provide salary support for a maximum of $75,000 per year and up to $20,000 per year for general supplies/research expenditures.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must have completed a pediatric residency and be no more than four years beyond attaining subspecialty board eligibility at the time of scholar appointment
- Selected candidates must have a faculty appointment (Assistant Professor) at the time of the award
- Applicants must identify a senior research mentor of the faculty at CHLA/USC who agrees to provide mentoring, research space and access to equipment/technology as needed
- Awarded applicant(s)must be able to spend a minimum of 75% of full-time effort on research and research career development activities
Application Description
Qualified pediatric faculty members interested in applying to the pediatrician-scientist research career development program must provide the following documentation (font Arial 11, single space):
- Abstract – A one-paragraph summary of the proposed project
- A one-page summary with brief background, hypothesis and specific aims
- A four-page research strategy that includes a brief background and relevance, some preliminary data and a research plan.
- A two-page, 4 year mentoring plan that includes a description of how the trainee will be exposed to transdisciplinary research
- An NIH Biosketch of the trainee and mentor(s)
- A letter from the mentor indicating commitment
- A letter from the Division Chief indicating support and commitment to provide 75% protected time
PSP Program Administration
Award Recipients
2020-2021
- Saranya Veluswamy, MD
- Leah Yieh, MD
2019-2020
- Babak Moghimi, MD
- Leah Yieh, MD
2018-2019
- Andrew Chang, MD
- Babak Moghimi, MD
Should you have questions, please contact Sonia Jahanbin, Manager of Faculty Development at sjahanbin@chla.usc.edu.