FAQ

Proposals must engage both the HIV and HLBS domains. Projects that do not have some relevance to these two areas cannot be funded by this program. However, the range of relevant areas within the HIV and HLBS domains is exceedingly broad; please see the table of sample projects on this website. If still in doubt regarding suitability, please contact the program directors.

The program requires a minimum of 75% protected time for research. The application must include a letter from the department chair for the applicant’s primary appointment committing the protected time, and describing the specific activities and anticipated time commitment for the balance of the effort.

No. An email to the program manager giving the applicant permission to apply and a letter for the application packet must come from the department chair, not the division chief.

Applications are reviewed in the spring and applicants are notified as soon as possible after review. Funding typically starts July 1.

The V-SCHoLARS program requires all applicants to be appointed faculty at the time of program start (but not at the time of application). If the applicant is not currently a faculty member, the letter from the department chair must specify the availability of an appointment at the Instructor or Assistant Professor level if successfully funded.

No, only one of the two mentors (HIV or HLBS) must be from Vanderbilt. The second mentor may be from Vanderbilt or Meharry.

While the dual mentors do not need to have a prior history of collaboration, each mentor must have a history of research related to the proposed project and a strong track record of mentoring junior investigators. A criterion for evaluating V-SCHoLARS applications will be the suitability of each mentor's expertise and skills for the proposed project.

The $30,000 provided by the V-SCHoLARS program supports the candidate’s research or may support tuition. It does not have to pass through a mentor and will be assigned a separate center number. Appropriate expenses will be determined by the home department/division, with oversight from the program directors as warranted. If relevant, you may include in your letter some of the ways in which the funds would be helpful.

You may submit separate letters from the HIV and HLBS mentors, or a single letter signed by both mentors. Whether separate or combined, the letters must explicitly describe each mentors area of expertise, history of mentorship, role on proposed project, and plan for mentoring (e.g., frequency of meetings, required department/division activities). Please note, if you are co-applying to the VCTRS or VFRS programs, confirm the number of letters permitted for each program

Although you may not have more than the required number of letters, multiple people can sign one letter to indicate intent to support you in your research, including collaboration.

Career development plans are described as part of the 10-page proposal.

Appendices must follow current NIH guidelines, which are very stringent about what is allowed.

Yes, the applicant’s cover letter may not be more than two pages.

No, but typical lengths are between 1 and 4 pages. Letters signed by multiple mentors tend to be longer.

The Vanderbilt Scholars in HIV and Heart, Lung, Blood, and Sleep Research Selection Committee.

Include everything on the list in the application instructions. Many use a format similar to the NIH K-series grants. Obtaining copies of successful K grants from more senior investigators is often very helpful in composing an application.

You should note any extramural grant applications in your cover letter, and the selection committee is interested to review recently submitted career development grants. If applicable, include a copy of your most recent career development award application as the last component of your application packet; send only the abstract, aims, and body of the grant (approx. 12 pages) and do not include budget, environment, etc.

If a scholar gets an individual K award (K08, K23, etc.) or an R01, the individual comes off K12 funding with a transition period. If someone has a small award from non-NIH sources, for example a professional society grant, individuals will need to check the regulations of the granting organization and with the V-SCHoLARS program directors to develop a plan. In general, you may not hold concurrent NIH career development awards.

The V-SCHoLARS application process is expected to be competitive. Applications are reviewed as though an NIH career development grant. Primary and secondary reviewers will discuss and score them in a panel format. The score reflects the reviewers’ judgment of the strengths of the scientific proposal, strengths of the mentor and mentoring plan, as well as the individual’s potential for a successful academic science career.

Many researchers who are undertaking clinical and translational research enroll in the MSCI program at Vanderbilt. While this training can be highly beneficial, it requires a time commitment and spans the 2 years of the V-SCHoLARS award. Trainees need to expect to complete both the MSCI degree and primary project within the 2 year period. V-SCHoLARS awards are not extended for a 3rd year. If an applicant has extensive expertise/training, an individualized program can be proposed.

Absolutely, applications to the V-SCHoLARS program are 10 pages in length to approximate a K grant format. Well-developed applications that appear to be nearly ready for submission as a K grant are highly encouraged and generally preferred by the selection committee. If a scholar is successful in receiving an individual K, he or she will graduate to that award from internal funding.

Yes. Our scholars are encouraged to quickly move from K12 funding to an individual federal award.

The number of open positions varies each year. There are currently 3 federally funded K12 positions. Positions open when a current scholar is awarded an extramural grant, such as a K or R01.

Yes, as long as you are eligible.

• Most important: have a project that engages both the HIV and HLBS domains. Projects that do not have some relevance to these two areas cannot be funded by this program. If in doubt, please contact the program directors or the program manager.
• Follow the application instructions
• Select a pair of strong, funded mentors with a track record of successful trainees
• Have a career plan that shows you are moving forward and shows where you are going
• Have clear, hypothesis-driven aims

No threshold is defined and the competition varies from year to year. Someone with no publications and no research experience is unlikely to be successful. However, having a lot of publications does not ensure success. The whole application is scored: The two mentors, the science, and the applicant’s potential.

Please email the program manager, who will respond to any additional questions you may have.