Stanford’s Jump Start Awards for Excellence in Research for Postdoctoral Scholars / Fellows

The Jump Start Award is designed to facilitate successful K Award applications from promising postdoctoral researchers from diverse backgrounds, for example postdocs from groups underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce at the faculty level. Dr. Sheri Krams, Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, has pledged support for up to 8 Jump Start Awards (up to $3,000 each) to enable Stanford postdocs to collect pilot data, conduct feasibility studies, demonstrate interdisciplinary collaborations, and/ or participate in career development activities that will enhance their NIH K Award proposals.

Jump Start Awardees are provided:

• Guidance and feedback – Awardees participate in Grant Writing Academy’s Proposal Bootcamp on Thursdays September 26 to November 21 from 12:00-3:00 PM (8-weeks, in-person).
• 9-months of one-on-one coaching – Awardees meet with assigned Grant Coach at least monthly.
• Funding for activities that will increase likelihood of success – Awardees are provided with up to $3,000 seed funding. Jump Start Funds can be used to collect pilot data, conduct feasibility studies, initiate interdisciplinary collaborations, participate in career development activities, etc. that will enhance future NIH K Award!

Due Date:

August 19, 2024 at midnight (PST).

Application Link:

https://pdapp.stanford.edu/app/GWA  [Application portal now open!]

Join Our Info Session:

August 7th from 11:00-12:00 [register here]

Eligibility:

• Applicant is conducting biosciences or biomedical research at Stanford AND has a postdoctoral scholar/fellow appointment in the School of Medicine. No citizenship requirements.
• Applicant identifies as  a member of an underrepresented group(s) in the U.S. biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences research enterprise (see NIH’s Interest in Diversity NOT-OD-20-0031). This can include women but please confirm with the Program Officer(s) for the NIH Institute(s) most relevant to your research.
• Applicant is anticipating an academic tenured-track career.
• Priority for the 2025 Jump Start Awards is for applicants planning K Awards for the June 2025 (1st priority) or applicants resubmitting K Awards for the March 2025 deadline (2nd priority) . Only applicants to individual K Awards are eligible and NOT institutional K Awards (KL2 or K12).
• Applicant is committed to participating in the required Jump Start Proposal Bootcamp on September 26 to November 21 from 12:00-3:00 PM (8-weeks, in-person) with Grant Coaches and Jump Start awardees.
• Applicant will participate in monthly meetings with Grant Coach for one-on-one coaching & feedback.

Review Criteria:

• To what extent has the applicant identified areas the Jump Start Award Program will augment their future K Award application?
• What is the likelihood that the proposed activities will contribute to the scientific development of the applicant and their future K Award application?
• Does the applicant have the potential to develop as an independent and productive researcher?
• Is the research plan appropriate to the applicant’s stage of research development and as a vehicle for developing the research skills needed for an independent and productive career?
• Are the conceptual framework, design, methods and analyses adequately developed?
• Do the sentences and paragraphs read clearly together so that it is easy to follow the logical development of ideas?

Important Dates:

• Info Session August 7th from 11:00-12:00 [register here]
• Applications due August 19, 2024 at midnight
• PI Statement of Support due August 26, 2024
• Jump Start Awardees notified September 13, 2024
• Required Jump Start Proposal Bootcamp on Thursdays September 26 to November 21 from 12:00-2:00 PM (8-weeks, in-person) with Grant Coaches and Jump Start awardees.

Application Information:

1. Applicant information: Name, School, Department, etc. 

2. List the NIH K Awards that you are considering. Priority for the 2024 Jump Start Awards is for applicants planning K Awards for the June 2025 (1st priority) or  applicants resubmitting K Awards for the March 2025 deadline (2nd priority).

Diversity focused K Awards listed here:

https://grantwriting.stanford.edu/diversity-k-awards/

NIH K Award website:

https://researchtraining.nih.gov/programs/career-development

Tips for contacting NIH Program Officers:

https://www.chronicle.com/article/what-to-say-and-not-say-to-program-officers/

3. NIH-style 1-page Specific Aims – Do not exceed 1 page in length. Use one-half inch margins (top, bottom, left, and right) and Arial at least 11 points. The scope of the specific aims should be 3-5 years, similar to the anticipated scope of your K Award.

Follow the NIH Specific Aims instructions:

State concisely the goals of the proposed research and summarize the expected outcome(s), including the impact that the results of the proposed research will exert on the research field(s) involved.

List succinctly the specific objectives of the research proposed, e.g., to test a stated hypothesis, create a novel design, solve a specific problem, challenge an existing paradigm or clinical practice, address a critical barrier to progress in the field, or develop new technology.

Tips for writing 1-page Specific Aims:

https://grantwriting.stanford.edu/students/tips-for-planning-your-proposal/#tip03

Chapter 7 Writing Specific Aims that are Crystal Clear: https://grantwriting.stanford.edu/secured/k-award-workbook/

4. Figures and Literature Cited – Include any relevant figures, tables, and / or diagrams and references for all cited literature. Do not exceed 1 page in length.

Tips for successful figures in grants:

https://grantwriting.stanford.edu/visualizing-your-data/

https://grantwriting.stanford.edu/a-picture-speaks-a-thousand-words-sarah-heilshorn/

5. Describe how the Jump Start Award will enhance your career trajectory – Do not exceed 350 words. Describe your background, personal experiences, scientific focus, and career goals. Who you are, where you came from, what you are passionate about, how you ended up at your current career choice, and where you want to go in the future? How will this program help you achieve your career goals as an independent academic scientist?

6. Describe how you have committed yourself to understanding and aiding in the pursuit of equity and inclusion in your professional and / or personal life – Do not exceed 300 words

7. Timeline with planned milestones – Do not exceed 1 page. Include an award period timeline (October 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025) indicating key milestones for your research and career development. Clearly indicate activities that will be supported by the Jump Start Award.

8. Biographical Sketch for the Jump Start Award Applicant – Use the NIH non-fellowship format (Download). Limited to no more than five (5) pages.

Chapter 9 NIH Biosketch: The Place to Talk About Yourself:

https://grantwriting.stanford.edu/secured/k-award-workbook/ 

9. Budget Outline and Justification – Include the information budget amount  and a budget justification that does not exceed 200 words. Any unused funds will be forfeited (Award Period: October 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025). Salary support is not allowed. Travel is currently allowable occurring to Stanford’s Travel Policy.

10. Stanford PI Statement of Support – Faculty mentor will receive an email AFTER you submit your application and will be asked to confirm the following statements  by August 26 (optional comments can be submitted in a text box):

• I confirm that the applicant has the potential to develop into an independent and productive researcher.
• I fully support this postdoctoral scholar in applying for external proposal(s) during the next year and am committed to providing frequent feedback to the applicant about future proposal(s) drafts.
• If awarded, I understand this postdoctoral scholar must use the funds from the Jump Start Award to support research and/or career development experiences to enhance the submission of their external proposal(s).
• If awarded, I understand this postdoctoral scholar will participate in the Jump Start program, including the 8-week Proposal Bootcamp on Thursdays September 26 to November 21 from 12:00-2:00 PM. Also, I understand this postdoctoral scholar will meet monthly with a Grant Coach that will review progress and provide feedback to guide development of his/her proposal(s).

Questions?

Contact Crystal Botham, PhD: cbotham@stanford.edu