The Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (MADRC), funded by the NIH/National Institute on Aging, is pleased to announce openings in its early career investigator mentoring program in the Center’s Research Education Component (REC). This program has two aims. One, providing early career investigators entering the field of dementia research with a broad education about contemporary dementia research. Two, providing early career investigators with mentoring by experienced investigators in developing competitive grant applications. We encourage early career investigators from underrepresented group in STEM to apply.
Please include in your application:
- Concise statement of research interests and career goals, including identification of projected grant application(s). This statement should include a concise description of plans to use a one-time $25,000 (direct costs) MADRC REC grant. This REC grant is jointly funded by the MADRC and NIH/National Institute on Aging. In addition to the $25,000 in direct costs, indirect costs of approximately $2,800 will be provided on the NIA sponsored funds.The program is a two-year program with a projected start date of 7/1/21.
- Curriculum vitae
- Letter of reference-support from present primary mentor
[Note: The funding and start date are contingent upon receiving a Notice of Award for continued funding of the NIA P30 Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center grant].
Please combine the 3 items above into one PDF. Include your last name, first name and institution (WSU, MSU, U-M, etc) in the filename. (example: Smith, Joan – WSU)
Submit your application to Erin Fox, MADRC REC Coordinator: eefox@med.umich.edu by Friday, May 14, 2021.
Eligibility:
Investigators must be from the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, or Wayne State University.
- Career commitment to some form of dementia-related research
- Post-doc fellow (advanced status, usually after the 2nd or 3rd year)
- Early career and new investigator status (assistant professor with no R01 or equivalent)
- Plan to submit a grant application within the next 2 years
Use of funds:
The award must underwrite activities advancing the mentee’s career. Examples:
- Data analyses
- Study personnel support
- Acquisition of initial data that is a departure from the applicant’s primary line of research
- Method development
- Equipment purchase
- Imaging or similar services
- For senior post-doc fellows: salary support to defray work on a novel project
- Other uses, if justified appropriately
The program is a two-year program with the following components:
- An online curriculum about contemporary dementia research to introduce mentees to basic features of dementias.
- An individually tailored mentoring committee of experienced investigators to assist mentees with preparation of competitive grant applications.
- Participation in the Career Development Workshop jointly sponsored by the MADRC and the University of Michigan Pepper Center. This workshop takes place in the spring and includes a Mock Study Section and other career development activities.
- Access to Career Development support provided by the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research.
- Mentees receive preferred (not guaranteed) access to MADRC resources, Pilot Grant programs, and travel funds.
- Presentation of research at the annual MADRC symposium and opportunities to present research at national Alzheimer Disease Research Center meetings.
Testimonials from Current Mentees:
The MADRC Research Education Component Early Career Mentoring Program helped me to formalize a team of interdisciplinary mentors from different institutions. The mentoring team were incredibly helpful in providing feedback about grant applications and manuscripts, discussing analytic approaches for new datasets, and sharing opportunities and resources that fit within my career development plan. Additionally, the mentoring program provided regular opportunities to share my work and network with other early career faculty; several new research collaborations arose from these connections.
Annalise Rahman-Filipiak, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry
REC Mentee, 2019 – 2021
The MADRC REC Program helped me to expand my team of mentors with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. It has also provided valuable opportunities to network with and learn from an outstanding group of early career scholars.
Courtney Polenick, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry
REC Mentee, 2019 – 2021
As a new investigator in the field of neurodegeneration, the MADRC mentor program was essential for getting our disease applications off the ground. The excellent network, formal mentoring component, and opportunity for Pilot funding initiated multiple collaborative projects. I highly encourage early-stage investigators who would benefit at all from mentoring in disease biology, technology, and grantwriting support in neurodegerative research to apply.
Charlie Fehl, PhD
Assistant Professor, Wayne State University Department of Chemistry
REC Mentee, 2019 – 2021