OPSD Technician Support

Early career physician-scientists may face challenges with research productivity as they navigate both clinical and research training and responsibilities. This challenge may be ameliorated with the support of a laboratory technician or research assistant who can continue research activities while the physician-scientist is engaged in clinical activities. The intent of this RFA is to promote early career research productivity and continuity by providing funding to cover a portion of effort of a laboratory technician or research assistant to be dedicated to the applicant’s research project.

Each award provides $25,000 for 1 year to cover a portion of the salary and associated fringe benefits of a laboratory technician or research assistant.  This award is renewable for an additional year with the demonstration of success in year 1 and need for year 2. Up to $5,000 of this award may be allocated for research supplies. This RFA is open to early career physician-scientists, including residents, medical subspecialty fellows, and junior faculty who are conducting basic and translational research (laboratory or big data/computational biology).

Only applicants who are conducting basic or translational (laboratory or big data/computational biology) research in the following categories are eligible to apply:

• Duke School of Medicine trainees (resident or fellow) in any clinical training program who have set aside research time during their clinical training
• Duke junior faculty who are within the first 5 years of a faculty appointment and are physician scientists

Strong Start Award Program

The School of Medicine (SoM) and the Office for Physician-Scientist Development (OPSD) are pleased to announce the annual RFP for the Duke Physician-Scientist “Strong Start” Award. The goal of this program is to nurture the careers of junior, laboratory-based physician-scientists at Duke. By offering substantive mentoring and financial resources, this award will support junior, physician-scientist faculty during a critical period of their career, the transition to research independence.

This award program is intentionally designed to integrate and complement Duke initiatives that train physician-scientists at even earlier points in their career, such as the Medical Scientist Training Program (MD-PhD students) and the R38 Stimulating Access to Research during Residency Program (StARR, clinical residents). In this way, the “Strong Start” Award Program will ensure that Duke University School of Medicine remains a leader in the training of outstanding physician-scientists, a group uniquely committed to the advancement of the medical sciences in our own community and in the nation.

• At the time of application, candidates will be faculty members within a department in the Duke University School of Medicine, prior to advancement to the rank of Associate Professor.
• Candidates will be physician-scientists (M.D., D.O) who have completed clinical training (residency/fellowship) after receiving their doctoral degree.
• Candidates will have departmental support for significant protected research time (>50%)  
• Candidates with significant internal/external funding (R01 [or equivalent] or >$500,000 in start up funding) are not eligible for funding.

Deadline: Feb. 1, 2021