Mentored Clinical Researcher Fellowship – part time

The Australian Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Research Network (CRN) offers $30,000 per year for the Mentored Clinical Researcher Fellowship, to support clinicians establishing a research career in the field of type 1 diabetes.

The Mentored Clinical Researcher Fellowship will enable clinician researchers to establish their research career in the field of type 1 diabetes, by supporting one day per week of dedicated research time, for involvement in a clinical research project.

The Fellowship is available to applicants pursuing clinical research consistent with the objectives of the CRN. Fellows will become part of the CRN, which brings with it a commitment to contribute to Network activities.

$30,000 is provided to Fellows, per year for two years, with the option of an extension of a further third year of support. Fellows must be supported by a mentor who is experienced in the field of clinical research. The scheme allows for $25,000 per year to support salary for Fellows, while $5,000 per year is allocated to be spent at the mentor’s discretion, to contribute to the training plan for the Fellow.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants will be medically qualified (MBBS or equivalent) and hold an appointment in a clinical department.

Competitive applicants will have shown a commitment to pursuing a research career, and preference will be given to applicants who have undertaken an advanced academic research degree (PhD, MD, Master of Clinical Research, etc).

Applicants will be in the early stages of their research career. The Fellowship is not designed to support clinicians currently pursuing a PhD with funding support from other sources.

Fellows must be mentored by an established investigator affiliated with an Australian research institution. The mentor will have a demonstrated record of success in clinical research, and proven track record of working with research trainees.

Applicants must be Australian Citizens or Permanent Residents. The research must be conducted at an Australian institution.

Criteria

Applications for the Mentored Clinical Researcher Fellowship comprise components from both the applicant and their nominated mentor. Applications are assessed on four criteria:

  • Applicant track record;
  • Mentor training track record;
  • Quality of training plan; and
  • Scientific merit of research proposal.

Application

Applications must include, from the applicant:

  • Completed application form;
  • Curriculum vitae;
  • Career development plan; and
  • Research proposal.

Applications must include, from the mentor:

  • Curriculum vitae;
  • Training track record, including details of current and past trainees mentored; and
  • Mentoring Plan Statement.

Career Development Plan

The applicant must include a statement of career goals and indicate the relevance of these goals to type 1 diabetes research. The Career Development Plan should detail the applicant's plan for career development as an independent investigator, including how the proposed research will contribute to the applicant's independent career, outlining opportunities for development provided by the research environment, and noting any other planned formal or informal activities that will aid the applicant in establishing an independent research career. Maximum one page.

Research proposal

The proposed research project must be patient oriented and related to type 1 diabetes. The research plan must contain the following information:

  1. Specific aims;
  2. Background and significance of this work to type 1 diabetes;
  3. Preliminary studies (if applicable);
  4. Research design and methods; and
  5. References of cited literature.

If the research proposed in the application is part of a larger research program or trial, the applicant should clearly define his/her role in the project. Maximum two pages, including tables and figures.

Mentoring Plan Statement

This statement must outline a detailed mentoring program for the applicant as well as confirm the availability of facilities to conduct the research project. The mentor’s statement should address plans for supervision, guidance, counselling, or other formal or informal training of the applicant.

Included in this statement is the proposed usage of $5,000 per year of the fellowship, to be spent at the discretion of the mentor and to be used to facilitate training for the fellow in accordance with the objectives of the CRN.

The mentor must also include information regarding all relevant sources of grant support (current and pending), and percentage effort of the applicant. Maximum two pages.

Applications have now closed and are being reviewed.

Contact JDRF on (02) 9020 6128 or ssovljanski@jdrf.org.au for more details about the fellowship.