Applications

The UCSF/KPNC Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) K-12 training program elicited applications for Women’s Health Scholars in 2015, 2018 and 2020. Our next anticipated application cycle will be for Scholars whose appointment will begin in 2023. The 2023 application schedule below is tentative.

2022-23 Applications

The duration of this award will be for two years. One scholar will begin on September 1, 2022. Two scholars will begin on April 1, 2023. The BIRCWH program is focused on the development of independent Women’s Health investigators at UCSF and the KPNC Division of Research. We place a particular emphasis on interdisciplinary research and diversity of scholars. A BIRCWH candidate must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible.
• Possess a doctoral-level health science degree (MD, PhD, PharmD, DDS, etc.) and be eligible to be appointed at the early Assistant Professor level at UCSF or an equivalent level at Kaiser Permanente Northern California.
• Be planning a career in translational, clinical, behavioral, population or policy research focused on issues in women’s health.
• Commit 75% of professional effort to the program. Surgeons and some other specialists may request a lower level of effort, but in no case lower than 50%.
• Propose a US-based research project.

NIH K awards stipulate that scholars cannot be or have been a principal investigator on an R01, R21 or subproject of a Program Project (P01), Center (P50, P60) U54, mentored career development (K23, K08, K01, etc.) grant, or other equivalent grant awards. Scholars may have had prior support on a NRSA grant (F or T) or NIH small grant (R03). Candidates may have had previous support on a K12 award, but the combination of the BIRCWH Program and the prior K12 cannot extend total K12 support beyond 5 years. Ob/Gyns will not be considered for the BIRCWH program, and should contact their department about the Women’s Reproductive Health Research (WRHR) K12 program. Scholars may not have more than 6 years research experience (or research training experience) after receipt of terminal degree. Individuals from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

This program is intended to assist early career faculty in their transition to another NIH-sponsored mentored research award (K23, K01, etc.) or an independent research award (e.g. RO1), depending on their level. The award will fund approximately $100,000 of a scholar’s salary plus $25,000 in project expenses. The general expectation is that salary and benefit support for the remainder of a Scholar’s salary will be from non-federal, UCSF or KPNC departmental sources. Learn more about the leaders and mentors of the UCSF/KPNC BIRCWH Program.

Application timeline

Statement of intent packet

Qualified candidates must submit a single PDF containing the following three items, in this order, as a Statement of Intent packet:

1. Application face page
2. Letter of intent (see format below)
3. Curriculum vitae formatted per UCSF Guidelines

Format for letter of intent

A letter of intent should be a maximum of 3 pages and contain:

• The title of your proposed BIRCWH research project.
• A brief background on your interest in women’s health, including your area of expertise and prior training.
• Why you are interested in a K-level award at present.
• General outline of what you envision for additional training during the K award.
• Brief background on your research to date and the direction you propose for your research during a K-award period.

Submit a completed Statement of Intent packet by 5 pm Pacific Time on June 6, 2022, to Cynthia Harper and Kirsten Thompson.