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Applications this year will have TWO due dates - April 15 (2nd year grad students) and May 15 (1st year grad students). 

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must be advised by one of our Faculty Mentors. You should propose a co-mentor, often a faculty member also on the training grant, but they are not required to be a CBITG trainer. 

Trainees will generally be chosen from the pool of graduate students in participating departments at the end of their first or second year. Under unusual circumstances, new applications from students beyond their second year may be supported by the program.  However, applicants beyond their second year should consult with the PI before applying. Due to NIH rules, applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents. 

Available positions and support

We anticipate filling positions for an expected July 1 start date - contingent upon approval from the NIH. 

First Year Grad Student Applicants: The initial appointment will be for a year and is renewable for a second year.

Second Year Grad Student Applicants: The appointment will be for ONE year of funding.

New Application

Application deadlines: April 15 (2nd year grad students) and May 15 (1st year grad students).

The candidates should provide a single PDF document containing the following items (1-6). Please name the file CBITG_LASTNAME.pdf and email to cbitg@umn.edu by the deadline.

1. Application Form

2. A 1-2 page (double-spaced, including figures, not including citations) project description including goals, methods to be used, and the significance and impact of your work. You should also clearly state the role of the proposed co-mentor in your training and the interdisciplinary component to be carried out in a co-advisor’s laboratory. The proposal should be written in your own words (no plagiarism!). A co-advisor from the list of CBITG faculty is preferred, but awards from applicants with a co-advisor outside of this list will also be considered. 

3. A copy of your graduate transcript, including spring semester grades for first year students. 

4. Your Personal Statement (1 page limit). Personal statement should include your commitment to your professional development and how prior and future training grant activities will enable you to impact the UMN and the broader community.

5. Please consider completing an optional and anonymous demographics survey as part of your application. This information will help us to continue to improve the training grant.

MENTOR REQUIREMENTS

6. Mentor statement on how they will oversee that their trainee is fulfilling all of the CBITG requirements, including the seminar series, professional development activities, RCR workshops, individual mentorship with mentor and co-mentor, and annual review of individual development plans. Statement should also include discussion of their own commitment to participate in CBITG activities. This statement should be co-signed by mentor and mentee.

7. Mentor and co-mentor letters of recommendation (up to 2 pages) sent to the CBITG email account (cbitg@umn.edu). Applicants should verify that letters were sent on their behalf by the deadline.

Selection

Awardees will be selected based on fit with the goals of the program through assessment of research program, diversity statement, and career to date. Awardees will be announced in June.

Renewal Application

The application deadline is TBD.

The candidates should provide a single PDF document containing the following items (1-5). Please name the file CBITG_LASTNAME.pdf and email to cbitg@umn.edu by the deadline.

1. Your Renewal Form

2. A report of your research progress in the past year (2-3 pages double spaced, including figures, not including citations). The report should be written in your own words.

3. A paragraph (1/2 page or less) description of the cross-disciplinary component of your work and any work carried out in your co-advisor’s lab. If you have not yet carried out this aspect of your work, a plan for doing so should be described.

4. A description of training grant activities in which you have participated (e.g., CBC, annual symposium, journal clubs, participation in co-advisor’s group meetings, course work completed in each of the three involved departments, etc.). This is particularly important.

5. A copy of your graduate transcript including spring semester grades.

6. Separate letters of support from the advisor and co-advisor (up to 2 pages each) should be submitted to CBITG (cbitg@umn.edu) confidentially. Please verify that letters were sent on your behalf by the deadline.

8. Renewal applicants will meet with the CBITG Steering Committee to present ~10 minutes on the above information.