NIH NIBIB Interfaces Initiative for Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Training (T32)

Please distribute this information to your faculty to determine if they have an interest in submitting a proposal to this program.

WHAT:        Limited Submission Proposal for the NIH NIBIB Interfaces Initiative for Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Training (T32) 

WHO:          Texas A&M University faculty, including TAES, TEES and TTI personnel. 

WHY          Applicants may request budgets up to $500,000 in direct costs or up to 10 training slots per year for a maximum period of five years. 

WHEN:        Internal proposal deadline of April 14, 2008. 

HOW:          Faculty should submit internal proposal via email for review by the internal selection committee.    

THE FINE PRINT: 

The funding agency, NIH, has limited the number of proposals to one per institution. 

BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:  The NIH NIBIB Interfaces Initiative for Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Training (T32) is designed to support the development of recently established interdisciplinary research training programs that train students to conduct research at the interface among the biomedical sciences, physical sciences and engineering.  Trainees are expected to participate in a formal, integrated, multi-year curriculum that provides novel and cohesive approaches to interdisciplinary research, including theories, techniques, methodologies and applications of that research.  Fields of study may include, but are not limited to, biology, chemistry, engineering, materials science, mathematics, computational science, medicine and physics.     

The product of the training program should be independent interdisciplinary scientists who are adept in not just combining, but integrating multiple approaches, theories and principles as part of their research interests, goals and career paths.  The goal of this program is to foster the development of recently established interdisciplinary training programs that, by integrating the biomedical sciences, physical sciences and engineering, will produce a scientific workforce capable of integrative research that crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries. 

Applicants should address, and evaluators will evaluate, the following areas in their applications:  institutional history and impact; research training program; training program director(s); faculty mentors; institutional environment, resources and commitment; trainee recruitments and selection; trainee appointments; evaluation and tracking plan; dissemination plan; recruitment and retention plan to enhance diversity; training in the responsible conduct of research; and resource sharing plan(s).  In addition, all applications must describe an evaluation and tracking plan that will review and determine the effectiveness of all aspects of the program. 

Applicants may request budgets up to $500,000 in direct costs or up to 10 training slots per year for a maximum period of five years.  The indirect rate is 8%. 

More information can be found here.       

Internal Selection Procedures and Deadlines

April 11, 2008:  Deadline for an email of intent, including the names of the PI and co-PIs, title of internal proposal and a 1-3 sentence description of the project.  Send email of intent.

April 14, 2008: Deadline to obtain signatures of approval from your department head and college dean to submit an internal proposal to the Office of Sponsored Projects for review by the internal selection committee.  The internal proposal should include:

(1)     An executive summary, up to three pages, based on the proposal description as outlined in the NIH program announcement;

(2)     Summary budget;

(3)     Project and Management Plans (including team members);

The form for completing the internal proposal is here.

This completed form should be submitted electronically for review by the internal selection committee.

Please read the RFP carefully for specific requirements of the program here.         

Selection of a proposal will be based on NIH guidelines.  The needs of the university’s reinvestment plan will also be taken into account. 

During the selection process, the internal selection committee may contact departments and colleges for their opinions and commitments.  They may also request additional information from PIs.

April 25, 2008: The Internal Selection Committee will notify PIs of the result of the internal competition.

May 19, 2008:  Deadline for optional, but recommended, letter of intent.

June 17, 2008:  Deadline for full proposal.