Physician-Scientist Training Program

The Physician-Scientist Training Program (PSTP) is an intensive two-year program designed to equip physician-scientists with dedicated mentorship and the opportunity to secure their first independent, federally funded awards (e.g., K08, K23) or other equivalent external career development grants. 

This program receives robust support from the School of Medicine. It is administered by the School of Medicine Research Development Unit (RDU), with oversight from the school's Associate Dean of Physician-Scientist Development and the Vice Deans of Clinical and Basic Research. 

PSTP strategically leverages the extensive resources available across UC Irvine, including those from the School of Medicine's Office of Research and  Office of Academic Affairs, the Institute of Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS) and the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (CFCCC).  

This is a competitive, two-year program that incorporates the following elements:  

• Mentorship: Structured formal and informal mentoring relationships. 
• Resource Access: Support for effective study design, collection of pilot data, and preparation/submission of competitive grant applications. 
• Funding Navigation: Instruction and structured guidance on navigating NIH and other extramural funding sources, including grant writing, review processes, and grants management, all aimed at successful independent application submission. 
• Tailored Training: Participants can customize training to align with their individual career and research goals. RDU staff provide dedicated support to ensure access to appropriate mentors and resources. 

The 2024 program will run from June 2024 through May 2026. 

The PSTP is open to physician-scientists (MD, DO, or MD, PhD) who meet the following requirements: 

• Junior Faculty Position: Must hold a junior faculty position (typically instructor or assistant professor). 
• Citizenship: U.S. citizen or permanent resident. 
• Prior Funding: Has not been a principal investigator or equivalent on any of the following:  
  • NIH R01 (or equivalent) 
  • NIH career development award (e.g., K08, K23) 
  • Equivalent Public Health Service or VA research grants/career awards. 
• Research Effort: Able to devote at least 25% full-time professional effort to research activities for the program's duration.  
  • For accepted participants, certification of this time commitment from their department chair or division chief will be required prior to program launch. 
• Research Focus: Proposed research falls within the clinical and translational science research spectrum. 
• Mentorship: Must have at least one scientific mentor with aligned research expertise, current extramural funding, and a strong commitment to guide the applicant's proposed career development, research program, and grant acquisition goals.  
  • Candidates are encouraged to identify more than one mentor (a "mentoring team") if beneficial for comprehensive expert advice in all aspects of their research and career development.