Gap Year

Opportunities for
Research:
At UCSF and Beyond

Disclaimer
Some dates may be pending

Please confirm with respective websites for

final details, particularly for external
programs

Outline
Benefits of a year-long program
Home and Away programs
Reasons to apply for internal and external
funding

Intramural and Extramural opportunities

explained

RAPtr intramural application process

Next steps for you!

Benefits of a Year-Long Program

Important career stepping stone
Most progress happens in last half of a yearlong program (exponential learning curve)

A structured program provides oversight, often

didactics, peer support, and organized
mentorship

Funding is typically through a one-time

application

Many programs have continuing alumni support

Definitions
Intramural

Extramural

(Internal)

(External)

Home

Away

Funding Source

Fellowship Program

Home Programs
Apply through UCSF RAPtr website
(single year-long application for the below funders)
o
o
o
o
o

Deans Can be international

PROF-PATH URM and Health Disparities
Phillip R. Lee Health Policy and Populations
Linker Hematology/Oncology
TL1
Clinical/Translational

Apply through Howard Hughes Medical Inst.

o

HHMI

Molecular Medicine/Basic

Away Programs
Doris Duke (this program is like a hybrid) away in Africa
and non-UCSF schools*

NIH Medical Research Scholar Program

HHMI
Sarnoff

(Cardiovascular)

Fogarty

(International)

Other opportunities (AHA, ADA, ASN,....)

* UCSF, Duke, Harvard, U Minnesota, Yale and UNC

Reasons to Apply to Internal and

External Programs
Putting more lines in the bucket increases the chances of
catching more fish

Applications are similar in structure & deadlines

Some external funding is greater and has more benefits,
including national recognition

UCSF has a very good track record for students receiving

national awards

External funding allows more UCSF students to receive

internal funding

Internal funding has gotten more competitive not all

intramural applications get funded!

Intramural Funding Benefits

Approx. $30,240 stipend (varies each year)
Health insurance if needed
Additional funds to support research and travel
during the fellowship year (depending on the
funding source)

Enrollment in a Pathway and MD with Distinction

Year-long Clinical and Translational

Fellowship Program
(CTRFP)
Peter Chin-Hong, M.D., Associate Program Director
Joel Palefsky, M.D, Program Co-Director
Madeline Mann, Program Administrator

Year-long Clinical and Translational

Fellowship Program
NIH, UCSF and Doris Duke-funded
Provide fellowships to medical students to
conduct clinical/translational research
Emphasize mentoring with
clinical/translational researchers and
research teams
Provide both didactic and research
experience

Activities for CTRFP/DDCF

Fellows
Biweekly meetings
Journal clubs
Works-In-Progress Seminars
Social events throughout the year
CTSI meeting at NIH
Annual year-end national meeting
Annual UCSF symposium

Doris Duke
For students wishing to spend one year at an approved
UCSF research site internationally (DDCF application is
partially through UCSF)

For students wishing to spend one year at one or the other,

non-UCSF DDCF schools
o

These students must apply through the DDCF

For UCSF students doing international research

If interested, contact Madeline Mann to discuss the
DDCF application process

DDCF Application Process

For students applying for international fellowships
For students applying via other DDCF schools (6)
Deadline January 2016 (date not announced)*
Application dates and selection dates are same for
all schools (and coordinate with other fellowship
programs)
Web-based DDCF application submission that goes
directly to each school
o

Some schools ask for additional information (UCSF requires

you to complete a RAPtr application)

What is PROF-PATH?

Academic career and research training

program funded by NIH and UCSF.

Goal is to increase and enhance

research opportunities at UCSF

Competitive application through RAPtr

portal

Eligible if student is doing health

disparities research or is from NIH
denominated health disparities
population background

PROF-PATH PROGRAM
Year-long or Quarterly/Summer
Funding (same as Doris Duke, TL1,
includes travel, but not global health)
Academic skills curriculum
month, evening)

(once a

WIP sessions with TL1 Scholars

PP faculty mentor for career advice
Ethics Training (online)

QUESTIONS?
Victoria Chen
ChenV@fcm.ucsf.edu
Alicia Fernandez, MD
afernandez@medsfgh.ucsf.edu
http://meded.ucsf.edu/prof-path

2012HowardHughesMedicalInstitute

ELIGIBILITY FOR BOTH PROGRAMS

In good standing at a medical, dental, or veterinary school
located in the U.S.
Not currently in a combined professional degree/Ph.D. program
May not have a Ph.D. in a laboratory-based biomedical science
Do not have to be from a research-oriented school
Prior research experience is advantageous (Janelia Farm
option requires prior research experience))
U.S. citizenship not required but you must be eligible to work in
the U.S.

2012HowardHughesMedicalInstitute

MEDICAL FELLOWS AT
JANELIA FARM

Live and work at HHMIs Janelia

Farm Research Campus in Ashburn,
VA (near Washington, D.C.) for a year
Use innovative and emerging
technologies to research neuronal
network function or imaging at the
cellular and molecular level.

2012HowardHughesMedicalInstitute

Program Dates

2012HowardHughesMedicalInstitute

HHMIPHYSICIANSCIENTISTTRAININGPROGRAMS

YEAR-LONG PROGRAM: FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Annual stipend of $30,000

$5,500 fellows allowance

for
medical,
dental,Master
and
Click
to edit
vision insurance, and
education-related expenses

$5,500research
Clickallowance
to edit
for travel to scientific
meetings, Med Fellows
regional meetings, and
some research-related
expenses
2014HowardHughesMedicalInstitute

title style

Master subtitle style

HHMIPHYSICIANSCIENTISTTRAININGPROGRAMS

YEAR-LONG PROGRAM: STATISTICS (2009-2014)

Click to edit Master title style

Click to edit Master subtitle style

2014HowardHughesMedicalInstitute

NIH Medical Research

Scholars Program
You dont need to choose a research project in advance
Many basic and clinical and translational opportunities
available at the NIH
Accommodations provided on or near the NIH campus
$34,050 stipend and moving expenses
Curriculum includes research seminars, journal clubs,
and direct interactions with NIH leaders.
Application due January 2016 (date not announced)

Medical Research Scholars

Program: Housing

Sarnoff
Cardiovascular
Research
Foundation

Inspiring the Physician- Scientists of

Tomorrow

Medical Student
Research Fellowships

Sarnoff Mentoring
Each Fellow is paired with a member
of the Foundations Scientific Committee who
will:
* Provide guidance during the research year
* Visit the Fellows lab during the year
* Aid in overall career development

Many opportunities to interact with

other Fellows, Scholars, Alumni and
Scientific Committee

Alumni Programs
Lifelong

commitment to fellows
Webinars (advice on residency and
fellowship applications, grant writing,
careers in academia and industry, etc.)
Regional networking receptions
Leadership Training Retreats
Alumni-specific programs at Sarnoff
Annual Meeting

Sarnoff Benefits
Annual stipend - $30,000
Fellowship Allowance - $3,500
Travel to select Preceptor and

Fellowship laboratory
Moving expenses
Health insurance
Funds (up to $1,350) for travel to present
a paper at two national conferences

Summary and
Application
Conduct

research anywhere in the US

Lifelong Alumni support and offerings
Large Alumni Network
Lifelong mentoring by top physician
scientists in the country
Application-Personal Statement, Essay,
Curriculum Vitae, Transcript, Sponsor s
Endorsement (medical school faculty),
Letters of Recommendation

Sarnoff Information
Dana Boyd, Executive Director
Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Foundation
dboyd@SarnoffFoundaton.org
www.sarnofffoundation.org

The UCSF/UCB Joint Masters Program

In Translational Medicine
A Master of Science (MS) degree program in Bioengineering
with coursework and project focus on Translational Medicine
UCSF Medical School Gap-Year Research Opportunity

Master of Translational
Medicine
(MTM)
Mission: To provide
engineers, clinicians,
and life scientists with
the training needed for biomedical innovation and translation.
MTM Curriculum
Bioengineering
(10 semester units)

Clinical/Regulator
y (6 semester units)

Capstone Project
(team-based)

Business/Leadershi
p (8 semester units)

Students take courses at both UCSF and UCB

Projects are focused on medical technology
http://bioeng.berkeley.edu/mtm

Applications due: January 2016 (date not announced)*

Summary of programs
Intramural
Yearlong
Funding

PROF-PATH
(intramural,
through
RAPtr)

Doris Duke
International

Doris Duke

HHMI

Location

UCSF

UCSF

International

US med sch

US med sch

Mentor

Apply with
project and
mentor

Apply with
project and
mentor

Apply with
project and
mentor
(UCSF)

Mentor and
project
selected
after
acceptance
(most)

Apply with
project and
mentor

Deadline

Jan 15

Jan 15

Jan 15

Jan 15

Jan 15

Stipend

$30,240

$30,240

$29,000

$29,000

$30,000

Notification

Mid-March

Mid-March

Mid-March

Mid-March

Mid-March

Starts

July 1

July 1

Research
stipend

no

no

yes

yes

yes

UCSF
students/yr

10-15

1-2

1-5

Summary of programs, cont

NIH
programs

Sarnoff

Fogarty

Masters in Translational
Medicine

Location

NIH

US med sch

International

UCSF/UCB

Mentor

Mentor and
project
selected
after
acceptance

Mentor and
project
selected
after
acceptance

Selected after
interviews

Selected before or during

program

Deadline

Jan 31

Jan 6, 2016
3PM EST*

October 13, 2015

Jan 6

Stipend

$34,050

$30,000

**

Notification

Mid-March

Mid-March

Mid-March

Starts

July

June-Sept

Research stipend

yes

yes

UCSF students/yr

3-5

July

1-2

1-3

Students funded for year-long

research fellowships

Year-Long Fellowships by
Funding Source

RAPtr Application: One Application, Many Opportunities

Important Due Dates:

Yearlong Letter of Intent: Due October 30th, 2015, 5pm
Yearlong Intramural Applications (available early-December): January 15, 2016, 5pm

Letter of Intent

Meet with RAPtr Faculty

Work on the Application

Submit a research application by January 15, 2016

Personal statement
o Research Plan Title
o Research Plan Summary (should not exceed 250 words)
o Research Plan (should not exceed 2,100 words)
o Research Plan Citations
o Two letters of reference from persons (other than the mentor )
o Deans letter
o Mentors endorsement including information on the mentors
plans for training the applicant, training experience, grant
support, a brief curriculum vitae, and an evaluation of the
applicant
Pathways/MD with Distinction - students who receive an
intramural yearlong fellowship will have automatic enrollment
o

Application Tips:
START EARLY
Only use your UCSF email address within the application
(and make sure your mentor does as well)!
You can work on your application for up to 2 weeks; the
system will provide you with a unique link to your
application that will expire after two weeks.
It is YOUR responsibility to provide your mentor with the
mentor endorsement link and make sure they know the
deadline.
If you receive outside funding, you MUST notify us of that
fact.

See http://meded.ucsf.edu/raptr/applicationpreview-samples for full application samples

from previous years.

Visit RAPtrs website http://meded.ucsf.edu/raptr

for more information or contact us at
studentresearch@medsch.ucsf.edu.

Next Steps
Carefully and thoughtfully find a mentor if youre
applying to a home program
Meet with your college advisory mentor and your
PTD director
Submit non-binding letter of intent and check
sheet by October 30st (RAPtr website)
Meet with Dr. Mallar Bhattacharya or Dr.
Urmimala Sarkar to discuss research plans and
Deans Letter before December 19th

Thank
You!