The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) plays a central role in the continuing success and development of the faculty’s research, scholarship, and creative endeavors through its leadership and support services in Research Administration and Research Development. A critical mechanism for cultivating research development and enhancing research capacity is to foster interdisciplinary collaborations with diverse academic partners and institutions. To this end, the OVPR will be conducting an internal screening process in support of the NIH Director’s Early Independence Awards (DP5).
NIH Director’s Early Independence Awards (DP5)
The NIH Director's Early Independence Awards initiative is funded through the NIH Common Fund, which supports cross-cutting programs that are expected to have exceptionally high impact. All Common Fund initiatives invite investigators to develop bold, innovative, and often risky approaches to address problems that may seem intractable or to seize new opportunities that offer the potential for rapid progress.
The NIH Director’s Early Independence Awards provide an opportunity for exceptional junior scientists to accelerate their entry into an independent research career by forgoing the traditional post-doctoral training period. Though most newly graduated doctoral-level researchers would benefit by post-doctoral training, a small number of outstanding junior investigators would benefit instead by launching directly into an independent research career. For these select investigators, who have established a record of scientific innovation and research productivity and who have demonstrated unusual leadership, drive, and maturity, post-doctoral training would unnecessarily delay their entry into performing independent research. The NIH Director’s Early Independence Awards also provide an opportunity for institutions to invigorate their research programs by bringing in the fresh perspectives of the awardees that they host.
Limited Submission
Because a limited number of applications can be submitted for this program, an internal screening process is required. If you are considering submitting an application for the program listed below, an on-line Notification of Intent to Submit must be completed by the requested Intent to Submit Deadline.
When submitting pre-proposals for the internal screening process, be sure to check the Guidelines for updates. Pre-proposals not adhering to these guidelines and instructions will be returned.
Program Requirements
Limit: Two proposals
Intent to Submit Deadline: January 3, 2014
Internal Screening Deadline: January 10, 2014
Sponsor Due Date: January 31, 2014
For more information, contact: Larisa Zagorski at larisa.zagorski@uconn.edu; (860) 486-6378.