Opportunities for Junior Faculty

The Duke Strong Start Program is now accepting applications. 

The program is designed to nurture the careers of junior physician-scientists at Duke pursuing discovery science involving traditional wet-lab/benchwork and/or advanced computational approaches such as 1) computer-based modeling, simulation, or data analysis, 2) bioinformatics, or 3) multi-omics approaches that integrate data from genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and other large-scale biological datasets. These computational strategies enable researchers to uncover new insights from vast and complex datasets, accelerating discoveries in biomedical science and supporting the transition to research independence. By offering substantive mentoring and financial resources, this award will support junior, physician-scientist faculty during a critical period of their career, the transition to research independence. Learn more

Open Date: December 5, 2025

Application Deadline: February 2, 2026

This award program is intentionally designed to integrate and complement Duke initiatives that train physician-scientists at even earlier points in their career, such as the Medical Scientist Training Program (MD-PhD students) and the R38 Stimulating Access to Research during Residency Program (StARR, clinical residents and equivalent R25 program focusing on intensive research during residency training). In this way, the “Strong Start” Award Program will ensure that Duke University School of Medicine remains a leader in the training of outstanding physician-scientists, a group uniquely committed to the advancement of medical sciences in our own community and across the nation.

FUNDING: In 2026, the SoM will grant approximately four awards of $120,000/year, renewable up to three consecutive years ($360,000 total/awardee). The funds are to be used at the discretion of individual recipients to support their research programs.

REQUIREMENTS:

• At the time of application, candidates will be faculty members within a department in the Duke University School of Medicine, prior to advancement to the rank of Associate Professor.
• Candidates will be physician-scientists (MD, DO) who have completed clinical training (residency/fellowship) after receiving their doctoral degree.
• Candidates will be leading laboratory-based or multi-omics/in-silico research programs.
• Expectation of departmental support for significant protected research time (50-75%).
• Candidates with significant internal/external funding (R01 [or equivalent] or >$600,000 in start-up funding) are not eligible for funding.
• Please see Opportunities for Junior Faculty on the OPSD website for program metrics.

PROCESS: Applications should include the following:

• NIH biosketch with other support (including internal funds available to candidate)
• Research proposal/Career development plans (not to exceed 3 pages): Written summary of

1. Past research experience
2. Future research proposal
3. Specific plans to transition to scientific independence (e.g., securing independent research funding, developing independent scientific program)

• Letter of reference from primary department chair, specifying percentage of protected time to pursue discovery science.
• Names and email addresses for two external referees (if applicable, former/current mentors or individuals with knowledge of candidate’s research capabilities; can be from Duke or non-Duke Faculty). Applications will not be considered for review without completion of external referee forms. 

Applications must be submitted by February 2, 2026. Proposals are submitted online via a REDCap link. 

Click here to access the application.

• Before completing the application, please be ready to upload/enter the following (you will not be able to save the application and return at a later time):
  • NIH biosketch with other support
  • Research proposal
  • Letter of reference from primary department chair
  • Names and email addresses of two external references, who will be sent separate forms. 
• For questions concerning the REDCap Application, please contact OPSD at opsd@dm.duke.edu.

AWARDS NOTIFICATION

Successful applicants will be informed by May 1, 2026 with funding available thereafter. 

The Duke Office of Physician-Scientist Development (OPSD) is pleased to announce a request for applications for funding to support a laboratory technician or research assistant for Junior Faculty and Research in Residency Applicants holding an NIH R38/R25 or equivalent. 

I. Purpose

Early-career physician-scientists may face challenges with research productivity as they navigate both clinical and research training responsibilities. This challenge may be ameliorated with the support of a laboratory technician or research assistant who can continue research activities while the physician-scientist is engaged in clinical activities. The OPSD Research Technician Program is supported by the Nanaline H. Duke Fund.

Each award provides $25,000 for one year to cover a portion of the salary and associated fringe benefits of a laboratory technician or research assistant. Up to $5,000 of this award may be allocated for research supplies. This award is non-renewable; however, awardees may apply for a competitive second cycle. Applicants can hold the award for a maximum of two years.

This RFA is open to Junior Faculty (Instructors and Assistant Professor) and Research in Residency Applicants holding NIH R38/R25 or equivalent award. Applicants must be conducting basic or translational research.

Proposals should include:

• Applicant’s Biosketch (Current NIH Format)
• Research Summary (1- 2 pages):
  • Statement of need, including a description of the impact technical support would have on the applicant’s ability to move their research forward
  • An overview of the applicant’s research plans
  • A timeline for research activities
• Mentor statement, including current support for the applicant’s project (1 page)
• Mentor’s Biosketch (Current NIH Format)
• Plan for Technical Assistance (1/2 - 3/4 page):
  • Description of the technician’s responsibilities within the project
  • Supervision plan, such as regular reports, meetings, etc., as well as plans for technical, safety, and regulatory training
• A Memorandum of Understanding (using MOU form attached) signed by the applicant, Mentor/PI (who will cover the remainder of the technician’s effort), and a Department Business Manager or CAO. Financial resources that will be used to cover the technician’s effort must be indicated.
• If the applicant intends to use $5,000 for research supplies, include a budget using the template provided below

The MOU form can be accessed HERE.

The budget template can be accessed HERE.

II. Key Dates

• Application Opens: December 15, 2025
• Application Submission Deadline: February 23, 2026
• Final Selection: April 11, 2026
• Funding Period: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027

III. Eligibility

The proposed technical support must be provided by a single person. Such support may be provided by individuals in a number of job categories as long as it is appropriate to the proposed project and research environment, including but not limited to:

• Laboratory technicians
• Research assistants
• Work-study students or other undergraduate students (with appropriate experience)
• Clinical Research Specialist
• Clinical Research Coordinator

IV. Funding

Two award options are available and must be declared at the time of application:

• Option 1: $25,000 applied directly to cover a percentage of a technician’s total effort (salary + fringe) with an expected start date of July 1, 2026 or hire/start date and ending on June 30, 2027. The technician must be hired within three months of the award start; pre-identification of technician during the application period is strongly encouraged.
• Option 2: $20,000 applied directly to cover a pre-defined percentage of a technician’s total effort (salary + fringe) and $5,000 for budgeted research supplies transferred into an individual fund code for use by the applicant.

*Please note, awards may be subject to G&A.  For more information, please check with your department business manager or grant manager.

V. Selection Process and Review Criteria

Following submission, applications are reviewed by a committee composed of OPSD leadership and affiliated faculty. The review committee will consider the following criteria when reviewing and scoring applications:

• Potential impact of technician support on applicant’s research trajectory
• Scientific impact and potential for success of the proposed project
• Appropriateness of timeline and plan for technical assistance
• Commitment of PI/Mentor to provide funding and projects to cover the remainder of the technician’s effort

VI. Application Procedure

Applications will be submitted this year via YOJO, a web-based platform. Instructions are detailed in the according item below. The following documents should be uploaded in PDF format to complete the application:

• Your biosketch (Current NIH Format)
• Research summary (two-page limit)
• Mentor statement, including current support for the applicant’s project (one-page limit)
• Mentor’s biosketch (Current NIH Format)
• Plan for technical assistance (1/2 – 3/4 page)
• Memorandum of understanding signed by the applicant, PI, and Department Business Manager
• Budget for supplies, if appropriate

VII. Budget Guidelines

For Award Option 1, no formal budget is required.  If a technician has been identified at the time of application, an indication of the amount of effort that will be covered by the $25,000 award should be included in the “Plan for Technical Assistance” as indicated above in Section 1 and should be determined by your departmental business manager to include both salary and non-federal fringe for FY 2026. This award will be applied directly to the technician’s effort. Please note: if a technician has not been hired by the award date of July 1, 2026, the $25,000 must be distributed across the remaining months prior to June 30, 2027. No-cost extensions are not permitted and award money not spent by June 30, 2027 must be returned to OPSD.

We encourage applicants to connect their business managers with the OPSD at opsd@dm.eduke.edu. Funds will be transferred to a fund code established by your department.

For Award Option 2, a budget totaling $25,000 must be submitted using the template provided and uploaded as a pdf.

The budget period is July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. No indirect or overhead costs may be included; the awardees receive direct costs only. Grant funds may only be budgeted for:

• Salary support of the technician, including fringe benefits
• Up to $5,000 may be used for small equipment, research supplies, or core lab costs. A detailed budget, including per item cost and catalog numbers, must be provided for any funds requested for research supplies.

Grant funds may not be used for:

• Salary support for the PI or faculty collaborators
• Office supplies or communication costs, including printing
• Meals or travel, including to conferences
• Professional education or training
• Computers or audiovisual equipment
• Manuscript preparation and submission

All applicants and their mentors must provide documentation via the MOU showing that the remainder of the technician salary is supported. Research supply money that is unspent as of July 1, 2027 will be returned to the OPSD.

IX. Terms of the Award

1. Project Execution

Investigators agree to submit a brief written report twelve months after the conclusion of the funding period as described below. Technician support must be completed in the twelve-month period; no-cost extensions are not permitted.

OPSD will require each awardee’s department to open a new fund code to receive the transfer of funds from OPSD.

2. Post-Award Reporting

OPSD will track significant events resulting from the funding. Any significant events should be included in the final report. Investigators will be responsible for providing an annual report to OPSD detailing any achievements linked to this award. Examples include (but are not limited to):

• Abstracts/presentations, manuscripts, published guidelines
• Follow-on funding (e.g., grants from government or foundation sources, SBIR/STTR, angel and venture capital investment)
• Milestones achieved in animal models or manufacturing
• Patents
• Translation of models to other geographical areas
• Translation of models to other therapeutic areas
• Agreements with partners and strategic collaborators to translate the research
• Commercialization (e.g., new intellectual property, license, commercial partnerships, start-up company)
• Translation to clinical studies
• Direct-to-consumer interactions (e.g., apps) 

When requested, all awardees will be expected to provide updates of publications and other successes that originated from the award.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information on this funding opportunity, please contact opsd@dm.duke.edu.

YOJO, short for "Your Journey," is a web-based platform that allows learners to map their career and streamlines pathway program administration.

Step1: Access the Technician Support Application

Open the Technician Support Award application on the YOJO platform by navigating to the website: https://yojo.center/duke/OPSDTechSupport

Step 2: Log In/Sign Up

Before starting your application, you’ll need to log in or create an account

1. Click the Log In / Sign Up button at the upper-right corner of the page
2. On the Sign In page, type your email address in the field provided, then click the ‘Sign in with Email’ button  Note: this email address will be used for all communications related to your application, so it should probably be a Duke email address.
3. You’ll receive a sign-in link sent to the email address you entered
4. Check your inbox for an email from YOJO Info with the subject Sign in to yojo.center. Click the link in that message to complete the sign-in process. Note: the email may take a few minutes to arrive. If you don’t see it in your inbox, check your spam or junk folder. If you’ve already clicked the link but nothing happens, refresh your browser and try again. Though, it will be faster for future sign-in.

Step 3: Complete Your YOJO Profile Setup

1. After clicking the sign-in link in your email, you’ll be directed back to a YOJO page where you’ll begin setting up your profile
   1. Level 1: Where are you on your journey? Please select the appropriate level of your career and click ‘Next’
   2. Level 2: Select Your Interests: Choose topics relevant to programs that you would like to be matched on YOJO and click ‘Next’
   3. Level 3: Choose Your Format: Select formats that would be of interest that you would like to be matched on YOJO. Then, click ‘Next’
   4. Level 4: Select Your State of Residence: Choose your state and click ‘Next’
   5. Level 5: Choose Your Stage: Select ‘I just want to learn’ to look for applications or the mentor option if you are interested in supporting a pathway program.
2. Finish Setup: Click Finish to save your profile

Step 4: Complete Your YOJO Profile

1. You’ll then be redirected to a page showing a summary of your profile at the top.
   1. Include your name, secondary email address (if any), phone number, and career aspirations.
   2. You may also upload a profile photo (optional), and provide your gender, race/ethnicity, and experience. These fields are optional and will not affect your application evaluation.

Step 5: Locate the Technician Support Application

1. Click the programs tab at the top of the page, type in OPSD, and click the ‘OPSD and R38/R25 Technician Support Award program’. Note: You can favorite the program for quick access on YOJO by clicking the heart icon.
2. Please review the eligibility criteria before applying and determine if you should apply for the OPSD Technician Support Award or R38/R25 Technician Support Award.
3. Click Apply to begin your application process. Make sure to select the appropriate OPSD Technician Support or R38/R25 Technician Support cohort for your application.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Each trainee is allowed only one application per year for the Technician Support Award
  • Do not submit multiple applications using different email addresses
• Please note that only PDF and image files are accepted for the application on YOJO, so you may want to export your files as PDFs before applying.
• If you need to make changes or alter your cohort after submitting, you must withdraw your application, fix the error, and resubmit before the application deadline.

POSSIBLE USES OF FUNDS: Applicants may request funds to be used in a variety of ways, for example:

• Research support personnel* (e.g., Clinical Research Coordinator or technician)
• Data extraction and analysis
• Image processing and analysis
• Assistance with grant or manuscript preparation
• Biostatistical support
• Buyout of clinical time
• Other “extra hands” support as proposed by the applicant

*Applicants conducting clinical research are strongly encouraged to consult the Duke Office of Clinical Research (DOCR) prior to application submission to discuss possible uses of funds. DOCR provides support for personnel performing clinical research across the Duke organization and offers a wide array of services within that spectrum.

Funds cannot be used for research costs, such as supplies or sequencing costs, that would not directly help scholars reclaim their research time. Such costs would be expected to be covered by a scholar’s main research grant.

APPLICATION: The application can be accessed via REDCap HERE. 

APPLICATION COMPONENTS: Applications will consist of the following components:

• Project Information and Demographics, including project title, description (<200 words), contact information, and the percentage of professional effort devoted to research.
• Statement of Individual Need, including a description of caregiving responsibilities and how an award from FRCS would improve the balance between caregiving and professional responsibilities. Details such as the number of children/parents requiring care, any special needs of children/family members, spouse/partner career, if applicable, proximity to family support, cultural expectations from family, and a clear explanation of how funds will benefit the faculty member will be helpful for the review.
• Research Plan in the NIH format of Specific Aims, Significance, Innovation and Approach (no more than three pages, including figures, images, tables, etc., but excluding references), written so that it can be readily understood by reviewers outside of the applicant’s research field. The research plan should give reviewers an understanding of the benefits from this award.
• NIH-Style Biosketch (five-page limit) that contains information about the training history, faculty position, personal statement, scientific impact of research to date, publications and current research support (source, type, summary of goals, PI and role) as well as the individual’s percent effort dedicated to each award listed.
• Proposed Budget and Budget Justification using the NIH detailed budget format. Budgets must outline direct costs and include a budget justification for each requested person or item. The budget should be one page, and the justification should follow. Requests for salary support must include fringe benefits. The total request (including fringe) must not exceed $30,000 for one year. More guidance on the NIH detailed budget is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/developing_budget.htm. A sample budget justification is available here. If a particular section does not apply to your application, please leave this section blank on your budget.
• Letter of Support from the individual’s Department Chair, Division Chief, or Center/Institute Director. Departmental support for the faculty member is expected, and applications should outline planned matching funds and any additional support being provided to the faculty member. Matching funds will be reviewed favorably by the selection committee. The letter should identify the applicant’s primary research mentor/mentoring team.  

LETTER OF INTENT: Please send a brief, no-commitment e-mail stating your intent to apply to opsd@dm.duke.edu, which will help us gauge resources needed to facilitate the selection process.

DEADLINES: The following dates are applicable to FRCS applications:

• Letter of Intent Due: November 7, 2025
• Application Due: December 22, 2025

SELECTION CRITERIA: Fund applications will be competitively selected through an internal peer-review process. Applications will be evaluated based on the following selection criteria:

• Quality of the research plan
• Strength of letter of support
• Evidence of strong training and productivity
• Personal need

AWARD NOTIFICATION: Applicants will be notified of their funding status no later than January 23rd, 2026. Funds will become available on February 1^st and extend for eleven months.

AWARD BENEFITS: Selected scholars will attend mentoring meetings with Rasheed Gbadegesin, MD, MBBS, Associate Dean for Physician-Scientist Development.

QUESTIONS: Please contact the Office of Physician-Scientist Development at opsd@dm.duke.edu.  

OPSD offers concept reviews only to physician-scientist trainees and junior faculty registered in OPSD Scholars who do not have access to a department-run research development or concept review program. If the scholar is unsure about whether they have access to departmental resources, they should inquire with their OPSD Scholars Coordinator and Master Mentor. Participants must commit to providing a draft specific aims page (pre-vetted by a research mentor) at least one week in advance of the scheduled concept review meeting.

The purpose is to identify weaknesses in the scientific concepts early on that can be fixed via changes in strategies, presentation, new collaborations, or improved use of available resources.  This program can be used to vet grants of any size (e.g., K01, K23, R03, R01) and is most useful in the early stages of grant planning, before expending much time writing.

What is a “Concept Review”?

Investigators present their proposed scientific grant idea to a small group of established investigators with relevant expertise and participate in an open discussion with their specific aims page as the starting point

 Process for Concept Review Set-Up:

1.  At least 2-3 months before the submission due date, the investigator contacts OPSD with the following information:
   •  Whether their research is basic, clinical, or translational
   •  The name and submission date of the award they are applying for
   •  The title of their proposal
   •  The name of their mentor(s) and 5-6 investigators from anywhere within Duke University who have expertise relevant to the subject matter: investigators are encouraged to think outside of the box here.
   •  What days and times the investigator is available for a 90-minute review within the next 3-4 weeks
2.  The senior basic or clinical faculty lead looks over the suggested SOM reviewers and adds suggestions as needed
3.  OPSD contacts reviewers to set a date/time for the review session
4.  Reviewers receive the Specific Aims page of the investigator one week prior to the review session
5.  The overall format for this 90-minute concept review session is as follows:
   • The investigator presents an outline of the grant (including the background, preliminary data, and research plan) via PowerPoint to a small group of Duke investigators whose expertise aligns with the proposed research (3-5 reviewers total)
   •  Following the presentation, the group provides feedback through an open discussion focused on identifying possible problems and offering suggestions to improve the planned proposal
   •  The OPSD Scholars Coordinator will complete a concept review outcome form to provide notes and feedback after the review session

For more information on the concept review process, including eligibility and program requirements, please email opsd@dm.duke.edu .