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Career Development Program
The Office of Research and Development (ORD) is pleased to announce a new career development program that streamlines career development opportunities across services into one ORD-wide program. As always, this career development program is designed to attract, develop and retain talented VA researchers in areas of particular importance to VA by providing a well-constructed, mentored research development experience. The new program is intended to clarify, simplify, and enhance VA research career development opportunities for clinicians and non-clinicians. The program was developed by an ORD-wide work group and has been vetted by the Field Research Advisory Committee, the National Research Advisory Committee, and VA research center directors.
The handbook for the new Career Development Program will replace the Service-specific handbooks for clinician and non-clinician career development programs including Associate Investigator, Merit Review Entry Program and Career Development Program. Each ORD Service will begin following the new procedures for all future letters of intent and proposal submissions.
Currently funded trainees will continue with their award until the conclusion of their funding.
Changes are designed to make the program more attractive to top candidates and enhance retention rates. The new ORD-wide program outlines specific step-wise career paths for clinicians and non-clinicians. It is comprised of three levels of mentored awards and a non-mentored career enhancement award for senior scientists, briefly described below. For a full description of the new levels, download the Summary Chart.
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The entry level career development program (CDA-1) program is open to both clinicians and non-clinicians. Review criteria emphasize candidate qualifications, mentorship, and career development plan.
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The mid-level (CDA-2) program also is open to both clinicians and non-clinicians who must specify their career development plans and research project over a 3-5 year duration.
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The transition award (CDTA) is open only to clinicians who have submitted a merit review proposal that has been approved (although not necessarily funded). This award will provide up to three years of transition funding to ensure that their VA research career is well-established.
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The career development enhancement award (CDEA) for senior VA scientists is now also open to non-clinicians as well as clinicians. This award will provide up to six-months of salary for scientists to learn new research skills.
The calendar for application to the program will be as follows:
April 15 – Letter of Intent due
June 15 – Applications due
October 15 – Letter of Intent due
December 15 – Applications due
For Biomedical Laboratory and Clinical Science R&D Services, please note that the MREP program will permanently shift to this calendar effective with the October 15, 2006 deadline. In the interim, MREP applicants with approved LOIs may submit for the March 15 Merit Review round OR postpone their submission and follow the calendar for the new program.
Any questions may be directed to the appropriate ORD Service program manager:
Biomedical Laboratory or Clinical Science R&D Services, including Cooperative Studies:
Terri Gleason, PhD (202-461-1689) or theresa.gleason@va.gov
Rehabilitation Research & Development Service:
Terri Carlton, MPH (202) 254-0265 or terrilynn.carlton@va.gov
Health Services Research and Development Service:
Robert Small (202) 461-1515 or robert.small@va.gov
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