How to Apply

Application Process

Eligibility

Candidates must meet the following criteria:

M.D. and/or Ph.D. degree
Commitment to a research career
Track record of creativity and excellence in research
Appointment as an Assistant Professor (but may apply while a post-doctoral fellow)
Be within three years of finishing either their specialty or subspecialty residency/fellowship training

Support

Department Chair submits the application (see below for details)
Amount of support is flexible, but cannot exceed $1,000,000
Maximum duration of award is four years
Requested salary support should reflect time that is protected for research; not to exceed $100,000 (plus fringe)/year
The Scholar will be given 80% protected time for research for the duration of the award

Selection

Selection is made by the DOCS Program Selection Committee. The progress of each candidate is reviewed by the Committee annually to ensure that:

At least 80% of faculty time is devoted to research
Candidate is receiving appropriate and sufficient mentoring
Research program is progressing at an appropriate pace

Nominations for Disease-Oriented Clinical Scholars (DOCS) awards are reviewed on a rolling basis so there is no application deadline. Funds are available to select up to five awards annually.

The application consists of the following:

Application form
Budget using the DOCS Program template
CV that includes all research publications
A research statement written by the candidate that describes the proposed research program. The statement should not exceed four pages.
Bibliography for research statement (not to exceed two pages)
Letters of recommendation (n=3): the letters should comment on the candidate's research accomplishments and future promise.
Examples of candidate's publications (n≤3)
A letter from the UTSW Department Chair (≤3 pages)
- Reviews applicant’s research experience and program
- Explains how the candidate's research will fit into the department's current and planned research enterprise
- Provides the following information:
  - Date of appointment to the faculty
  - Location of laboratory and office space
  - Any other resources provided to the candidate to support their research program
  - Percent time to be protected for research during the award
  - Anticipated clinical responsibilities during the award
- Names a committee of three mentors who will meet at least yearly to review the research program

Review Criteria

Candidate's qualifications and research experience
Quality of research publications
Creativity and quality of the research statement
Future promise as a disease-oriented basic or clinical researcher
Evidence of commitment to education and training as an investigator
Letters of recommendation and letter from Department Chair
Evidence of departmental support, including ample protected time for research
Requested support being commensurate with the need
Requests that will optimize career development and future success