Program Milestones
While recognizing that each KL2 scholar will have his or her own individualized program and timeline, the Center for Translational Science Activities (CTSA) Postdoctoral Programs Committee tracks certain progress milestones.
Shortly after you are accepted to the KL2 Mentored Career Development Program and before your start date, an orientation is held with you, your mentors and program leadership to provide information about milestones, requirements, timelines and expectations.
Milestone 1: Research proposal and career development plan
Submission of your detailed research proposal, in PHS 398 format, and career development plan is required by June 1 prior to the start of your funding year. Your proposal will be submitted according to National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines for an R01 application.
Your career development plan will include specific details about your career goals, mentoring and training. Details will be discussed at your program orientation meeting.
Milestone 2: Annual NIH progress report and internal progress report
NIH progress report
This report is required by NIH. You and your mentors will complete this form annually, and it will be submitted to NIH by CTSA.
Internal progress report
This report is required by CTSA. Your first year, a template is provided to you. For the remainder of your award years, you will be sent your previous year's report to add your achievements and progress.
Both the NIH progress report and the internal progress report templates will be provided to you in early February and are due to the CTSA KL2 education specialist by March 15.
Milestone 3: Annual review with CTSA Education Resources
After your two progress reports have been received, you will meet with the CTSA Postdoctoral Programs Executive Committee to discuss your program progress and goals for the next year, including publications and grant applications. This meeting takes place in the spring.
Milestone 4: Didactics
The following courses are required to ensure each scholar leaves our program with a set of core competencies. However, prior completions of the required courses are accepted.
Your six required credits will be fulfilled by taking these courses:
| Course |
Credits |
| CTSC 5300: Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology |
1 |
| CTSC 5310: Clinical Epidemiology II |
1 |
| CTSC 5600: Statistics in Clinical Research |
2 |
| CORE 6000: Responsible Conduct of Research |
1 |
| CTSC 5080: Introduction to Health Disparities |
1 |
| Total |
6 |
Milestone 5: Meetings, workshops and presentations
Meetings
- Scholar Forum. Every other month.
- CTSA Grand Rounds. CTSA Grand Rounds are held on Fridays from noon to 1 p.m.
- National KL2 Program. This meeting is held each year in April. Travel expenses for this meeting are covered by the grant, and you must attend at least one annual meeting of the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS), which is incorporated into the joint annual meeting of the Association for Clinical Research Training and the Society for Clinical and Translational Science.
- Other specialty meetings. As identified by your mentors.
Workshops
Presentations
- Scholar Forum: End of grant year 1. During the first year of your appointment, you will present your progress to the current KL2 scholars.
- CTSA Executive Committee: End of grant year 2. During the second year of your appointment, you and your mentors will attend a CTSA Postdoctoral Programs Committee meeting to present your annual progress. Following your presentation, you will be provided with written feedback regarding your progress and plans for the next year.
- CTSA Grand Rounds: End of grant year 3. During your final year in the KL2 Program, you will present your research findings to date at CTSA Grand Rounds.
Milestone 6: Grant application submission
One marker of your success in the KL2 Program is your ability to obtain extramural grant funding to support your research career.
The CTSA Postdoctoral Programs Committee requires that you prepare and submit a grant application to a peer-reviewed funding source by the end of year two of your KL2 Program. Grant applications to intramural funding opportunities are also encouraged during this time.
Milestone 7: Outcomes reporting
At the end of your grant, you will be asked to complete an exit survey, mentorship survey and CTRAI post-program survey, and participate in an exit interview.
Upon completion of the KL2 Program, you will be asked to submit a current National Institutes of Health (NIH) biosketch that documents your current publications, grant support, academic rank and other academic activities.
We also kindly request that you respond to our annual tracking survey as well as provide us with an up-to-date curriculum vitae and a general update about your professional achievements on a regular basis.
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