FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Junior faculty (assistant professor rank) are eligible for the Wright Center KL2 program. Postdoctoral fellows are NOT eligible. In order to receive support by the KL2 Program, each KL2 Scholar must be a faculty member and have the full support of their research mentor, home department and school.
The KL2 award is designed for researchers who are early in their professional careers. It is not meant to serve as support for applicants already established in their field, nor is it meant to aid in a career change. Individuals who have achieved the rank of associate professor are not eligible.
A faculty appointment is required. However, if faculty positions are pending at the time of application, the department chair or division chief must reference this in their letter of support for you. Departmental commitment to KL2 Scholars’ research career development is an important consideration in the review of application. Formal faculty appointment must be in place by the time of the award.
No.
Non-tenure track faculty are eligible for the Wright Center KL2 Program. Please note, however, that the level of institutional support and commitment is a consideration as we review candidate applications. There is a great deal of variability in institutional commitments to non-tenure track faculty. Thus, the letter of support from the department head is extremely important in evaluating applications from non-tenure track faculty.
You would not be eligible for the Wright Center KL2, if you are currently funded by an institutional K Award. Applicants could apply after the end of the current award. However, you would need to clearly explain why additional K-level training is needed.
Individuals with a pending K application are not eligible to apply.
All those who applied for the KL2 program will receive a summary of the scores and the reviewers’ comments.
Wright Center scholars should engage in clinical and/or translational research. Although the research proposed in the KL2 application does not need to involve human subjects, non-human research must be clearly relevant to human disease. Please review the NIH’s NCATS information on translational research categories, for further guidance.
Absolutely.
Not at the time of application, but it will be if required for your KL2 project.
The KL2 award provides two years of support with the possibility of additional funding for a third year. Each year of funding is contingent upon satisfactory progress through the program.
A KL2 Scholar’s protected time is dedicated for their clinical and translational research, career development training, workshops, events and other critical mentoring activities.
Only certain surgical specialties may request approval for less than 75 percent (but no less than 50 percent) protected time in the KL2 Program. Justification will require documentation that more than a 25 percent clinical commitment is required in order to avoid loss of competence or credentialing in specified clinical skills.
Every KL2 awardee will be expected to transition to an NIH/AHRQ career development award (i.e., K23, K08) by the end of their KL2 award. Alternatively, the exceptionally well-prepared KL2 Scholar may apply directly for R-type funding without additional career development funding.
Yes. This is allowed as long as your paid effort is outside of the 75 percent KL2-supported effort.
All mentors listed in an application should have a record of NIH- or Department of Defense-funded research and successful record of accomplishment in mentoring mentees.
Yes, you may apply for and accept small grant awards.
Yes, the projects must be under your 75 percent protected time and must be aligned with your overall KL2 research theme, objectives and specific aims.