Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Postdoctoral Development Award | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) Postdoctoral Development Award?

The TSC Postdoctoral Development Award is a FY2016 funding opportunity under the Department of Defense Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Research Program (TSCRP). It is designed to help early-career scientists launch a focused research career in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) by supporting a high-impact TSC research project paired with structured career development under an established TSC investigator.

What is the main purpose of this award?

The central purpose is career development for an early-career researcher. The mechanism is built to help a recent doctoral or medical graduate develop independence-in-training, establish a clear research vision in TSC, and build toward becoming a future leader in the TSC research field.

Who is considered the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award?

The postdoctoral applicant is treated as the Principal Investigator (PI). A defining feature is that the postdoc, not the senior scientist/mentor, is the PI, and the application is expected to reflect that the project is intellectually driven by the postdoc.

What is the mentor expected to do under this mechanism?

The mentor is expected to provide guidance, resources, and career support, and to demonstrate a concrete commitment to advancing the PI's career. The mentor should not be positioned as the primary architect of the research; reviewers are expected to see the PI leading the intellectual direction of the proposed work.

Does the PI need prior experience in TSC research to apply?

No. Prior TSC experience is not required. However, the proposed work must clearly center on TSC, and the application must make a convincing case that the PI has strong potential to become an independent investigator in the TSC field.

How much postdoctoral experience is allowed to be eligible?

The PI must have three years or less of postdoctoral research experience at the time of application. The eligibility window includes exclusions for clinical residency, clinical fellowship, or family medical leave, as described in the opportunity information.

Does the PI need to be in the mentor's lab by the time of submission?

Yes. The PI must be working in the mentor's laboratory by the submission deadline.

What qualifications are reviewers looking for in the PI?

The program is looking for applicants who demonstrate strong potential to become independent investigators in TSC. Examples of supporting evidence mentioned include training history, accomplishments such as first-author papers, and strong letters of recommendation.

What are the requirements for the mentor?

The mentor must be an experienced TSC researcher with an active record of peer-reviewed funding and recent TSC publications. The application should document the mentor's meaningful contributions to the TSC field, which may include publications, patents, and presentations.

How should the mentor's research environment be described in the application?

The application should make clear that the lab environment, resources, and guidance are well matched to the PI's project and development needs, and that needed resources are available to complete the proposed research.

Are preliminary data required?

No. Preliminary data are not required for this award. Even so, the proposal must present a convincing scientific case based on strong logic and a sound rationale, with a clear experimental plan and well-defined methods.

If preliminary data are not required, what makes a proposal competitive?

Based on the opportunity description, competitive proposals are expected to be scientifically rigorous and well-justified, with a realistic path to achieving goals. Applicants are expected to address feasibility, confirm availability of resources, discuss potential problems and pitfalls, and present alternative approaches. Where applicable, appropriate statistical and power analyses should be included to justify the study design and sample sizes.

Are clinical trials supported by this award?

No. This mechanism does not support clinical trials. Projects should be preclinical, translational without a trial component, or otherwise non-trial clinical research as permitted by program rules.

What is the Researcher Development Plan and is it required?

A detailed Researcher Development Plan is required. It must be created with mentor guidance and should lay out how the PI will gain the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to complete the research and transition toward independence in TSC research.

What should the Researcher Development Plan include?

The plan is expected to be concrete and structured rather than a general statement of interest. The strongest applications typically connect the research plan to specific development activities, showing how the award period will position the PI for an independent TSC-focused career path.

How important is "impact" in the review process?

Impact is described as a major review driver. The program is explicitly looking for projects with high potential to lead to breakthroughs in TSC or to accelerate progress in TSC research and/or patient care. The impact may be short-term or long-term, but it must be meaningful and go beyond incremental progress.

What types of funding instruments are used for this opportunity?

The listing indicates the funding instrument type includes cooperative agreements and grants.

Who is the sponsor for this opportunity?

The sponsor listed in the posted opportunity details is DOD-AMRAA.

What is the CFDA number and program category associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 12.420 and categorized as science and technology research and development.

Who is eligible to apply based on the posted eligibility summary?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement.

What was the application closing date for this FY2016 posting?

The application closing date shown for this FY2016 posting was July 18, 2016.

How many awards were anticipated?

The listing notes an anticipated three awards.

Is the award ceiling specified in the provided information?

No. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided excerpt.

What is the key message reviewers should take away about the PI's role?

Reviewers are expected to see that the proposed research is intellectually driven by the PI, with the mentor providing guidance and support. The application is expected to emphasize the PI's research vision, independence-in-training, and a structured plan to grow into a future leader in TSC research.