HBCS Postdoctoral Program Training Admission Requirements

• NIH training grants will only support U.S. citizens or permanent residents holding a green card.
• Postdoctoral trainees must have received, as of the beginning date of the NRSA appointment, a PhD, MD, DDS, or comparable doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution. Documentation by an authorized official of the degree-granting institution certifying all degree requirements have been met prior to the beginning date of training is required.
• Trainees may receive no more than three years of total NRSA support at the postdoctoral level, including any combination of support from institutional training grants and individual fellowship awards.

• Postdoctoral traineeships are awarded for a one-year period, with the option of renewal for a second year. Appointment for the second year, however, is dependent on demonstration of progress during the first year and a clear plan for continued work in the area of hearing, balance and chemical senses.
• Postdoctoral trainees are also expected to apply for F32 individual fellowship training support. NIH studies indicate that individuals receiving less than two years of postdoctoral training have a much lower probability of continuing in a successful research career.
• The two years of fellowship training should be contiguous and focus on one research area.
• The University of Michigan Medical School policy limits the duration of postdoctoral appointments, including previous postdoctoral experience, to five (5) years.

• A two-year research obligation begins at the onset of appointment to the HBCS training grant. Completion of a second year of research training funded by the HBCS fellowship, or by a T32 individual fellowship, fulfills the NIH payback agreement.
• Postdoctoral trainees who end their research careers before two years of postdoctoral training are completed, and who do not fulfill this obligation, are required to pay back the portion of their stipend received up to the time they leave the program. For additional details, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement (December 2003).

Applications for predoctoral positions are considered twice per year. Applications are due on March 15 and August 15. Applicants are evaluated and given a priority score by the HBCS Admissions Committee. Final decisions will be made by the HBCS Executive Committee approximately 4-6 weeks following the application deadlines. Traineeships can begin at any time within the 12 months following the final approval by the Executive Committee.

• Quality of the candidate’s academic and research accomplishments
• Potential for successful training in the fields of hearing, balance or chemical senses
• Quality of the training environment and career training plan
• Quality of the research training plan

• Progress in the research training plan, based upon the applicant’s and mentor’s descriptions and the publications/presentations resulting from the preceding year’s training
• Progress in the career training plan
• Participation in HBCS training programs