Mentored Scientist Transition Award

The Mentored Scientist Transition Award (MSTA) is our primary method of funding Early-Stage Investigators (new recruits, clinician scientists and research track faculty, and in some instances, senior postdoctoral fellows) who need protected time through salary support to establish their independent research programs. The MSTA provides up to $50,000 per year for up to two years. Funding for the second year is contingent on progress achieved in the first year.

Eligibility Requirements

• Environmental Health Science project that would benefit from the generation of preliminary data
• No prior history of federal grant support
• Strong mentorship plan
• Mentor is a member of the standing faculty from any School at the University of Pennsylvania

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines correspond to CEET’s Pilot Project Program due dates. Please check for a formal “Call for Applications” and availability of funds before you begin work on an application.

Application Procedures

An official application document, with detailed instructions, will be made available when a “Call for Applications” is announced. Applicants will be expected to include the following:

• Application Form
• Letter of Support from Mentor with a plan towards independence.
• Mentor’s Other Support page—to verify that the project is not duplicative of their funded research.
• Plan for a K-award or career development award application.
• NIH Biosketch (current format)
• List of Current and Pending Grant Support
• Abstract (no more than 300 words)
• Specific Aims (1 page)
• Research Strategy (up to 6 pages)
• Project Timeline (1 page)
• Outline/Details of how results will enable the submission of a subsequent grant (1 page)
• References
• Budget and Budget Justification
• IRB or IACUC approval (if applicable)

Recent Award Recipients