eligibility

Applicants must:

• be faculty members in the College of Medicine at the University of Florida*
• be working on an R01 or equivalent grant proposal
• submit an R01 or equivalent grant proposal to the NIH at the completion of the 2025-26 R01 Boot Camp Program (in June 2026).

The boot camp is open to faculty working on new R01 or equivalent proposals as well as to those working on resubmissions and renewals.  This includes members of previous boot camp cohorts.

*Faculty members outside of COM can participate in the R01 Boot Camp if certain conditions are met.  Faculty interested in participating but outside of COM should contact Dr. Elizabeth Palmer at eanpalmer@ufl.edu for details.

selection process

Applications will be reviewed by a senior faculty and program leadership to determine applicant readiness to prepare and submit an R01 or equivalent grant in June 2026.

Applicants selected into the program as mentees will be asked to sign MOUs that outline responsibilities and expectations.

cost

Applicants with a primary appointment in the College of Medicine may participate at no cost. If an R01-equivalent grant proposal is not submitted to the NIH at the conclusion of the 2025-26 Boot Camp Program, the mentee’s Chair/Division Head must reimburse the program a portion of costs ($4,500).

to apply

For consideration to be a MENTEE, please submit online ONLY these items by Thursday, May 15th, 2025 AT 5:00 PM following the instructions listed below.

• Name
• Email address
• Title (e.g. Assistant professor)
• College
• Department
• Do you have a joint appointment? If yes, please list the college and department.
• Is your primary faculty appointment in COM? If no, please list the college and department.
• Have you previously participated in the R01 bootcamp? 
• What kind of proposal will you submit?
• Are you planning to submit a PI or an MPI proposal? If MPI, please list the names and emails of the other investigators.
• Have you received NIH funding before? If yes, please list the type of award(s) received.
• Cover Letter with contact information
• Specific Aims (1 page)
• Supplementary Research Description (1-2 pages) – Include brief description of study design, existing preliminary data, and collaborators (if known)
• Biosketch (NIH format, 5 pages)
• Letter of Support from Department Chair or Division Head which must: 1) indicate support for the mentee’s participation in the R01 Boot Camp Program; 2) confirm protected time for program participation and proposal development; and 3) acknowledge financial requirements ($4,500 reimbursement to the R01 Boot Camp Program if the mentee does not submit an R01 or equivalent grant to the NIH at the program’s conclusion.)
• Name and email for a UF faculty members who could serve as the mentee’s Internal Subject Matter Expert (ISME).  An ISME is an established UF faculty researcher with expertise relevant the mentee’s field and available to offer scientific guidance.  However, a faculty member CANNOT serve as ISME if she or he is a co-investigator or consultant on the mentee’s proposal.  Prior to the start of the program, the mentee should approach the ISME to ask about her or his willingness to participate in the R01 Boot Camp program.  The Office of Research will work with accepted mentees and their coaches to sign Memoranda of Understanding with ISMEs shortly after mentees are selected.

Use the application link below to apply.  You will receive a confirmation email once your application has been received.

Please note that the 2025-26 cohort of the R01 Boot Camp Program is a 9-month program that will begin in September 2025 and conclude in June 2026. Applicants must be available for the following required program events:

• Early September 2025 – Opening Ceremony 
• September 2025 – Team Science Workshop
• October 2025 – All-day Grant Writing Workshop 
• January 2026 – Human Design Studio
• Early May 2026 – Mock Review
• Mid-June 2026 – Closing Ceremony 
• Monthly work group meetings with Coaches and Internal Subject Matter Experts
• Chalk Talks and additional events          

2025-26 R01 Boot Camp Mentee Application Form