Launch to K
Launch to K
The goal of this program is to assist promising biomedical scientists to launch their academic career by writing a K series NIH career development award proposal.
When
August 12, 2026 to December 16, 2026 every two weeks (mostly) on Wednesday from 2 - 4:30 p.m.
Where
Virtual
Via Zoom
The goal of this program is to assist promising biomedical scientists to launch their academic career by writing a K series NIH career development award proposal. The individual components of a K-series career development award (or comparable foundation grant) are discussed in a step by step detailed process over the 12 semiweekly 2-2.5 hour meetings.
The heart of the workshop will be peer-to-peer reviews of biweekly writing assignments of grant components: Candidate, Mentorship plan, Career Development Training Plan, the Approach and Scientific Environment and Institutional Support.
Experienced NIH funded investigators will assist in guiding the group and illustrating the various component and of a K award from a grant reviewer's point of view, with assistance from recent successful K awardees. Participants are expected to attend at least 80% of the sessions. Up to 8 participants will be accepted.
Application Deadline: June 22, 2026, 11:59 a.m.
Workshop: August 12 to December 9, 2026, 2 - 4:30 p.m. every other (mostly) Wednesday
Questions? Contact Stuart.Hobbs@osumc.edu or Kymberly.Gowdy@osumc.edu
Full Schedule
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• Participant introductions and project pitches (3-minute overview)
• Meet current and former K grantees
• Group discussion: “What makes a strong K candidate?”
Assignment:
TBD: Watch Dr. Wold's video on how to draft an impactful aims page, Identify mentor team
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NIH 101 overview and go over components of a K grant and K grant review criteria from NIH
Assignment:
TBD: review successful K grant applications, Start Drafting Specific Aims page
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Discuss the important of a concise well written specific aims page.
Assignment:
TBD: Upload a completed draft of Specific Aims to shared file.
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Peer-to-peer review of the Specific Aims
Assignment:
Watch Dr. Wold's video on drafting experimental approach. Upload a finalized revised specific aim page (with peer feedback incorporated) and a detailed outline of the experimental approach.
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Instructions on structure of the experimental approach and discuss incorporation of mentors into approach
Assignment:
TBD: Watch Dr. Meg Bouvier's video of candidate career documents. Upload the finalized Experimental Approach.
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Instructions on structure of the candidate documents and letters of support from mentoring committee and consultants, peer-to-peer review of the approach
Assignment:
(NOTE EARLY DATE) Upload Candidate Background, Career Development Goals and a detailed and highly specific Training Plan with a timeline illustration
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Finish peer-to-peer review of approach (if needed); Peer-to-peer review of the Candidate Information, Career Development Goals and Training Plan
Assignment:
Upload Draft Mentor Letter and a Letter that clearly provides evidence of institutional support.
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Peer-to-peer review of the mentor letter and evidence of institutional support as well as instructions on how to generate ScienCV NIH biosketch
Assignment:
TBD - Upload entire grant application to the shared file for the mock study section. Essential components: NIH Biosketch, NIH
Biosketch of at least the primary mentor, Specific Aims Page, personal statement and training plan and experimental pan/approach.
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Mock Study Section of Completed Applications. Three experienced faculty reviewers will discuss your submitted proposal and render a score. You will be able to attend in person but not participate in or influence the discussion.
No assignment due
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Discuss your response to the concerns of the reviewer: how will you revise and improve your final K submission.
No assignment due
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Discussion of the Budget and other ancillary (non-scored elements of a K submission)
No assignment due
K applications due to NIH February 16, 2027 or June 12, 2027