CCTS Accepting Applications for CATS Affiliate Scholars Program
Part of the UIC Center for Clinical and Translational Science Clinical and Translational Science Scholars Program
Request for Applications Heading link
About Us
The Center for Clinical and Translational Science believes health research should raise people’s overall well-being in Chicago and beyond. We help UIC researchers bring health breakthroughs into the world faster.
The CATS Affiliate Scholar Program
The CATS Affiliate Scholar Program is intended to accelerate the career progression of scientists who have demonstrated a commitment to clinical and/or translational research. This institutionally-supported program provides vigorous mentoring and career development for clinical and translational scholars in disciplines and professions such as medicine, dentistry, engineering, social work, nursing, and pharmacy.
Ideal candidates are junior faculty who will have completed the majority of their formal research training and now require protected time to develop a specific research project that will lead to external funding.
CATS Affiliates vs. K Awardees
The CATS Affiliates program and the traditional KL2 program both provide:
- Two-year career development program for junior faculty looking to strengthen their clinical and translational sciences work
- The same mentoring and career development training opportunities as the standard K program
The only difference between the programs is funding and protected time:
- CATS Affiliates are funded by their departments for $10,000 per year
- Affiliates receive 50% protected time
Due to the funding cycle, we are not able to fund K Scholars during this application round.
Application Timeline
- December 5, 2025: RFA Released
- January 23, 2025: Submission portal opens
- January 29, 2025: Information Session
- February 28, 2025, 5pm CST: RFA deadline via CCTS Awards system only
- June 1, 2025: Anticipated award start date
Information Session
January 29, 2025, 12:00 – 1:00pm via Zoom
Please join our Director, Shane Phillips, PT, PhD, and Associate Director, Lisa Sharp, BSN, MA, PhD, to learn more about the program application process.