1. F32 Trial and Error: Lessons Learned from the Application Process
Kimberly Brothers Ph.D.
Research Instructor
Shanks lab
University of Pittsburgh
Department of Ophthalmology
Charles T. Campbell Laboratory

2. Outline Letters of Support Aims Research Strategy
Goals for fellowship and career
Activities planned under this award
Reviewer comments
Introduction to resubmission

3. Your PI wants you to write a F32 or better, YOU want to write one
What do I do first?
Try to get a copy of someone’s F32
Download SF424 instructions
(look for SF424 instructions)

4. Letters of Support
Ask people who have trained you for letters of support
Give them plenty of time to submit the letters

7. Biosketch

8. Biosketch Contributions to Science

9. MARKETING PORTFOLIO BE HONEST: What are my strengths?
What are my weaknesses?
Do I have meritorious publications that demonstrate my ingenuity/talent?
Are there cool techniques proposed for the project that I would benefit learning?
Do I have sufficient preliminary data to support the aims and goal(s) of the project?

10. You Must Focus!!! Subject [# Awards] Dry Eye [90]
Dry Eye and Infection [22]
Dry Eye and Bacteria [2]

11. I Found My Niche/Topic Now What?
Training Environment
Postulating testable hypothesis
Training Plan

12. Specific Aims Should be independent Not very time intensive
Facilities and equipment that will support aims
IACUC/IRB if there is animal/human work

13. Aims and Research Strategy
Aim 1. Identify the bacterial secreted factor(s) responsible for reduced corneal cell migration.
Aim 2. Test the hypothesis that bacteria inhibit corneal wound healing in vivo.
Good to have 3 aims because you can always cut one.

14. Research Strategy
Aim 1: Identify the bacterial secreted factor(s) responsible for reduced corneal cell migration
SM transposon mutagenesis (1a)
Biochemical approach HPLC-MS, NMR (1b)
Protein/Compounds screen (1c)
Pitfalls: Use transcriptomic approach RNA- Seq

15. Research Strategy
Aim 2: Test the hypothesis that bacteria inhibit corneal wound healing in vivo

16. Aims and Research Strategy
Aim 1. Identify the bacterial secreted factor(s) responsible for reduced corneal cell migration.
Aim 2. Test the hypothesis that bacteria inhibit corneal wound healing in vivo.
Aims not independent

17. Updated Aims
Aim 1. Test the hypothesis that bacteria inhibit corneal wound healing in vivo
Aim 2. Test the hypothesis that S. marcescens (SM) strain PIC3611 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inhibits corneal wound healing

18. Revised Research Strategy
Test the hypothesis that bacteria inhibit corneal wound healing in vivo (Aim 1)
Test the hypothesis that S. marcescens (SM) strain PIC3611 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inhibits corneal wound healing (Aim 2)
Complementation of LPS mutants (Aim 2.1)
Test non-viable bacterial ability to inhibit wound healing (Aim 2.2)
Biochemical approach (deplete secretomes of LPS, purify LPS) (Aim 2.3)

19. Revised Research Strategy Preliminary Data

20. Goals for Fellowship and Career
Simplified into research goals and professional development goals

21. Goals for Fellowship and Career
Simplified into research goals and professional development goals
Simplified into research goals and professional development goals

22. Goals for Fellowship and Career
Simplified into research goals and professional development goals
Simplified into research goals and professional development goals

23. Activities Planned Under this Award

24. Activities Planned Under this Award
Not so many classes and incorporate milestones for career advancement

25. Sponsor Training Plan Lists all past trainees
Environment, Research Facilities
Plan for trainee
Meet every Monday regarding project
Biology of Vision course
Dept Seminars
Presenting at local and national meetings
Publishing manuscripts

26. Sponsor Training Plan
If PI is junior faculty or topic outside lab focus add co-sponsor
List other grants/Funds

27. Responsible Conduct of Research

28. Vertebrate Animals

29. Vertebrate Animals

30. Equipment

31. Facilities

32. You Don’t Want an Angry Review Committee

33. You Want One That is Receptive to Your Idea(s)

34. Choosing your study section

35. Reviewer comments PI has not trained enough PhD’s (add a co-sponsor)
Too ambitious
Concerned about funding status of sponsor and co- sponsor (letter from Research Chair)
Wanted annual milestones to ensure proper training

36. Introduction to Resubmission

37. Cover Letter

38. Cover Letter

39. Cover Letter