Institute for Cancer Research

SIRG Grad Research Assistantship

Funding Opportunity Number

PICR-SIRG-FY2025-01

Funding Opportunity Title

SIRG GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP

Key Dates

Announcement November 1, 2024
Due January 31, 2025

Administrative Contact

Sara Strasser (sstrasse@purdue.edu)

Funding Opportunity Description

The Purdue University Institute for Cancer Research has allocated SIRG Graduate Research Assistantships from the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships (EVPRP). The center is soliciting nominations from Institute Faculty Members (only) for outstanding graduate students undertaking cancer-related research.

Significance and relevance to cancer will be given high priority in awarding the center-administered SIRG Assistantships. In addition, the approach to the research will also be evaluated. Please indicate the predicted outcomes for the proposed research plan (publication(s) or/and the contribution of the research to extramural grant submission). The trainee is expected to write the proposal.

To apply, please submit your electronic application by 5 pm on the cycle due date. No exceptions. The electronic submission system will not allow applications beyond the deadline. Once here, you can enter your Purdue username and password.

Qualifications/Restrictions

Only students in good standing (minimum GPA = 3.5) working for their PhD degree may apply. Students must have passed the oral prelims and/or be admitted to PhD candidacy before June 1, 2025. If by June 1, 2025 an awardee has not fulfilled this requirement, the SIRG will revert to the center. Applications that are submitted through other departments can be submitted to the center in response to this call, providing the projects are cancer-relevant. Only one application per faculty member is allowed.

Applicant must be a Trainee Member of the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research.  Membership information and application can be found here.

Cost share

The amount of this award is a standard amount that the EVPRP office designates. Because every department/college has different stipend amounts, some cost share may be required to standardize the stipend.

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards

A total of three awards will be available.

Award Budget

Not applicable.

Award Project Period

12 months, starting June 1, 2025

Award Requirements

Recipients will be required to submit a one-page summary of the project in lay language before the award is activated.

Required Publication Acknowledgement

“The authors gratefully acknowledge the SIRG Graduate Research Assistantships Award and support from the Purdue University Institute for Cancer Research, P30CA023168.” The awardee is required to include the cancer institute logo on their presentations and may contact the administrative contact listed above.

General Requirements

The applicant will provide their ORCID for reporting purposes during the electronic application process. For assistance, use the administrative contact listed above.

No Cost Extension (NCE)

No cost extensions are not allowed.

Regulatory

Please note the award is contingent upon obtaining all of the necessary regulatory approvals (e.g., IRB, IACUC, PACUC) or a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) pertaining to the work that has pending approvals.

Assistantship Processing

Processed as RA assistantship by home department.  PICR will setup an account in Academic unit under the faculty PI for this award on the NCI Core grant.  Salary, fringe, Fee remits.  Cost distribution to be updated with new account.

Reporting

Responding to periodic requests of career impact is required. Triage of future applications may occur if reporting requests are ignored.

Application Guidelines

  1. Application Style:The application should be single-spaced, 11 pt Ariel font, with no less than 0.5-inch margins.
  2. Required Application Structure:
    1. Modified NIH Biosketch (Fellowship Biosketch) – No more than 3 pages.
      1. eRA Commons Username is NOT needed.
      2. See example Biosketch here.
    2. Explanation of how this research assistantship will help you, the cancer focus of your research, and your career goals – No more than ½ page
    3. Summary with specific aims of the cancer research on which you will be working – No more than 3 pages.
    4. Cited Literature - not included in page limit
  3. For the electronic submission, the items to upload should include (all combined into 1 file):

    1. Application – No more than 6 ½ pages
  4. Items collected after submission: 
    1. Letter of recommendation from the major professor which must include a paragraph stating the cancer relevance of the project and why it should be supported by a PICR SIRG award. In particular, please describe if the proposed experiments are described in any submitted/funded proposals by the faculty advisor. Once you submit your electronic application, your major professor will receive an automated email asking for this letter.

Review Criteria

  1. Cancer-relevance of the project
  2. Impact the award will have on the development of the trainee. This can include the productivity/accomplishments of the trainee.
  3. Selection committee could consist of senior/program leaders, PICR members or other experts.

Announcement History And Updates

Funding Opportunity Number

Summary of Change

PICR-SIRG-FY2025-01

Initiation of Announcement