Who is eligible?

 

Eligible individuals are those who are faculty at a Tufts CTSI partner or collaborator organization, are an instructor or Assistant Professor within the first 5 years of their appointment, have a proportion of effort dedicated to protected research, have a funded K grant or equivalent career development award, or plan to submit a K grant or equivalent career development award within the following two years.

Faculty who meet these criteria but are not actively planning to submit a K grant can apply for participation in the large group seminars. Others may inquire as to their eligibility at the email address below.

Selected junior faculty will commit to one year of participation.

Responsibilities of selected participants

 

For the monthly seminars, we ask for:

  • A commitment to attend 10 of the planned 12 sessions for one year
  • Agreement to prepare and present research progress at least twice during the year with provision of materials (such as specific aims, manuscript drafts, responses to review) one week before the session
  • Agreement to be an active participant in reviewing materials and contributing to discussions focused on the research of the other JFF members

To apply

Current Tufts CTSI and BIRCWH K12 Scholars during the 2026-2027 grant period are enrolled and do not require further applications.

 

Past K12 Scholars, current K23 or K08 or equivalent awards Scholars are requested to send a letter outlining research and grant writing goals in the academic coming year (one paragraph or bulleted lists are accepted), and brief description of ongoing academic projects.

 

For other faculty who are new to the Junior Faculty Forum, please submit the following:

 

✅ NIH Biosketch

 

✅ A single word document with information about yourself and your research plans which should include the following:

➡️ Brief summary of your current job description including protected time for academic activities (one paragraph)

➡️ Long term career goals (max half page)

➡️ Research and grant writing goals in the coming year (one paragraph or bulleted lists)

➡️ Description of ongoing academic projects, which may include QI or protocol development (max one page)

➡️ Why do you want to join the JFF? (one paragraph or bulleted lists)

 

✅ A letter of nomination from your research or career mentor. The letter should be addressed to Drs. Karen Freund, Iris Jaffe, and Lesley Inker. We encourage the letter to be written by a mentor internal to the Tufts organization; however, if the applicant has been at Tufts for less than one year, the letter may be written by an external mentor.

 

 

For current junior faculty forum members who do not meet the criteria in 1 and 2, please submit the following:

✅ A single word document with information about yourself and your research plans which should include the following:

➡️ Brief summary of your current job description including protected time for academic activities (one paragraph)

➡️ Long term career goals (max half page)

➡️ Research and grant writing goals in the coming year (one paragraph or bulleted lists)

➡️  Description of ongoing academic projects, which may include QI or protocol development (max one page)

➡️ What are your goals for the JFF this upcoming year?

 

Applications should be sent to tufts.mc.research.career.awards@tuftsmedicine.org. The deadline for application is Monday, August 10, 2026.

Questions?

Please contact Tufts.MC.Research.Career.Awards@tuftsmedicine.org.