Program Expectations
Junior faculty will participate in a year-long program that includes two intensive summer institutes and the two-day mid-year meeting. Participants will actively engage with a mentoring team via on-site meetings and conference calls throughout the year.
FOCUS is an NHLBI program for early career development. In addition to the UC San Diego program requirements, the junior faculty will participate in a 3-day NHLBI Programs (PRIME) Annual Meeting in the Washington, D.C. area in the spring.
Please note that the Summer Institutes are designed to be intensive and immersive. You are expected to complete homework and attend evening and weekend activities during the Institutes.
Program Timeline
*Please note that program structure, modality, and timeline are subject to change. The program will be held either in-person or online; no hybrid option will be provided. All travel expenses will be paid by the program.
|
Event |
Time Required (tentative month) |
Activities |
|---|---|---|
|
Virtual Sessions and Individual Work |
See details in the Activities column (June - July)
|
Attend the program orientation (1 hour), professional development training (~2 hours), and networking (1 hour) sessions (synchronous, virtual sessions) |
|
Summer Institute I |
1 week (July 2026)
will be held July 26-31, 2026 |
Structured curriculum with training in grant writing, professional development, mentorship, building mentoring teams, and cardiovascular sciences seminars. |
|
Mid-Year Meeting |
2 days (January 2027) |
Grant review in an NIH-style mock study section on the grant proposal started in summer, career update presentations, professional development sessions, and research and career development plans with mentors and fellow pticipants. |
|
NHLBI Programs Annual Meeting |
3 days (Spring 2027) |
Scientific and networking meeting where mentees, mentors, principal investigators, and the NHLBI staff gather to engage in hands-on research skill building activities and to form collaborations across the different NHLBI programs. |
|
Mentor conference calls |
Approximately 1 hour/month or quarter |
Work with mentors on RCAP and an NIH R01 or equivalent grant proposal. Meet with your research mentor once a month and with your career mentor once a quarter throughout your participation in FOCUS. |
|
Summer Institute II |
Up to 4-5 days (July 2027) |
Grant review in a NIH-style mock study section, leadership training, career update prsentations, and on-site mentoring. |
Interested in the FOCUS program?
Submit an interest form for the FOCUS program, and we will contact you directly once the recruitment is open.