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FAQ

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) regarding the UC San Diego FIRST program.

Eligibility

1. If I already hold an assistant professor position, am I eligible to apply?
You are eligible to apply if you hold a non-tenure track assistant professor position. Those in tenure-track assistant professor positions are not eligible to apply.

2. Does having a career development award, such as a K99, make me ineligible to apply?
No, having a career development award does not make a candidate ineligible.

​3. What are considered R01-equivalent grants?
"R01-equivalent grants are defined as activity codes DP1, DP2, DP5, R01, R37, R56, RF1, RL1, U01 and R35 from select NIGMS and NHGRI program announcements (PAs)." Source

4.  Am I eligible to apply if I am or have been an MPI (multiple principal investigator) on an R01?
You are not eligible to apply if you have been awarded an R01 as a PI or MPI.​

5. Does my scientific research need to be in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)?
To be eligible to apply, your scientific research area must be related to the field of cancer, cardiovascular sciences, immunology and infectious diseases, or neurosciences.

​6. Am I required to be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident to apply?
Faculty offer of appointment is contingent upon documentation of employment eligibility in compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.  Any hired employee will need to provide proof of eligibility to work in the U.S. through completion of a I-9 form and submitting certifications of citizenship or work authorization.

Application

​1. Do the 3 pages allotted for the statement of research include bibliography/references?
No, the 3 page statement of research does not include the references/bibliography. 

​2. I have a pending award. How should I note it in my application?
Yes, please include any pending awards in your CV and note as “pending".

​3. I have manuscripts that are under review in a peer-reviewed journal or accepted, but pending publication. How should I note these?
These publications should be noted as “submitted" or “under review" or “accepted, pending publication". We recommend depositing papers not yet published on BioRxiv, an online archive of preprints, and cite the DOI (digital object identifier) assigned to the paper in your CV.

4. Should I indicate which department I am interested in joining on my application
?
If you have a preference for a specific academic department, please note this in your cover letter.

​5. Where can I submit recommendation letters?
Recommendation letters are not accepted in the online application. Please provide only contact information for your referees. Those listed referees will be contacted for their recommendation letters at a later date for applicants that advance in the recruitment process. ​

Recruitment Timeline

1. If I am offered a position, when is the anticipated start date?
The anticipated start date is July 1, 2024 but a later start date may be negotiated with the hiring unit.

2. Will there be another recruitment in 2024? 
No. The current search JPF03666  will remain open until all 7 Assistant Professor positions are filled. However, please note that applications received after the initial review date of October 1, 2023 may not receive full consideration if sufficient applications are received by the October 1, 2023 review date.

​3. If my application does not advance, may I contact the search committee for feedback on my application?
Due to the high volume of applications, no feedback will be provided to individuals about their application, and information about search committee members will not be given.