Applicant Requirements

The K30 USF Scholars in Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) Program is a clinical and translational research career development program supported by the National Institutes of Health as part of the “Roadmap” recognizing that highly trained clinical researchers are needed to capitalize on the many profound developments and discoveries in basic science and to translate them to clinical settings. The two-year SPOR program at USF Health is designed to stimulate the inclusion of high-quality, multidisciplinary didactic training and mentored research as part of the career development of clinical investigators.

Admissions criteria

• Possession of a doctoral or first professional degree -- MD, DO, PhD, DDS, PharmD, DrPT, Doctorate of Nursing Practice, PhD in Nursing, or equivalent degree(s); (Note: GRE score will be waived and replaced by the requirement for documentation of a professional doctorate degree or a first professional degree and license to see patients in the State of Florida.)
• U.S. citizenship or status as a non-citizen national or lawfully admitted permanent resident of the U.S. is required to be eligible for this NIH-supported Program

NOTE: Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible.

Applicants will be required to complete a 2-step application process:

STEP 1:

Step 1 consists of applying  to the SPOR Program by completing the online K30 application and ALSO submitting the following requested documents:

• A faxed (FX 813-974-8446) or emailed scanned copy (to sanders2@health.usf.edu) of an Unofficial Transcript of the doctoral or first professional degree program showing the program and the degree conferred and a copy of your license to see patients in the State of Florida
• A Curriculum Vitae
• Letters of Recommendation as outlined in the application form
• If you are in a junior faculty position or a residency program, a letter of commitment from your direct supervisor to release 75% of your effort to participate in the SPOR Program for two years

Each applicant to the SPOR Program will be notified of the outcome of the Step 1 application. If accepted, then Step 2 of the application process will be initiated with each potential Scholar.

STEP 2:

Upon notification by the SPOR Program that the applicant has received the initial acceptance, each potential Scholar is required to submit an online application to the University of South Florida Graduate School to the Master of Science in Medical Sciences with a concentration in Clinical and Translational Research degree including payment of the nonrefundable $30 application fee and request for Official Transcripts to be sent to the Graduate School.

Graduate School link
Graduate Application Online link

Once notified that you are accepted into the Graduate School, you will become a K30 SPOR Scholar. Registration for the courses requires the prior submission of a current Immunization Record that will be sent to you by the Graduate School.

Please use the Staff Contacts at the website to contact the Program Manager for any needed additional information.