Review Process and Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be reviewed using the following criteria:

• The application meets the intent of the MCRCDP in developing multidisciplinary and innovative clinical research scholars;
• The applicant has the background and qualifications for and interest in pursuing a multidisciplinary research career;
• The applicant has selected a team of experienced research mentors from different disciplines, specialties, or subspecialties who are appropriate for the applicant’s career development and research;
• The selected mentors have demonstrated commitment to the applicant’s career and research goals and have developed a feasible and appropriate team mentoring plan;
• The applicant’s department/division/school has demonstrated a significant commitment to the applicant’s career development;
• The research plan proposed by the applicant is feasible, significant, and multidisciplinary in nature;
• The applicant has demonstrated a clear commitment to a career in multidisciplinary clinical research; and
• The center, institute, or laboratory, with which the applicant is (or will be) affiliated is able to provide an excellent multidisciplinary research environment.
• The Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee (MAC) of the MCRCDP will review each proposal.
• At a regularly scheduled MAC meeting, each application will be discussed by the MAC members.
• The MAC may request in-depth interviews with highly qualified candidates. The interviews will be rated on the following criteria:
• Enthusiasm of the candidate and commitment to a multidisciplinary clinical research career;
• The candidate’s capacity to complete the career development and research training proposed;
• The extent to which the proposed research meets the MCRCDP’s goals in terms of being multidisciplinary and innovative; and
• The candidate’s ability to elucidate his or her training, career, and research goals.
• The MAC will select Scholars on the basis of the following criteria:
• The quality of the application;
• Enthusiasm of reference letters with respect to the candidate’s qualifications and potential;
• Priorities of the MCRCDP in recruiting candidates from multiple disciplines, specialties, or subspecialties;
• Priorities of the MCRCDP in terms of recruiting scholars of diverse ethnicity and race; and 
• Candidate’s commitment to a multidisciplinary clinical research career;

The MAC will ensure that each yearly class includes MCRCDP scholars whose backgrounds span at least two to three different disciplines, specialties, and subspecialties. When fully implemented, the MCRCDP will have scholars from a broad range of disciplines, representing each of the Schools on campus along with our partner Institutions.

Applications and curriculum vitae of selected candidates will be submitted to NIH for review and final approval for appointments as a University of Maryland Clinical Research Scholar.

Written feedback will be provided to each applicant. Applicants who are not selected will be encouraged to resubmit a revised application in the future.

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