Hi gang,

I seek some advice from those of you on the interpretation of the
guidelines for the
First Innovative Research Support and Transition (FIRST) Award R29.  The
eligibility
states that the proposed investigator must be at the beginning stages of
their research career with, in most instances, no more than five years
research experience since completing postdoctoral research training or its
equivalent.

If there is anyone from NIH reading this, I would appreciate your response.

My questions are:

Does the no more than five years of research experience count only towards
actual "employed" research experience?

and/or

What if, at the time of submission, it has been just over five years since
the investigator has received their Ph.D. but only employed for three and a
half of those five years.  Is the investigator eligible to apply?

Any comments or opinions accepted.

Thanks!

Thane

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Thane J. Peterson
Associate Director, Research Office
Evanston Hospital Corporation
2650 Ridge Avenue
Evanston, Illinois  60201
708.570.2533
708.570.2933 FAX
xxxxxx@nwu.edu
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