Applying — Eligibility Criteria
Do you qualify for the PSDP?
Review every requirement carefully before submitting your eligibility form. Candidates must meet all criteria below, including the new appointment requirement added this cycle.
Core Requirements
Eligibility criteria at a glance
All criteria below must be satisfied. If you have questions about your specific situation, contact the Program Administrator before submitting.
Pediatric residency in the USA or Canada
Candidates must be completing or have completed pediatric residency in the USA or Canada, and must be pursuing a pediatric subspecialty fellowship.
MD, DO, or MD-PhD degree required
Candidates must have an MD, DO, or MD-PhD degree and must be enrolled in a pediatric training program. Applications may be accepted from candidates whose academic training has been interrupted prior to fellowship or who have pursued alternative career tracks and wish to re-enter academic training.
A maximum of 25% of training positions are available for MD-PhD applicants each year. Candidates with PhD degrees alone are not eligible.
Proposed research project scope
The proposed research project can be categorized as basic, clinical, health services, or translational research. The PSDP supports broad research training across disciplines supported by mentors who are federally and privately-funded leaders in their field.
For MD-PhD candidates, the PSDP gives preference to research proposals involving mentors other than those responsible for the candidate's doctoral or postdoctoral training.
Proposed mentor qualifications
The proposed mentor must hold an academic appointment in a department conducive to the proposed research project, and must hold the rank of Associate Professor or higher. The applicant will submit the proposed mentor's NIH Biosketch along with the Eligibility Form for evaluation of research activity.
Application deadlines by training track
Pediatric residents apply by April 15th. Residents who are fast-tracking should inquire by the autumn of their PGY-2 year. Candidates in sub-specialty programs (such as cardiology, critical care, neonatology, or emergency medicine) apply by April 15th of their first clinical fellowship year.
Any PGY-4 first-year subspecialty fellow may apply as long as they are guaranteed three full years of research as a fellow.
Appointment requirement — temporary faculty position
Applicants may apply from any institution or track, provided that at least one of their PSDP training years is appointed as a temporary faculty position (per institutional policy). This appointment must be confirmed by the sponsoring department and must align with PSDP's requirement for approximately 100% protected research time, with up to 20% clinical time if requested at the time of application.
Not eligible: Candidates with PhD degrees alone are not eligible for the PSDP. The program is specifically designed for physician-scientists holding an MD, DO, or MD-PhD degree who are completing or have completed pediatric residency training in the USA or Canada.
Eligible Research
Supported research disciplines
The PSDP supports broad research training across the following categories, provided the work is guided by a federally or privately-funded mentor who is a recognized leader in their field.
Basic Research
Laboratory-based scientific investigation into the fundamental biological mechanisms underlying disease.
Clinical Research
Studies involving human subjects aimed at improving diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of pediatric conditions.
Health Services Research
Investigation into how healthcare is organized, delivered, accessed, and financed — and how to improve it for children.
Translational Research
Research that bridges the gap between laboratory discoveries and real-world clinical applications in pediatric medicine.
Choosing a Mentor
How to identify your proposed mentor
Choosing the right mentor is one of the most important parts of your PSDP application. The proposed mentor must hold the rank of Associate Professor or higher and have an active, federally or privately-funded research program in a department conducive to the proposed research project.
In choosing a mentor, prospective PSDP candidates should consult with the nominating department chair and the relevant section chief — particularly if the candidate plans to remain at the home institution. If the candidate plans to take a fellowship at another institution, additional consultation with the sponsoring chair and section chief at the fellowship institution is a good first step.
Candidates are encouraged to identify potential mentors at their chosen institution. If assistance is needed, applicants are encouraged to seek input from their department chair. Once a candidate has identified 2–3 potential mentors, the PSDP office can provide helpful advice in choosing among them.
Consult your nominating department chair
Your department chair is the starting point — they will nominate you and should advise on appropriate mentors at your home institution or elsewhere.
Consult the relevant section chief
Particularly important if you plan to remain at your home institution or if the research is within a specific subspecialty division.
Identify 2–3 potential mentors
Research their work, grant history, and lab environment. An NIH Biosketch for your proposed mentor must be submitted with your Eligibility Form.
Contact the PSDP office for guidance
Once you've identified 2–3 options, the PSDP office can provide advice on how to choose among them. Reach out here.
Quick Reference
Eligibility checklist
Use this as a final check before submitting your eligibility form. All items must apply to you.
I hold an MD, DO, or MD-PhD degree. (PhD-only candidates are not eligible.)
I am completing or have completed pediatric residency in the USA or Canada and am pursuing a pediatric subspecialty fellowship.
My proposed research project falls within an eligible category: basic, clinical, health services, or translational research.
My proposed mentor holds the rank of Associate Professor or higher and has an active research program in a relevant department. I have their NIH Biosketch ready to submit.
My sponsoring institution has endorsed my application and my department chair has agreed to guarantee at least 80% protected research time.
I am applying by the correct deadline for my training track — April 15th for residents, or April 15th of my first clinical fellowship year for sub-specialty fellows.
At least one of my PSDP training years will be appointed as a temporary faculty position NEW — confirmed by my sponsoring department, in alignment with PSDP's protected research time requirements.
If I hold an MD-PhD, my proposed mentor is different from those responsible for my doctoral or postdoctoral training (preferred by PSDP).
Ready to move forward?
If you meet all of the criteria above, the next step is submitting your eligibility form to the Program Administrator — no later than February 16th for most applicants.
Submit eligibility form Back to applying overview[vcex_bullets icon_type=”fontawesome” icon_color=”#a1b70d”]
- Candidates must be completing or have completed pediatric residency in the USA or Canada, and be pursuing a pediatric subspecialty fellowship.
- The proposed research project can be categorized as basic, clinical, health services, or translational research. The PSDP supports broad research training across research disciplines supported by mentors who are federally and privately-funded leaders within their field. In the clinical and translational research disciplines, the PSDP strongly supports candidates who wish to acquire rigorous training in those scientific disciplines listed in the Statement on Clinical and Translational Research Training for the PSDP. For candidates with MD-PhD degrees, the PSDP gives preference to research proposals involving mentors other than those responsible for the candidate’s doctoral or postdoctoral training.
- Candidates must have an MD, DO, or MD-PhD degree and must be enrolled in a pediatric training program (applications may be accepted from candidates whose academic training has been interrupted prior to fellowship or who have pursued alternative career tracks and wish to re-enter academic training). Please note that a maximum of 25% of training positions are available for MD-PhD applicants each year. Candidates with PhD degrees alone are not eligible.
- The proposed mentor has an academic appointment in a department conducive to the proposed research project. The mentor should hold the rank of Associate Professor or higher. The applicant will submit the proposed mentor’s NIH Biosketch along with the Eligibility Form; it will be used to evaluate the proposed mentor’s research activity.In choosing a mentor, prospective PSDP candidates should consult with the nominating department chair and the relevant section chief, if the candidate plans to remain at the home institution. If the candidate plans to take a fellowship at another institution, then additional consultation with the sponsoring chair and the relevant section chief at the fellowship institution is a good first step. Candidates are encouraged to identify potential mentors at their chosen institution. If assistance is needed in making a selection, applicants are encouraged to seek input from their department Chair. Once a candidate has identified 2-3 potential mentors, the PSDP office can provide helpful advice in choosing among them.
- Pediatric residents apply by April 15th. Residents who are “fast tracking” should inquire by the autumn of their PGY-2 year. Candidates in sub-specialty programs (such as cardiology, critical care, neonatology, or emergency medicine) apply by April 15th of their first clinical fellowship year.
- Any PGY4 first-year subspecialty fellow may apply as long as they are guaranteed three full years of research as a fellow.
- NEW — Appointment requirement: Applicants may apply from any institution/track provided that at least one of their PSDP training years is appointed as a temporary faculty position (per institutional policy). This appointment must be confirmed by the sponsoring department and align with PSDP’s requirement for ~100% protected research time (with up to 20% clinical time if requested at application).
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