PSDP Applicants’ Frequently Asked Questions

The first step is to obtain endorsement from your sponsoring institution (each sponsoring institution is limited to no more than two applicants). If you are selected as your sponsoring institution’s one of two nominees, please complete an eligibility form.  Please review the Applying section of this website for more details. If you are found eligible, the PSDP Administrator will send you an application packet with instructions.  If you would like to request a paper copy of the eligibility form, please contact the PSDP Administrative Office at Weill Cornell Medicine (jal2059@med.cornell.edu).

PSDP encourages and supports 100% protected research time, but applicants can request up to 20% time for patient care or clinical duties. The PSDP stipulates that each fellow must dedicate at least 80% effort on the research project in all three years of the program. The clinical time does not need to be directly related to the PSDP research, yet justification must be given on how proposed clinical time will benefit research and career development as a physician-scientist.

The application submission / receipt deadline is April 15, 2024

Please note that incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the completed application and all supporting documentation is received by the PSDP Administrative Office at Weill Cornell Medicine before the deadline.

Yes. However, at the time of award, candidates for the NIH funded PSDP slots must be citizens or legal permanent residents of the United States of America so funding can be issued. A smaller number of non-NIH funded slots, when available, are open to non-U.S. citizens

Yes. However, the NIH funded PSDP slots of the award are only available for citizens or lawful permanent residents of the USA. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible. A smaller number of non-NIH funded slots, when available, are open to non-U.S. citizens.

No. All applications will be judged first on their merit. Given the high quality of applicants that we receive, successful applicants from all departments/divisions/schools will need to exhibit extraordinary capabilities, research questions and potential. However, we are only accepting two applicants per institution. You should check with your sponsoring chair to confirm your eligibility.

Anyone with a DO, MD, MD/PhD, DO/PhD or equivalent degree (e.g. MBBS) may submit an Eligibility Form. PhDs without an MD are not eligible to apply.

As the PSDP focuses on widening the number of pediatrician scientists, we commit the majority of our slots to clinicians who do not have PhD training.

Yes, as long as they are doing a pediatric subspecialty fellowship.

The PSDP requires applicants to have completed a pediatric residency and be in a pediatric subspecialty fellowship.  Its mission is to develop the next generation of diverse pediatrician-scientist leaders.

Not at all; the PSDP especially encourages applications from pediatric residents without previous research experience.

No. Awardees are expected to have uninterrupted research time during PSDP training. Special arrangements are made for family medical leave.

 Each Fellow must spend at least 80 percent effort on the research project per year, for years 1-3 of the PSDP training.

The nominating chair is the chair of the Department of Pediatrics from which you apply to the PSDP as a resident or as a first year fellow, depending on your area of specialty. The nominating chair is NOT your fellowship director.

The sponsoring chair is the chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the institution where you will complete your fellowship, which will include your PSDP-supported research. In some cases, the nominating and sponsoring chairs are the same person. In that case, you only need to submit one letter. When you contact the PSDP Program Office with your Eligibility Form, we can help you to identify nominating and sponsoring chairs.

Five to six PSDP Fellows were selected in 2017 through 2020, while eight to nine PSDP Fellows were selected in 2021 and 2022. In 2023, we had a record number of 13 PSDP fellows selected. The exact number of PSDP Fellows will vary from year to year depending on a number of factors, including the amount and duration of support from non-NIH funding sources.

There are at least 7 slots available for the current application cycle.

Yes! Effective for the prior and current application cycle, PSDP Scholars can take the fellowship award with them to a different institution, if they choose to accept a faculty position outside of their home institution.

Yes, you may re-apply as long as you are guaranteed two full years of research as a fellow.

The first year of PSDP training is funded by the fellow’s sponsoring institution. The last two years of PSDP training is funded by the PSDP.

No, moonlighting is considered clinical work, distracts individuals from the research program, and is prohibited.

PSDP encourages and supports 100% protected research time, but applicants can request up to 20% time for patient care or clinical duties. PDSP policy requires Fellows to devote at least 80 percent effort to research and research-related activities during all years of the PSDP award.

During the first year of PSDP training, funding will come from the Fellow’s institution. The institution must be prepared to pay salary and fringe benefits commensurate with the rank of fellow at the sponsoring institution, and cover the fellow’s research supplies and travel costs to the annual PSDP meeting.

PSDP provides up to $82,000 salary in year two and $86,000 salary in year three (plus 15% fringe benefits) and up to $25,000 for supplies and research-related expenses each year.

Our K12 NICHD grant was renewed for July 1, 2023- June 30, 2028.