UCLA CTSI K Scholars Society

Cohort 2025-2027

Registration deadline: July 3, 2025

Program dates: July 2025 to June 2027

The K Scholars Society, managed by the UCLA CTSI’s KL2 Program, supports the career development of early stage investigators building careers in clinical and translational research.

Eligibility

Have an appointment at one of the UCLA CTSI institutions (Cedars-Sinai, CDU, Harbor-UCLA/Lundquist Institute, and UCLA).
Be the principal investigator of one of the options below. You will be asked to supply grant information and the first page of your notice of award on the registration form.
1. Current NIH K or equivalent other federal (e.g. DOD) or foundation (e.g. AHA, Doris Duke) career development award
2. First NIH R01 grant or equivalent in the first 2 years of funding.
Commit to participate in the two-year curriculum as described below.
If you are currently in the K Scholars Society, you do not need to re-register.

TWO-YEAR CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES

These monthly meetings generally take place via Zoom on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 4:00-5:00 pm unless otherwise noted. 2025-2026 dates include 7/15/25, 8/19/25, 9/16/25, 10/21/25, 11/18/25, 12/16/25, 1/20/26, 2/17/26, 3/17/26, 4/21/26, 5/19/26, and 6/16/26.

Monthly Didactic Seminars (1-1.5 hrs): grant writing, communication, storytelling, presentation skills, team science, career strategy, entrepreneurship, mentorship, and leadership trainings.
Priority for Grant Writing Studios: These are individually tailored to each scholar for longitudinal mentoring on NIH K and R grant submissions. Studios are comprised of a panel of 3-4 mentors (scientific, career and statistics) with expertise in K and/or R grant development. The panel meets with the scholar 2-3 times from the concept phase to final product. The scholar will then participate in a mock study section for a final review of the draft grant application.
NIH Mock Study Section. Scholars will have the opportunity to submit final drafts of their NIH grant applications for grantsmanship review by senior faculty and peer reviewers. These are designed to simulate an actual NIH study section and scholars are required to serve as reviewers and/or chair of the mock study section.
Ad hoc sessions are also scheduled as needed.

PROGRAM RESOURCES