Deadline: January 15th, 2027 05:00 PM EST
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About BARC
The Balance and Auditory Research Center (BARC) at the University of Mississippi Medical Center is an NIH/NIGMS Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE, P20GM156708) in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. BARC builds a critical mass of independent investigators in vestibular and auditory neuroscience, supported by an Administrative Core (Core A), the Molecular Neuroscience and Imaging Core (Core B) and the Neurophysiology Core (Core C).
Research Focus Areas
- Gene therapy
- Hair cell regeneration
- Traumatic brain injury
- Neurodegenerative diseases, including hearing loss and cognitive decline
Purpose
COBRE Research Project Leaders (RPLs) are early-stage investigators who lead a full research project with a dedicated senior mentor, with the goal of obtaining an independent NIH R01 or equivalent award. BARC is recruiting one new RPL to begin when a current project graduates.
Award Information
| Amount | Up to $150,000 direct costs per year |
|---|---|
| Period | Up to 3 years, starting September 1, 2027 |
| Effort | Minimum 50% research effort, supported by the department |
Eligibility
- Tenure-track Assistant Professor (or equivalent) at UMMC.
- Early-stage investigator by NIH definition; must not hold, or have held, an R01-equivalent award as PI.
- A senior mentor with an active extramural award in a related field.
Timeline
| Applications due | January 15, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Review and EAC recommendation | February to April 2027 |
| NIGMS prior approval | June 2027 |
| Start | September 1, 2027 |
Application Components
- PHS 398 Face Page and Form Page 2
- Specific Aims (1 page)
- Research Strategy (12 pages, including a Mentoring Plan)
- Bibliography
- NIH Biosketches for the PI and mentor
- Detailed Budget for all years with justification
- Department Chair letter guaranteeing 50% protected effort
- Mentor letter of commitment
- Facilities and Other Resources
- IACUC/IRB documentation and Resource Sharing Plan
Review Criteria
NIH Simplified Review Framework, with added weight for the mentoring plan and the candidate's trajectory toward independence.
Contact
Wu Zhou, Ph.D., Professor and Director of BARC; Nekeisha Johnson, Project Manager and Coordinator of BARC. The Balance and Auditory Research Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216.
