Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards

Sponsored by The Office for Women's Careers and the Executive Committee on Research of the Massachusetts General Hospital

Although women scientists are recruited to Massachusetts General Hospital programs, their advancement to senior faculty positions is still far less frequent than that of their male counterparts.

In 1993, the Women in Academic Medicine Committee, originally chaired by Mrs. Jane D. Claflin, Honorary Trustee, was established to facilitate the academic careers of women in science at MGH. Recognizing that a significant obstacle to career advancement is the difficulty of maintaining research productivity during the child-rearing years, this Committee, with the sponsorship of ECOR (Executive Committee on Research), established the Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards.

The purpose of the Claflin Distinguished Scholar Award is to provide bridge funding for junior faculty to sustain research productivity during the child-rearing years. In 1998, the MGH Office for Women's Careers assumed the responsibility for administering these awards, with the support of ECOR. It is intended that this transitional funding will increase opportunities for women to advance to senior positions in academic medicine.

Application Guidelines

The MGH ECOR Claflin Awards provide bridge funding for junior faculty women to sustain research productivity during the child-rearing years.
Both basic and clinical research investigator are encouraged to apply
Current recipients of the HMS 50th Anniversary Scholar Award are not eligible
Proposals will be evaluated and ranked for funding priority by the Subcommittee on Review of Research Proposals (SRRP), whose recommendations will be submitted to ECOR for final approval.

Eligibility

M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent advanced degree; candidate must be within 7 years of first faculty appointment at the time the award is initiated
Academic appointment at the level of instructor or assistant professor at Harvard Medical School
Primary appointment at the Massachusetts General Hospital
Current recipients of the HMS 50th Anniversary Scholar Awards are not eligible
Evidence of strong research training, productivity, and a well-defined focus in either basic or clinical research
Submission of a project description on which the applicant is clearly the principal investigator, whose academic progress would benefit from such funding support
Responsible for care of children

Awards

Awards will be for two years, with a maximum of $50,000 in direct costs per year plus 15% for indirect costs. Award funds may be used for support of a technician, postdoctoral fellow or graduate student as well as for supplies. Award funds cannot be used for support of the investigator's salary, except with the specific approval of ECOR. Applications from both basic and clinical research investigators will be evaluated and ranked for funding priority by the Subcommittee on Review of Research Proposals (SRRP), whose recommendations will be submitted to ECOR for final approval. All applicants will be notified of the results of the review process by mail.

2008 Applications are due February 15, 2008

Applications, following the application format must be submitted to Research Management, Grants and Contracts Office, 50 Staniford Street, 10th floor, ATT: Irene Hionidis, by 4 PM, February 2008. Proposals will be evaluated and ranked for funding priority by the Subcommittee on Review of Research Proposals (SRRP), whose recommendations will be submitted to ECOR for final approval.

Call for Application and Format

For More Information
Contact: Maureen Shanley, ECOR
or call 617.726.1548

Frequently Asked Questions

I have been on the faculty for eight years now, and believe this award would be very helpful now that I have had my first child. Can I apply?
You must be within seven years of your first appointment to be eligible to apply, e.g. appointed at MGH since 2000.

I am pregnant with my first child. Am I eligible to apply for the Claflin?
You must be raising children at the time you submit the application.

My laboratory is not located on the campus of MGH. Am I eligible to apply for the Claflin Award?
The laboratory must be located on the MGH campus, which includes Simches and CNY.

Do I have to have children to be eligible for the Award?
You must be raising children at the time of your application, as the awards were established to facilitate the academic careers of women in science at MGH, as a response to recognizing that a significant obstacle to career advancement is the difficulty of maintaining research productivity during the child-rearing years.

I split my time between MGH and BWH, am I eligible?
If your primary appointment is with MGH, you are eligible to apply for this award.

I am currently a postdoc, but anticipate that I will be an Instructor next Summer. Can I apply?
No, you must be an Instructor or Assistant Professor at the time of your application.

List of Past Award Winners

2007
Aude Henin, PhD
Regina LaRocque, MD, MPH
Antonia Stephen, MD
Lynda Stuart, PhD
Vanessa Wheeler, PhD
Xu Yu, MD, MSc

2006
Emmanuelle diTomaso, PhD
Maria A. Franceschini, PhD
Elizabeth Lamont, MD
Madhusmita Misra, MD, MPH
Kathryn J. Moore, PhD
Marielle Scherrer-Crosbie, MD, PhD

2005
Paola Arlotta, PhD
Hadine Joffe, MD, MSc
Camille N. Kotton, MD
Pamela J. McLean, PhD
Lei Xu, MD, PhD

2004
Irene Georgakoudi, PhD
Nelly Pitteloud, MD
Laurence G. Rahme, PhD
Cathryn A. Sundback, ScD
Anne N. Thorndike, MD, MPH
Adele C. Viguera, MD, MPH

2003
Marylyn M. Addo, MD, PhD
Paola Divieti Pajevic, MD, PhD
Alice Flaherty, PhD
Herminia Diana Rosas, MD
Sanja Sever, PhD
Naomi M. Simon, MD

2002
Marie Classon, PhD
Judy W. Hung, MD
Robyn S. Klein, MD, PhD
Gina R. Kuperberg, MD, PhD
Andrea Reid, MD
Rochelle Paula Walensky, MD, MPH
Sabine Wilhelm, PhD

2001
Marina Feschenko, MD
P. Ellen Grant, MD
Shyamala Maheswaran, PhD
Corrine K. Welt, MD

2000
Linda R. Duska, MD (one-time Faculty Development Award)
Christene A. Huang, PhD
Mary McNaughton-Collins, MD, MPH
Wilma M. Wasco, PhD (one-time Faculty Development Award)
Janet R. Wozniak, MD

1999
Nadia Carlesso, MD, PhD
Karen K. Miller, MD

1998
Joan R. Butterton, MD
Merit E. Cudkowicz, MD

1997
Sylvie Breton, PhD
Elizabeth Hohmann, MD
Tongwen Wang, PhD