The UAMS Translational Research Institute is pleased to invite applications for the 2026 T32 Health Sciences Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HSIE) Training Program — a component of the Clinical and Translational Science Award. This two-year graduate certificate program will start on July 1, 2026, and provide support for four postdoctoral fellows.
Fellows in their first three years of postdoctoral training, or recent PhD or MD/PhD graduates entering postdoctoral training, are eligible. HSIE Postdoctoral Scholars will have a primary research mentor while obtaining value-added training in business principles, entrepreneurial skills, team science, and strategies to innovate and commercialize health care technologies. The program is a partnership between the TRI and the Entrepreneurship Graduate Program in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The goal of the HSIE Training Program is to broaden a scholar’s vision of using entrepreneurship principles and team science to accelerate the biomedical discoveries into improved health outcomes in academic settings, and to offer nontraditional training to enhance readiness for industry, government, and other nonacademic jobs.
Eligibility
Each applicant must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- A terminal degree with zero, one or two years of postdoctoral experience
- Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. graduate or equivalent
- U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or permanent resident (temporary or student visas are not eligible)
Funding for Scholars
Each HSIE trainee will receive:
- Postdoc stipend support outlined by the NIH based on years of experience:
- All stipends include fringe benefits
- Stipends and fringe will be included over the span of the program (two years).
- Postdoctoral experience at zero to one year — $62,232 plus fringe (over 12 months)
- Postdoctoral experience at two years — $63,120 plus fringe (over 12 months)
- Tuition and fees support for the 15-credit Graduate Certification in Health Science and Innovation and Entrepreneurship ($4,500/year)
- Non-stipend support, which can be used for research and training expenses ($12,400/year)
- A travel allowance to attend a national meeting or symposia related to health sciences innovation and entrepreneurship sponsored by scientific societies, industry, or other CTSA sites ($1,500/year).
Important Dates
- Virtual Informational Sessions: Dec. 19, 2025, at noon and Jan. 22, 2026, at 2 p.m. (click here to register)
- Applications Open: Jan. 5, 2026
- Applications Due: March 23, 2026
- Awardees Announced: April 13, 2026
- Trainee Start Date: July 1, 2026
Application Instructions
Applications should be typed, single-spaced, with 0.5-inch margins. Acceptable fonts are Arial, Tahoma, or Calibri with a font size of 11 pt. Please use appropriate headings in preparing the application.
Applications will be peer-reviewed by a study section of UAMS faculty, including domain experts and experienced scientists. All applicants are required to use TRI’s online application system, Apply, to enter their basic information and upload the following:
- TRI Cover Sheet form
- Cover Letter that includes:
- A statement outlining the applicant’s interest in the HSIE Training Program
- Previous experience with entrepreneurial endeavors, if any
- A short summary of 1-3 innovative or entrepreneurial ideas that the applicant would like to pursue during this training period. Ideas relating to rural health or populations that lack access to health care are particularly encouraged (three-page maximum)
- Applicant NIH formatted Biosketch using the most recent NIH Biosketches Outline found here.
- Letters of recommendation from:
- The primary research mentor – this letter should detail their support of and commitment to the applicant’s participation in the training program. This letter must include the mentor’s assessment of the applicant’s interest in innovation and entrepreneurship (2-page maximum).
- The chair of the applicant’s department (one-page maximum).
- Mentor(s)’ NIH biosketch(es)
All applications must be submitted into Apply no later than 5 p.m. on March 23, 2026.
Review Process Criteria
Effective January 2025, HSIE postdoctoral fellows’ applications will be reviewed by the following criteria, as outlined by the NIH:
- Candidates Preparedness and Potential: reviewers will evaluate the candidates academic record, research experience, and potential to become an independent scientist.
- Potential Scientific Impact: Reviewers will assess the scientific merit, suitability, and feasibility of the proposed entrepreneurship projects.
- Commitment to Candidate: Reviewers will evaluate and examine the sponsors’, mentors’, and institution’s commitment to the candidate’s training and success.
Program Contact Information
If you have any questions, please reach out to the HSIE Project Manager, Hailey Rogers, at 501-526-0363 or RogersHailey@uams.edu .