The K12 Career Advancement and Development in Rehabilitation Research (CADRRE) program supports early-career investigators in developing independent, interdisciplinary research careers focused on rehabilitation science. Through mentored training, protected research time, and structured career development, scholars gain the skills needed to advance impactful translational research. Applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to rehabilitation research and potential for sustained research productivity. Additionally, they must:
- Be a US citizen, non-citizen national, or permanent resident
- Be a licensure eligible physical therapist or occupational therapist
- Have an earned doctoral degree (PhD, DPT, OTD, or equivalent) in a relevant field
- Devote a minimum of 75% effort to research during Phase 1 of the training program
- Commit to train for at least two years as part of the CADRRE program
- Be no more than three years beyond their postdoctoral training when they enter the program. Individuals who have previously served as PD/PI on an NIH research grant (e.g., R01, R21, R03), subproject of program project (P01), contract (N01), or individual mentored career development award (e.g., K01, K08, K22, K23, K25, or K99) are not eligible.
- At least one year of postdoctoral research experience is preferred, but it cannot be more than five years. This experience can include a traditional fellowship, or a research associate or faculty position with minimum teaching and service responsibility.
Materials Required
The CADRRE program application, includes the following:
- Letter of Interest
- Letter of interest should include:
1) career goals and how participation in the program will help fulfill these goals
2) description of prior research training
3) description of specific clinical/interdisciplinary research interests and experience
- Letter of interest should include:
- Personal Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Two (2) representative samples of published work
- Letters of Recommendation
- See outlined details at the bottom of the page
Identify Institutional Mentor (partner sites only)
Candidates applying from one of our 16 partner institutions (not UF or USC) will identify an institutional mentor and provide the following:
- Institutional mentor’s name, title and email
- Institutional mentor’s CV
- Letter of recommendation (see Letters of Recommendation section below)
Scholar Area of Research
Candidates are asked to select one of the four areas of research:
1) Rehabilitation Neuroscience: Work helps to understand, develop, and optimize new rehabilitation approaches for persons with neurologic injury (such as stroke, traumatic brain and spinal cord injury) and neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.
2) Pediatrics and Neuromuscular Developmental Disorders: Work helps to understand, optimize, and develop new rehabilitation approaches for conditions which impair development and movement in children such as muscular dystrophies or autism.
3) Musculoskeletal Structure and Function in Health and Disease: Work includes the study of human biomechanics, optimizing muscle imaging as a prognostic tool, and cancer related muscle wasting (“cachexia”).
4) Aging and Chronic Conditions, including Health Services and Community Participation: Work focuses on the impact of ageing and chronic health conditions on neurological and neuromuscular function.
Lead Mentors
Candidates are asked to identify 2-3 potential lead mentors within their area of research. Please review the list of CADRRE lead mentors.
Letters of Recommendation
Candidates from the University of Florida or the University of Southern California
Two letters of recommendation are required:
- One letter of recommendation from a potential K12 lead mentor.
- One letter of recommendation from an individual familiar with qualifications and readiness for advanced training in rehabilitation research
Candidates from one of our 16 partner institutions (outside of UF or USC)
Three letters of recommendation are required:
- One letter of recommendation from institutional mentor. Letter should address applicant’s research potential, career development needs, and mentor’s commitment to supporting training.
- One letter of recommendation from applicant’s department chair or division chief. Letter should address institutional support for the applicant’s participation in the program and protected time for career development activities.
- One letter of recommendation from an individual familiar with qualifications and readiness for advanced training in rehabilitation research.
