Mentoring to Achieve Research Independence (MATRIX) is an intensive 9-month faculty mentoring program coordinated by the School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) and designed to help all UW–Madison faculty members (mentees) successfully land their first National Institute of Health (NIH) R01 Research Project Grant or equivalent.
Within three years of completing MATRIX:
- 42% of participants have R01 or equivalent funding
- 56% of participants have obtained other funding- society, foundation
Starting in 2025, the timeline for the MATRIX program is shifting. Applications will open June 1-July 31 and the program will run September-May. Mentees should be ready to submit their proposal up to one year of finishing the program. Match notifications will be sent out at the end of August.
Mentee application Coach application
MATRIX Provides and Compensates
- Mentees with the necessary tools, resources, and support to develop a competitive R01 or equivalent proposal that is ready to submit within one year of finishing the MATRIX program.
- Coaching by faculty members with successful funding records who commit to mentor, meet, and advise their group and department chairs.
- Large group events and workshops hosted by the SMPH that provide mentees with the essential tools and knowledge needed to develop and write successful R01 or equivalent proposals.
- Self-directed integrated peer group activities for mentees to share, review, provide feedback, and address challenges in proposal sections.
- Subject matter experts are selected by the mentee and paid by the MATRIX program. Internal Subject Matter Experts (ISMEs) are colleagues within UW who understand the science, provide guidance and feedback on research plans, chalk talk presentations to the department, and assist in reviewing grant proposals; External Subject Matter Experts (ESMEs) are peers outside UW who review and provide an NIH-style critique on the mentees’ final proposal before the grant application deadline.
Mentee Application Process
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Structure
Mentees are grouped into small teams (pods) where specialized training, guidance, and camaraderie aid in the development of a competitive NIH R01 or equivalent proposal over this 9-month program. Participation is limited to faculty members who have not yet been a Principal Investigator (PI) on an R01 project (or equivalent).
The course will include Coaches (senior UW-Madison faculty with established track records of external funding) and a paid Internal Subject Matter Expert (ISME) for each mentee to consult on the scientific content of the proposals. Mentees, with assistance from their departments and/or coaches, as well as information gleaned from the Research Insight website at UW, will generate names of potential ISMEs.
The goal is for mentees to recruit an ISME within the first three months of the program. ISMEs will counsel mentees on their research plans, help them prepare and present Chalk Talks, and provide guidance on grant proposal drafts. During the program, ISMEs will also help mentees identify a paid External Subject Matter Expert (ESME), who will provide a critical NIH-style review on mentees’ near-final proposals before the grant application deadline.
Once an ISME and EMSE has agreed, the mentee should send their names and contact information to the MATRIX Program email: matrixmentoring@med.wisc.edu, so that a signed agreement can be obtained for future payment.
Responsibilities
- Mentees must be ready to submit within one year of finishing the program and will actively participate in group meetings and activities. One coach will be assigned to a group of two to four mentees (a pod). All pods will meet in two monthly meetings (or frequency determined by pod/team), September through May (in addition to a mid-term and closing ceremony).
- Coaches will guide the group through NIH policies and practices and development of an R01 equivalent grant application. In much the same way that a head coach is not an expert on all the positions, a MATRIX coach is not necessarily an expert on the scientific expertise needed for each mentee’s grant proposal. Rather, the coach is a process expert.
- Small group (pod) activities include helping to determine a realistic deadline for each mentee, advising them on developing sections of a proposal, and reviewing proposals in the group. Coaches will help the group find answers to other issues that may surface, such as how to contact NIH Program Officers or how to select a study section.
- Each pod is self-governing. Coaches will arrange meetings and, together with the pod members, determine when the pod will meet. We will provide a dedicated team folder in Box for pod members to upload and share proposal sections for review.
- Several large group events and/or workshops for all participants will provide mentees with additional tools and knowledge needed to successfully develop and write a high-quality NIH R01 (or equivalent) proposal, such as grant writing, budgets, biostatistics, time management, and more.
Benefits
- Learn how to present a well-conceptualized research project/grant idea persuasively.
- Gain insight about what grant reviewers are looking.
- Learn how to identify and request the best study section for reviewing your proposal.
- Learn how to communicate with your program officer.
- Become a peer reviewer within your own pod.
- Prepare and present a Chalk Talk to receive feedback on your Specific Aims.
- Pick up best practices from widely-acclaimed experts at Grant Writers’ Seminars about how to “Write Winning Grant Proposals” with a focus on NIH.
- Create a cross-disciplinary, supportive network with other new investigators at UW-Madison.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be UW-Madison faculty members: Scientists, or assistant or associate professors. Mentees can be from any department, school, or college on the UW campus.
- Have not been a PI on an NIH R01 grant proposal.
- Have demonstrated interest in obtaining extramural funding and have the data and idea ready to submit within one year of completing the MATRIX program.
- Be willing to seek out and enlist the participation of an Internal Subject Matter Expert (ISME) and External Subject Matter Expert (ESME). Once identified, mentees should send names and contact information to the MATRIX Program email: matrixmentoring@med.wisc.edu.
- Have a draft, however rudimentary, of an Aims page.
- Gain approval from department chair (or division head) documented via cover letter attached to application.
Selection Process: Applications will be 1) vetted by an admissions committee to determine readiness to prepare an R01 equivalent grant, and 2) sent to Chairs or Division Heads to confirm consent for the mentee’s participation in the program and their support during its duration.
Apply
The timeline for the MATRIX program is shifting. Applications will now open June 1-July 31 and the program will run September-May.
Please submit the following in the MATRIX application portal:
(1) Cover letter co-signed by applicant and Department Chair (or Division Head). Applicants should download and use the appropriate template provided below (SMPH vs non-SMPH applicants):
• SMPH mentee applicants, please use this cover letter template: SMPH Mentee Cover Letter
• Non-SMPH applicants, please use this cover letter template: Non SMPH Mentee Cover Letter
NIH Biosketch (5 pages maximum). You may use the “A. Personal Statement” to describe how the MATRIX program will benefit you.
(3) Draft Aims Page
In addition, mentees are required to attend the following events:
- Opening Ceremony
- Monthly Team Meetings
- Mid-Point Event and NIH style Mock Review
- Closing Ceremony
MATRIX Mentee Application Process
Coach Application Process
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Structure
MATRIX is a 9-month, multi-tiered structured program specifically designed to help first-time R01 (or equivalent) UW-Madison applicants successfully secure grant funding. Programs like MATRIX have been implemented by top-funded universities around the country, proving successful time and again. However, the success of the program depends greatly on the network of support the applicant receives during the writing period, which is where coaches, as leaders, can make a difference.
Faculty members with strong NIH funding track records and peer-review experience will serve as coaches in MATRIX to guide mentees through the process of developing NIH research project grant proposals (or equivalent), while encouraging peer support and feedback. SMPH encourages qualified UW-Madison faculty to get involved in the program to provide this highly relevant support to early-career applicants.
In addition to coaches, MATRIX will pay an Internal Subject Matter Expert (ISME, a UW faculty member) for each mentee to consult on the scientific content of the proposals. Mentees, with assistance from their departments and/or coaches, as well as information gleaned from the Research Insight website at UW, will generate names of potential ISMEs. The goal is for each mentee to recruit an ISME within the first three months of the program. ISMEs will counsel mentees on their research plans, help them prepare and present Chalk Talks, and review and provide feedback on grant proposal drafts. During the program, ISMEs will also help mentees identify an External Subject Matter Expert (ESME, a peer expert outside of UW), who will provide a critical NIH-style review on mentees’ near-final proposals before the grant application deadline.
Once an ISME and EMSE are identified, the mentee should send their names and contact information to the MATRIX Program email: matrixmentoring@med.wisc.edu.
Responsibilities
- One coach will be assigned to a group of two to four mentees (a pod). All pods will meet with their coach in two monthly meetings (or frequency determined by pod/team), January through September (in addition to the closing ceremony). The coach serves as the “process” expert to guide the group through NIH policies and practices and development of an R01 equivalent grant application.
- Small group activities include helping to determine a realistic deadline for each mentee, advising them on developing sections of a proposal, and reviewing proposals in the group. Coaches will help the group find answers to other issues that may surface, such as how to contact NIH Program Officers or how to select a study section.
- Each pod is self-governing. Coaches will be given “general” guidelines on discussing grant sections, arrange meetings, and -together with the pod members- determine when the pod will meet. We will provide a dedicated team folder in Box for pod members to upload and share proposal sections for review. Individual team folders are only accessible to designated pod members.
Benefits
- Share knowledge you have gained.
- Guide and encourage new researchers.
- Learn about new technologies and discoveries.
- Work in an interdisciplinary/translational group.
- Contribute to the research mission of UW-Madison.
- Receive $2,000 per mentee (up to 4) to be paid as an overload.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be faculty members with primary appointments as associate or full professors at UW-Madison. Coaches can be from any department, school, or college on the UW campus.
- Have been a PI on at least one NIH R01 grant proposal.
- Have experience as a grant reviewer (ideally NIH).
- Have demonstrated interest and experience in mentoring.
Selection Process – Selection will be made based on:
- Strength of experience both as an investigator and a mentor.
- Match with scientific composition of mentee teams.
Each coach will receive $2,000 per mentee (up to 4) to be paid as an overload.
Apply
The timeline for the MATRIX program is shifting. Applications will now open June 1-July 31 and the program will run September-May.
Please submit the following in the application portal:
- NIH Biosketch (5 pages maximum). You may use the “A. Personal Statement” to describe your interest in mentoring.
In addition, coaches are required to attend the following events:
- Opening Ceremony
- Full-day Grant Writing Seminar
- Biostatistics Workshop
- Mid-Year Event – To Be Announced
- Closing Ceremony
MATRIX Coach Application Process
Additional Matrix Components
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MATRIX Activities
MATRIX is a structured mentoring program that provides mentees with a multi-tiered approach involving a series of large and small group venues that participants will actively participate in, as follows:
Large Group Events and Workshops: Designed for all participants in the cohort, these large group events will provide mentees with the tools and knowledge needed to successfully develop and write a high-quality NIH R01 (or equivalent) proposal. Example topics may include grant writing, budgets, biostatistics, time management, and more. Large group events tentatively planned for the MATRIX Cohort include:
- Opening Ceremony (September)
- Full-day Grant Writing Seminar (February)
- Biostatistics Workshop (TBD)
- Mid-Year Event – To Be Announced (February)
- Closing Ceremony (June)
Small Group Peer Activities: Small group activities will serve as a platform for self-directed interdisciplinary activities for a pod of two to four mentees and one faculty coach. Each of these groups will meet at least monthly and provide an interactive environment for mentees to share, review, provide feedback, and address challenges in proposal sections.
Individualized coaching by faculty members with successful funding records who commit to mentor, meet, and advise their group and department chairs.
Chalk Talks: Chalk Talks, to be completed within the first three months of the program in consultation with the home department and the Internal Subject Matter Expert (ISME), will consist of a one-hour presentation by the mentee to experienced researchers to gain feedback on Specific Aims to strengthen proposal development.
Internal Consultation: Internal Subject Matter Experts (ISMEs), to be selected by mentees, departments, and coaches will be paid to counsel mentees on research plans, help mentees prepare and present Chalk Talks, and provide feedback and guidance on grant proposal drafts.
External Review: External Subject Matter Experts (ESMEs) will be recruited and paid to provide an NIH-style critique on the final draft of mentees’ proposals at least six-weeks before the grant application deadline.
Timeline
MATRIX timeline
Information for and Selection of Internal Subject Matter Experts
An Internal Subject Matter Expert (ISME) will be an established UW-Madison faculty researcher who would be a good fit with mentees’ research fields and needs and is available to offer scientific guidance to a mentee. ISMEs can be from any department, school, or college on the UW-Madison campus. Mentees, with assistance from their departments and/or coaches, as well as information gleaned from the Research Insight website at UW, will generate names of potential ISMEs. Each mentee should then reach out to a potential ISME to determine their willingness to participate in the program, with the goal of recruiting an ISME within the first three months of the program. Once identified, mentees should send name and email of the ISME to the MATRIX email: matrixmentoring@med.wisc.edu. ISMEs will counsel mentees on their research plans, help them prepare and present Chalk Talks, and provide guidance and feedback on grant proposal drafts. Specific roles of the ISMEs include to:
- Advise mentees of the appropriateness of the preliminary data and the specific aims;
- Review drafts of sections of the R01 or equivalent proposal as they are being developed;
- Guide mentees on a timeline to complete the proposal;
- Advise the mentee on preparing a Chalk Talk in their department or location they determine most appropriate, attend the Chalk Talk, suggest participants to attend, and provide feedback to the mentee;
- Help the mentee determine an appropriate NIH study section and provide advice on contacting a program officer; and
- Help the mentee identify and recruit an External Subject Matter Expert (ESME) who can provide a critical NIH-style review of a near-final draft of the proposal, and who has pertinent NIH study section experience.
BENEFITS OF BECOMING AN ISME
Through the experience of serving as an ISME, you will be able to:
- Help guide the success of new investigators.
- Contribute to the mentee’s research design and rationale.
- Share your wisdom and insight as an experienced researcher, reviewer, and faculty member.
- Have the opportunity to learn about new technologies or methods.
- Participate in MATRIX events.
- Contribute to the research mission of UW-Madison.
Total estimated time commitment is approximately 16-20 hours (excluding optional components). In compensation for the completion of this role (i.e., once the mentee has submitted a carefully developed and well-reviewed NIH R01 or equivalent application), you will receive a $1,000 salary supplement.
HOW TO APPLY
ISMEs will be selected by the mentee in consultation with coaches and Department Chairs. Its is suggested that ISMEs are recruited within the first three months of the program.
Please send inquiries to matrixmentoring@med.wisc.edu.
How to Identify External Subject Matters
External Subject Matter Experts (ESMEs) work with mentees to review their proposal in advance of the grant application deadline. The Internal Subject Matter Expert (ISME) will help the mentee identify and recruit an ESME who can provide a critical NIH-style review of a near-final draft of the proposal, and who has pertinent NIH study section experience.
To obtain an ESME review, the mentee will contact the MATRIX Program Director with completed materials (i.e., request form and draft proposal) at least six (6) weeks in advance of the grant application deadline. The program manager will facilitate the review process, and once completed, the ESME receives $500 for his or her service.
The ESME is expected to keep all research confidential and return the provided NIH research proposal review template within two (2) to three (3) weeks. Please note that it is best to obtain this review at least six (6) weeks in advance of the grant application deadline to allow time for further refinement and data assimilation.
Please send inquiries to matrixmentoring@med.wisc.edu.
MATRIX Events and Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
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(For SMPH Mentees) What is the department's expected financial contribution for SMPH mentees accepted to this program?
The cost to the SMPH department per mentee is estimated to be about $2,000 due to the financial support of SMPH Dean Ahuja. For departments outside of SMPH, please see next link below.
(For non-SMPH Mentees) What is the expected financial contribution from departments outside of SMPH for non-SMPH mentees accepted to this program?
The cost to departments/units outside of SMPH is estimated to be about $10,000 per non-SMPH mentee. This commitment needs to be articulated in the mentee application cover letter, which is co-signed by the applicant and Department Chair (or Division Head). MATRIX recognizes the current challenging situation we are facing. We have managed to lower the cost to $8K for mentees not affiliated with SMPH for the time being. Like SMPH, we encourage your department chair and dean to contribute towards the expenses of this important mentoring program.
Please contact the MATRIX Program for more information: matrixmentoring@med.wisc.edu.
Does the department's investment need to be worked out with the chair before applying as a mentee?
Yes. The mentee applicant must obtain Department Chair (or Division Head) approval to apply. This must be documented in a cover letter attached to the application that is co-signed by both the applicant and Chair/Head. This will be part of the selection process.
Can the mentee work on an application other than a R01?
While the goal of the MATRIX Program is to develop an R01 application, we also will consider other “equivalent” research grant proposals.
Is this program only available to faculty, or can academic staff scientists apply for mentee as well?
MATRIX is open to scientists, but they must discuss it with the department chair first. In the discussion, the scientist and chair should be clear on expectations in case the R01 gets funded. The chair is expected to provide $2,000 towards enrollment for SMPH mentees, or $8,000 towards enrollment for non-SMPH mentees, and support the mentee all the way until submission of the proposal (protecting time for writing, etc).
Is a scientist working in a lab who is also a multi-PI on an R21 qualified to be a mentee in MATRIX?
A scientist who has not been a PI on an R01 is qualified to apply. The scientist will need a cover letter signed by their current employer and department chair. The employer’s signature will ensure that they get the protected time needed to write an R01, or equivalent, proposal.
If a junior investigator has a K99/R00 grant, does the R00 component make them not eligible to pursue participation in the MATRIX program?
The junior investigator would be eligible since they have yet been a PI on an R01.
Grant Writing Resources
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medRISE Grant Writing Office
Office of Research Investigator Support and Education
For more information, contact:
medRISE Office – SMPH Office for Research Investigator Support and Education
Email: medramp@med.wisc.edu
National Institutes of health
- Grant Writing 101 Videocast
- All About NIH Grants – Podcasts
- NIH Grants Process Overview
- NIH Grants YouTube Channel
- NIH – How to Write Your Application
- NIH – How to Apply – SF424 Application Guides & Instructions
- NIH Grants Policy Statement
- NIH – NIAID Variety of Sample Full Grant Applications
- NIH – NCI Variety of Sample Grant Applications (1)
- NIH – NCI Variety of Sample Grant Applications (2)
- Grant Writers’ Seminars and Workshops
- Tutorials for Application Sections
- NIAID Grant Writing Tips
National Science Foundation
- NSF Proposal Development
- NSF Proposal Guide & Policies
- NSF Grants Conference (include resources and presentations from past conferences)
- How to Write a Winning NSF Proposal
- NSF Proposal Writing 101
- NSF Grant Writing Tips
Department of Defense
More Information
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Contact Us
For more information, contact:
MATRIX Program Email: matrixmentoring@med.wisc.edu
Program Administrators:
Susan Thibeault, PhD, Professor, Department of Surgery
MATRIX Faculty Director
thibeaul@wisc.edu
Debbie Melzter, MS, Emeritus Assistant Dean
MATRIX Program Director
Email: dmeltzer@wisc.edu
Christy Schulz, MS, Director, Research Administration
MATRIX Administrative Staff
Email: crschulz@wisc.edu


