Trainee Candidates and Retention Plans

Please review new SF242 Forms I and Parent T32 NOFO requirements (PA-25-168).
e. Trainee Candidates diagram

Trainee Candidates and Retention Plans is a subsection of the 25-page Program Plan's “B. Program Plan” component. Use specifics from Table 6A/B to illustrate that you will be able to successfully recruit from a competitive pool of well-qualified candidates in appropriate numbers and levels.

Trainee Candidates 

Include, in general terms, the following:

  • Size of the candidate pool (including prior clinical and research training and career level required for the program)
  • Justification for the number of requested training slots
  • Specific plans to recruit candidates and how these plans will be implemented
    • Note:  “Recruitment” refers to outreach efforts prior to the candidate review and selection process, intended to encourage individuals to apply for the training grant program
  • The nomination and selection process to select new trainees and criteria for trainees’ reappointment
    • Describe a multifactorial review process that considers metrics beyond previous institution, GPA, and standardized test scores
    • Note: While a multifactorial admissions process can consider a variety of factors (i.e., how a candidate’s experiences and perspectives further their commitment to the program’s goals), it is not permissible to use a trainee’s race, ethnicity, or sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, or transgender status) as eligibility or selection criteria
  • Plans to engage trainees in research career development, mentoring, and skills development
  • Transition plans ensuring trainees are supported in various career options

Retention Plans

As of January 2025, Forms I requires evidence-informed retention activities to “sustain the scientific interests and participation of trainees,” including: 

  • How approaches are selected and tailored toward individual trainee needs
  • Efforts to monitor trainees’ academic and research process
  • Strategies to coordinate with, and differentiate from, broader UCLA retention efforts 

Data Table References

Incorporate the following into the "B. Program Plan" > "e. Trainee Candidates and Retention Plans" section of your Program Plan. Learn more about Data Tables on the Data Table Support webpage.

Table 6A/B. Training Program Candidates, Entrants, and their Characteristics for the Past Five Years

  • Summarize:
    • Numbers of potential trainees
    • Trainee characteristics
    • Trainee eligibility for support
    • Enrollment trends

Page Limit: Must fit within the Program Plan’s 25 page maximum. About 1 page.

Format: Section header: “B. Program Plan” | Subsection header: “e. Trainee Candidates and Retention Plans”

Component Instruction Index

Access detailed instructions for each component of the Research Training Program Plan. If you have further questions contact GSUTraining@mednet.ucla.edu.