AATS Foundation/WTS Mid-Career Investigator Award
AATS Foundation/WTS Mid-Career Investigator Award supports mid-career women cardiothoracic surgeon scientists with research funding to build a foundation for larger independent grants and career advancement.
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Funder: American Association for Thoracic Surgery Foundation
Due Dates: September 1, 2026 (Opens) | December 1, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern (Applicant requirements) | December 2, 2026 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $50,000 per year for up to two years; smaller short-term requests welcome
Summary: Supports mid-career women cardiothoracic surgeon scientists conducting research that builds a foundation for larger independent grants and career advancement.
Key Information: Applicants must hold a US or Canadian institutional appointment and be within 15 years of completing cardiothoracic residency.
Description
This award is a collaboration between the AATS Foundation and Women in Thoracic Surgery (WTS) supporting their shared missions in cardiothoracic surgery education and research. It supports mid-career female cardiothoracic surgeon scientists with previous research experience who have faced external constraints to professional growth and need funding to advance their careers.
Proposed work may be clinical, translational, or basic science research. The award aims to generate preliminary data or foundational work for larger independent grants and future extramural funding. It addresses barriers to women’s academic advancement, including caregiver responsibilities, disproportionate non-promotable service, inherent biases, and insufficient institutional infrastructure. Its emphasis is on sustaining research careers, supporting successful promotion, and filling the relative gap in research funding available at the mid-career stage.
