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Postdoctoral, Early-to-Mid-Career Investigator Award Mechanisms

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Notices, Policy Announcements and Other Information:

Institutional National Research Service Award (NRSA) Training Grants

Individual National Research Service Award (NRSA) Fellowships

Mentored Research Career Development Awards:

Independent Scientist Research Career Awards:

Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA Grants):

Postdoctoral Fellowships

F05 - International Neuroscience Fellowship Program

As of August 15, 2008, no more applications were accepted for the F05 Program. Program Announcement PAR-06-227 may be re-issued in the future.

F32 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows

Individual National Research Service Awards (F32) are made to applicants seeking postdoctoral research training in the basic or clinical neurological sciences. Before beginning the proposed fellowship, an applicant must earn a doctoral degree. In addition to biomedical research training, the proposed study must include an opportunity to conduct research. The training plan should provide an opportunity for research scientists and clinicians to broaden their scientific background or to extend their potential for research in health-related areas. Training areas are generally the same as those identified earlier for institutional training grants. Before formally submitting their applications, prospective fellows must arrange for an appointment to an appropriate institution and acceptance by a sponsor who will supervise the training and research experience. The application must document that staff and facilities are available to provide a high-quality training opportunity. The application should emphasize opportunities for research training and broadening scientific competence.

 

 

F33 - National Research Service Award for Senior Fellows


Individual National Research Service Awards (F33) are also available for senior fellows who wish to: (1) make major changes in the direction of their research careers; (2) broaden their scientific background; or (3) acquire new research capabilities. These awards enable individuals beyond the new-investigator stage to take time from regular professional responsibilities to increase their capabilities in health-related research. Senior fellow applications receive the same scientific review as other NRSA applications. The payback requirements for recipients of individual NRSAs are the same as those described in the preceding section for institutional NRSAs.

K01 - Mentored Research Scientist Development Award

The NINDS has two separate programs under the aegis of the Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (MRSDA): A. Career Development Award to Promote Diversity in Neuroscience Research, and B. Re-Entry Into the Neurological Sciences Program. A description of each program follows.

  1. Career Development Award to Promote Diversity in Neuroscience Research
    The objective of the Career Development Award to Promote Diversity in Neuroscience Research is to promote diversity among faculty-level neuroscience investigators who are competitively funded to conduct independent research. Eligible organizations include domestic for-profit or non-profit organizations, public or private institutions such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and medical, dental, or nursing schools or other institutions of higher education involved in neurological research. Eligible principal investigators include those individuals making the transition to an independent scientific career at the senior post-doctoral and junior faculty stages who come from groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in neuroscience research. Such candidates include individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. Applications will be reviewed based on several criteria including: (1) qualifications of the candidate; (2) the soundness of the proposed career development plan; (3) training in the responsible conduct of research; (4) the nature and scientific/technical merit of the proposed research plan; (5) the qualifications and appropriateness of the mentor/co-mentor; (6) environment and institutional commitment to the candidate's career; and (7) the strength of the description of how this particular award will promote diversity within the institution or in science nationally.

    Salary and Research Costs: Salary up to $85,000 per year plus related fringe benefits will be provided. A research allowance of up to $50,000 per year will be provided. K01 award recipients are encouraged to apply for independent research awards while the K award is active, and should consult with the Director of Training and Career Development for budget guidance in this process.

    • See NIH Program Announcement: PAR-09-065
    • Application Form SF 424 (Please check here for updates and information about the new shortened grant applications.)
    • New Application Receipt Dates: February 12, June 12, and October 12
      Renewal, Resubmission, or Revised Application Dates: March 12, July 12, November 12

    Contact:
    Michelle Jones-London, Ph.D.
    Program Director
    Office of Minority Health and Research
    National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
    6001 Executive Blvd
    NSC, Suite 2149, MSC 9535
    Bethesda, MD 20892-9535
    301-451-7966; Fax 301-594-5929
    jonesmiche@ninds.nih.gov

  2. Re-Entry Into the Neurological Sciences Program
    The NINDS program for Re-Entry Into the Neurological Sciences (RENS) assists basic and clinical neurological scientists re-enter active careers in science and academic medicine related to neurological sciences. The program is designed for individuals who have experienced an interruption in their research careers in neurological science. Applicants must demonstrate potential for a career as an independent investigator in basic or clinical research in the neurological sciences following a period of sponsored research support (up to 4 years). The candidate must have a doctoral degree in a basic or clinical area of neurological science, and at least 2 years of postdoctoral research experience in basic and/or clinical neurological science. The candidate must have interrupted his or her career in neurological science for a period of at least 3 years but not more than 8 years. Examples of appropriate interruptions would include starting and/or raising a family, an incapacitating illness or injury, pursuing non-research endeavors that would permit earlier retirement of debt incurred in obtaining a doctoral degree, or performing military service. A minimum of 75% effort must be devoted to the program.

    Salary and Research Costs: NINDS will provide up to $85,000 of the awardees salary per year, and up to $50,000 per year toward research costs. All non-competing (Type 5) applications will continue to receive salary and research support under the original terms and conditions of the award. K01 award recipients are encouraged to apply for independent research awards while the K award is active, and should consult with the Director of Training and Career Development for budget guidance.

    For important information regarding salary support from mentored K awards when applicants receive a concurrent R01, refer to notice NOT-NS-09-015.
     
    • See NIH Program Announcement: PA-09-040, NOT-OD-09-029
    • Application Form SF 424
    • New Application Receipt Dates: February 12, June 12, and October 12
      Renewal, Resubmission, or Revised Application Dates: March 12, July 12, November 12

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K08 - Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award

The Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08) is designed to provide "protected time" for clinically trained individuals to participate in an intensive, supervised training program in biomedical research, including translational research, related to neurological disorders.  Although the award is primarily targeted to candidates holding an MD or equivalent degree, it may also support individuals holding other health professional degrees. The award supports a 3-5 year period of supervised basic or clinical neuroscience research experience and should be comparable in scope and rigor to meeting the requirements for an advanced research degree. This program is intended to support applicants with a clinical doctoral degree that are within 3 years of completing their clinical training (which is defined as sequential years of residency training and clinical fellowships).  Applicants that are beyond 3 years post clinical training must obtain prior written approval from the Director of Training and Career Development to be eligible for this program. The candidate must identify a mentor with extensive research experience and must devote a minimum of 75% of his or her time and effort to the proposed research and career development activities.

Special Note: To accommodate neurosurgeons, who need significant clinical activity to maintain their surgical skills, NINDS will accept 50% time commitment to the award.

Salary and Research Costs: NINDS will provide up to $85,000 of the awardees salary per year, and up to $50,000 per year toward research costs. K08 award recipients are encouraged to apply for independent research awards while the K award is active, and should consult with the Director of Training and Career Development for budget guidance in this process.

For important information regarding salary support from mentored K awards when applicants receive a concurrent R01, refer to notice NOT-NS-09-015.

Institutional Support: Please pay careful attention to specific issues that must be addressed in a statement of institutional support for K08 and K23 awards.

    • See NIH Program Announcement: PA-09-042, NOT-OD-09-029
    • Application Form SF 424 (Please check here for updates and information about the new shortened grant applications.) 
    • New Application Receipt Dates: February 12, June 12, and October 12
      Renewal, Resubmission, or Revised Application Dates: March 12, July 12, November 12

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K12 - Neurological Sciences Academic Development Award (NSADA)

The Neurological Sciences Academic Development Award (NSADA) (K12) is an award to an educational institution or professional organization to facilitate and support career development experiences for pediatric neurologists leading to research independence. This is a continuation of the original NSADA program, which was initiated by NINDS in October 1992. Under this award, newly trained pediatric neurologists are to be selected and appointed to this program by the grantee institution. It is expected that individuals appointed to the NSADA program will subsequently apply for their own Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08), the Mentored Patient-Oriented Career Development Award (K23), an NINDS Research Scientist Development Award (K02) or an R01, to continue their research training (see "Research Objectives").

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K22 - NINDS Career Transition Award

As of March 2, 2006, no more applications were accepted for the K22 Program. Fellows who were considering this mechanism should consider the K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award.

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K23 - Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award

The Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) was created to support the career development of investigators who have made a commitment to focus their research endeavors on patient-oriented research. For the purposes of this award, patient-oriented research is defined as research conducted with human subjects (or on material of human origin such as tissues, specimens, and cognitive phenomena) for which an investigator directly interacts with human subjects. This area of research includes: 1) mechanisms of human disease; 2) therapeutic interventions; 3) clinical trials; and 4) the development of new technologies. This mechanism provides support for a period of supervised study and research for clinically trained professionals (MD or equivalent) who have the potential to develop into productive clinical investigators focusing on patient-oriented research. The project period may be 3-5 years. Candidates must devote a minimum of 75% of full-time professional effort in research career development and clinical research activities.

Special Note: To accommodate neurosurgeons, who need significant clinical activity to maintain their surgical skills, NINDS will accept 50% time commitment to the award.

Salary and Research Costs: : NINDS will provide up to $85,000 of the awardees salary per year, and up to $50,000 per year toward research costs. K23 award recipients are encouraged to apply for independent research awards while the K award is active, and should consult with the Director of Training and Career Development for budget guidance in this process.

For important information regarding salary support from mentored K awards when applicants receive a concurrent R01, refer to notice NOT-NS-09-015.

Institutional Support: Please pay careful attention to specific issues that must be addressed in a statement of institutional support for K08 and K23 awards.

  • See NIH Program Announcement: PA-09-043, NOT-OD-09-029
  • Application Form SF 424 (Please check here for updates and information about the new shortened grant applications.)
  • New Application Receipt Dates: February 12, June 12, and October 12
    Renewal, Resubmission, or Revised Application Dates: March 12, July 12, November 12

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K25 - Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award

As of August 22, 2006, the eligibility criteria for this program have changed. See the Notice for details.

The purpose of the Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award (K25) is to support the career development of investigators with quantitative scientific and engineering backgrounds outside of biology or medicine who have made a commitment to focus their research endeavors on behavioral and biomedical research (basic or clinical). Examples of quantitative scientific and technical backgrounds outside of biology or medicine considered appropriate for this award include, but are not limited to: mathematics, statistics, computer science, informatics, physics, chemistry and engineering. Candidates for this award must have demonstrated research interests with an advanced degree in a quantitative area of science or engineering (e.g., M.S.E.E., PhD, D.Sc.). They must identify a mentor with extensive behavioral or biomedical research experience, and must devote at least 75% full-time professional effort conducting research career development and basic or clinical research.

Salary and Research Costs: NINDS will provide up to $85,000 of the awardees salary per year, and up to $50,000 per year toward research costs. All non-competing (Type 5) applications will continue to receive salary and research support under the original terms and conditions of the award.

For important information regarding salary support from mentored K awards when applicants receive a concurrent R01, refer to notice NOT-NS-09-015.

See NIH Program Announcement: PA-09-039, NOT-NS-06-011, NOT-OD-09-029

  • Application Form SF 424 (Please check here for updates and information about the new shortened grant applications.)
  • New Application Receipt Dates: February 12, June 12, and October 12
    Renewal, Resubmission, or Revised Application Dates: March 12, July 12, November 12

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K99/R00 - NIH Pathway to Independence (PI) Award

NIH New Investigators Program

The Pathway to Independence Award is uniquely designed to facilitate the transition of outstanding postdoctoral candidates from mentored to independent research positions. The award contains two components, a mentored (K99) phase that can last up to 2 years and an independent (R00) phase, which will have a duration of 3 years. The objective of the program is to facilitate research independence earlier in an investigator's career. Investigators complete supervised research, and apply for an independent research faculty position, during the mentored phase of the award. Activation of the independent award phase is administrative, and is contingent upon the investigator securing an independent research position. Eligible candidates will have no more than 5 years of postdoctoral research at the time of application (initial or amended). In addition, eligible applicants will currently be in a mentored postdoctoral position, regardless of title.  Review the NIH definition of a postdoctoral scholar.  Award recipients are expected to obtain R01 support during the independent phase of the award.

Special Note: To accommodate neurosurgeons, who need significant clinical activity to maintain their surgical skills, NINDS will accept 50% time commitment to the award.

Salary and Research Costs: For mentored candidates in an extramural institution, NINDS will provide up to $50,000 per year for salary support (up to $85,000 per year for applicants with an M.D. degree), plus fringe, and up to $20,000 for research support costs. Budget details for mentored candidates in the NIH intramural program will be negotiated with the sponsoring laboratory and will be consistent with offers to scientists in comparable positions. Applicants must complete budget fields for both phases of the award in order to successfully submit an application. It is expected that the budget for the independent (R00) phase will be unknown at the time of submission. Applicants can simply enter $249,000 in total costs.

 

  • See NIH Program Announcement: PA-09-036, NOT-OD-09-029
  • Application Form SF 424 (Please check here for updates and information about the new shortened grant applications.)
  • New Application Receipt Dates: February 12, June 12, October 12
    Renewal, Resubmission, or Revised Application Dates: March 12, July 12, November 12

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K02 - Independent Scientist Award

The intent of the Independent Scientist Award (K02) is to support health professionals who are committed to a career in neuroscience research and who have recently achieved independent scientist status. This program normally follows a K08 or K23 award and supports the continued career development of independent clinician-scientists so that they can be more successful in obtaining an R01 or equivalent grant. The award provides salary and research costs for the first three years, and continued salary support for years four and five, with the last two years of support contingent on successful competition for an R01 or equivalent award. In contrast to requirements of other institutes, applicants are not eligible for this award if they have a major, independent, peer-reviewed research grant (R01, subproject on a P01, or equivalent) prior to receiving the K02 award.  Awardees are encouraged to apply for R01 support at any time after they’ve received the K02 award. The K02 is intended for physician-scientists who are missing one or more components that would make them competitive for an R01, so applicants should not submit an R01 application simultaneously with a K02 application.

The candidates must hold a clinical doctoral degree, have completed postgraduate clinical training prior to application, and hold a primary appointment in a clinical department. The candidate must also devote a minimum of 75% effort to the proposed award activities.

Special Note: To accommodate neurosurgeons, who need significant clinical activity to maintain their surgical skills, NINDS will accept 50% time commitment to the award.

Salary and Research Costs: Salary and Research Costs: In years 1 - 3 of the K02 award, NINDS will provide up to $95,000 of the awardee's salary per year, plus the applicable fringe benefit rate, plus up to $50,000 per year toward research costs. Once an applicant receives an R01 or equivalent award, the applicant may obtain up to 80% of their institutional base salary from the K02, commensurate with their effort on the K02. Once an R01 or equivalent is obtained, research costs will no longer be provided through the K02 award.
For a more detailed explanation of the K02 award structure, see the change in policy guidance for this mechanism.
For questions regarding this new funding strategy for K02 awards, contact the NINDS Director of Training and Career Development.

Institutional Support: Please pay careful attention to specific issues that must be addressed in a statement of institutional support for the K02.

  • See NIH Program Announcement: PA-09-038, NOT-OD-09-029
  • Application Form SF 424 (Please check here for updates and information about the new shortened grant applications.)
  • New Application Receipt Dates: February 12, June 12, October 12
    Renewal, Resubmission, or Revised Application Dates: March 12, July 12, November 12

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K24 - Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research

The Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24) at NINDS provides support for clinician-scientists to expand their research and, more importantly, to act as mentors for junior clinician investigators. The target candidates are outstanding, mid-career clinician scientists with productive, well-funded research programs and significant mentoring experience. At least a portion of the awardee’s research must be patient-oriented to qualify for the NIH K24. The project period may be up to 5 years, and awards are renewable if the candidate still meets the stated requirements. Candidates for this award must have a clinical degree (e.g., MD or equivalent), and must devote between 25-50% effort to the activities associated with this award. Applicants must have significant independent research support at the time of application for this program, and are expected to have NIH R01 or equivalent funding for at least 3 out of 5 years of K24 support. Mentoring programs must include a larger population than that associated with the awardee’s research program.

Salary and Research Costs: The NINDS will provide salary in accordance with NIH policy: Salary Limitation on Grants, Cooperative Agreements and Contracts. NINDS will not provide funds through the K24 for research activities that are supported by the applicant's RPG funding.  NINDS will provide up to $50,000 for costs associated with the development and implementation of mentoring activities, or for new research activities not covered by RPG funding. Applicants who request costs for mentoring and/or research expenses must provide a detailed justification for the request.

NINDS has detailed programmatic priorities, especially with regard to the mentoring component, for the K24 award. See NOT-NS-09-016 for details.

Potential applicants should contact the NINDS Director of Training and Career Development with any questions.

  • See NIH Program Announcement: PA-09-037, NOT-NS-09-016
  • Application Form SF 424 (Please check here for updates and information about the new shortened grant applications.)
  • New Application Receipt Dates: February 12, June 12, October 12
    Renewal, Resubmission, or Revised Application Dates: March 12, July 12, November 12

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R15 - Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA)


The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is continuing to make a special effort to stimulate research in educational institutions that provide baccalaureate or advanced training for a significant number of the Nation's research scientists but that have not been major recipients of NIH support. Since Fiscal Year (FY) 1985, Congressional appropriations for the NIH have included funds for this initiative, which NIH has implemented through the Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) program. Based on the expectation that funds will continue to be available each year, the NIH invites applications for AREA grants (R15) through a standing, an ongoing Program Announcement (PA). AREA funds are intended to support new ("type 1") and continuing ("renewal" or "competing continuation" or "type 2") health-related research projects proposed by faculty members of eligible schools and components of domestic institutions. The AREA will enable qualified scientists to receive support for small-scale research projects. These grants are intended to create a research opportunity for scientists and institutions otherwise unlikely to participate extensively in NIH programs to support the Nation's biomedical and behavioral research effort. It is anticipated that investigators supported under the AREA program will benefit from the opportunity to conduct independent research; that the grantee institution will benefit from a research environment strengthened through AREA grants and furthered by participation in the diverse extramural programs of the NIH; and that students will benefit from exposure to and participation in research and be encouraged to pursue graduate studies in the health sciences.

Salary and Research Costs: NINDS will provide up to a maximum of $150,000 in direct costs plus facilities and administrative costs for a period of up to three years. Allowable direct costs include salaries for the principal investigator and other research personnel (including students), supplies, equipment, travel, and other items specifically associated with the proposed research project. Top

Last updated November 06, 2009