NIH Office of Extramural Research
Mapping Your Career
With NIH
Henry Khachaturian, Ph.D.
Extramural Program Policy Officer
Office of Extramural Research, NIH
Email: hk11b@nih.gov
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National Institutes of Health
Our mission is to seek fundamental
knowledge about the nature and
behavior of living systems and the
application of that knowledge to
enhance health, lengthen life, and
reduce the burdens of illness and
disability.
 World’s largest source of funding for
biomedical research
 Support more than 300,000 research
personnel at over 3,000 universities
and research institutions
 27 Institutes and Centers (ICs) with
specific research agendas
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FY 2011 Budget: ~$31 Billion
Research Mgmt &
Support:
5%
All Other:
2%
Research
Training:
3%
$~800 M (2.6%) - Training
$~700 M (2.3%) - Career
$~1.5 B (4.8) - Combined
Research Project
Grants:
53%
Other Research:
6%
Research
Centers:
10%
R&D Contracts:
11%
Intramural
Research:
10%
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Advice for Mapping Your Career with NIH
• Learn the NIH application and review process
• Review IC priorities and goals. Each IC has a research training
and career development program.
• Identify the grant programs offered by each IC
• Make early contact with program officers
• Find innovative, well-respected mentors and collaborators
• Study successful grant applications- talk to your mentor
• Propose your best and most creative ideas
• Apply (After all, this is the only way to get a grant.)
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Career Path for a Ph.D. (or equivalent)
T32
F31
Graduate
student
F32
K99/
or K22
R00
T32
Ph.D.
R03 R21 R01
Faculty
Position
Ps
K02 F33
Us
R37
Independent
PI
Diversity Supplements
T32- Institutional training grant (NRSA)-has pre-&
postdoc slots
F30 and F31- Individual predoc fellowship (NRSA)
(some ICs only support Diversity F30/31s)
F32- Individual postdoc fellowship (NRSA)
F33- Sr. postdoc fellowship (NRSA)
R03- Small Grant
R21- Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant
R01- Research grant
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K02- Independent Scientist Award
K22- Research Scholar Development Award
K99/R00- Pathway to Independence Award
R37- Merit award
P01- Program Project Grant
U01- Cooperative Agreement
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Career Path for an M.D. (or equivalent)
T32 K08
K99/
or
or K22
R00
F32 K23
T35
Medical
Student
M.D.
Clinical
Training
Faculty
Position
R21 R01 K02 F33 K24 R37
Independent
PI
Diversity Supplements
T35- Short-term Training Grant for Health Professional Students
F33- Sr. Postdoctoral Fellowship (NRSA)
K08- Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award
K23- Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award
K24- Mid-Career Investigator in Patient-Oriented Research
K07, K12- IC specific
Plus all mechanisms from Ph.D. track
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Opportunities
Training Grants
Fellowships
Career Development Awards
Research Grants
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Ruth L. Kirschstein
National Research Service Awards
NRSA Opportunities
Training grants (Ts): Multi-slot
awards that are used to support
research training activities for
several individuals.
Fellowships (Fs): Awards for
graduate students working on a
doctoral degree and researchers
who have just earned their
doctorates (postdocs).
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Postdoc Payback Obligation
Postdoctoral trainees on NRSA
training grants and fellowships incur
payback obligations. Briefly stated,
they must repay their first year of
NRSA support by staying in
research for a second year.
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Training Grants
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Overview
• Most are T32 and T35
• Awarded to domestic institutions
• Applicants are senior scientists
• Trainees work in mentors’ labs
• Available for predoctoral &
postdoctoral researchers
• Support clinical and basic
researchers
Benefits
T Kiosk:
http://grants.nih.gov/training/T_Table.htm
 Travel Allowance: $400 - $1,000
 Facilities & Administrative
Allowances = 8%
 Tuition: Pays 60%.
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PhDs & MD programs: Up to $16,000
MD/PhD programs: Up to $21,000
 Stipends
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Predoctoral: $21,180
Postdoctoral: Range from $37,740 at Level
0 to $52,068 at Level 7
 Training Expenses
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Predoctoral: Up to $4,200
Postdoctoral: $7,850
Includes health insurance
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Fellowships
Overview
5 Core Review Criteria
• Awarded to predoctoral and
postdoctoral trainees who are
working with mentors.
• Training can be at domestic or
foreign institutions.
• Opportunities in basic and
clinical research.
• Open to any scientific area within
the NIH scientific mission.
• PhDs and MD/PhDs receive
most of the awards.
1. Fellowship Applicant – What is your
academic and research training?
Publications? Awards and
achievements?
2. Sponsors, Collaborators, and
Consultants
3. Research Training Plan
4. References
5. Institutional Environment &
Commitment to Training
F Kiosk:
http://grants.nih.gov/training/F_files_nrsa.htm
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F30 and F31 Predoctoral Fellowships
Overview
Benefits
 Support graduate researchers
 Tuition: 60% of requested tuition,
capped at $16,000 ($21,000 for
MD/PhD programs)
 Fellows may not change the
scope, move fellowship, or
change mentor without prior NIH
approval!
 F31 is limited to 5 years total.
Some ICs only support diversity
F31s.
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 Stipend: $21,180 stipend
 Training Expenses: $4,200
includes health insurance
 Travel Allowance: $400 - $1,000
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F32 Postdoctoral Fellowships
Overview
 Support postdoctoral research
training
 Fellows may not change the
scope, move fellowship, or
switch mentor without prior NIH
approval!
Benefits
 Stipends: $37,740 (Level 0) to
$52,068 (Level 7)
 Training Expenses: $7,850
including health insurance
 Travel Allowance: $400 - $1,000
 NRSA support for up to 3 years
total. Awardees incur two years
of payback
 Repay the 1st year by staying in
research a 2nd year
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Career Development Awards
Overview
5 Review Criteria
• Individual awards known as Ks.
• Opportunities for basic and
clinical investigators.
• Mix of mentored and
independent mechanisms.
• Some designed as awards for
faculty investigators.
• Newer programs (K22 and
K99/R00) are transition awards
for MDs and PhDs.
1. Candidate
2. Career Development Plan; Career
Goals & Objectives and Plan to
Provide Mentoring
3. Research Plan
4. Mentor(s), Consultants(s) and
Collaborator(s)
5. Environment and Institutional
Commitment to the Candidate
K Kiosk:
http://grants.nih.gov/training/careerdevelopm
entawards.htm
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K01 Mentored Research Scientist
Development Award
Overview
 Supports development
experiences leading to research
independence & training in a
new field
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May also be awarded following a
research hiatus (varies by IC).

Some ICs use K01 for junior faculty
development. Other ICs use K01s
for other purposes.
Opportunities for MDs and PhDs.
Salary Cap varies by IC and
fringe benefits (determined by
your institution; generally at 28%
level)
Benefits
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Term: 3 to 5 years

Research Support: up to
$50,000/year (varies by IC)

Facilities & Administrative
Allowances = 8%
IC contacts and policies:
http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/pafiles/PA-10-056.html
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K02 Independent Scientist Award
Overview
 Must have independent grant
support as Principal Investigator,
e.g. R01
 Mix of MDs and PhDs. However,
few K02s go to MDs.
 Salary cap varies by IC + fringe
benefits for up to 5 years
 Relatively few applicants.
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Benefits
 Salary support only
 Facilities & Administrative
Allowances = 8%
Recipient must give up salary
support from all other NIH grants!
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K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award
K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career
Development Award
Overview
 K08 supports relevant
coursework and mentored
research for individuals doing
basic research projects.
 K23 focuses on clinical/patientoriented projects.
 Majority of awardees are MDs
and MD-PhDs
 Salary cap varies by IC + fringe
benefits
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Benefits
 Term: 3 to 5 years (varies by IC)
 Research Support: Up to
$50,000/yr (varies by IC)
 Facilities & Administrative
Allowances = 8%
For IC contacts and policies
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/contac
ts/parent_K08.html
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/contac
ts/parent_K23.html
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K24 Mid-Career Investigator Award in
Patient-Oriented Research
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Overview
Benefits
 Support for clinician investigators
who devote time to patientoriented research (POR) and act
as research mentors for junior
clinicians
 Typically MDs
 Must be associate professor
 Salary cap varies by IC + fringe
benefits
 Term: 3 to 5 years
 Research Support: $25,000 $50,000 (varies by IC)
 Facilities & Administrative
Allowances = 8%
For IC contacts and policies
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/contac
ts/parent_K24.html
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K25 Mentored Quantitative Research
Development Award
Overview
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For individuals from a
quantitative background who
want to apply their expertise to a
biomedical problem
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Individual must not currently work in
health research
Salary cap varies by IC + fringe
benefits
Benefits
 Term: 3 to 5 years
 Research Support: $20,000 $50,000 (varies by IC)
 Facilities & Administrative
Allowances = 8%
For IC contacts and policies
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/contac
ts/parent_K25.html
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K22 Research Scholar Development
Award
Overview
 Transition award for postdocs
moving to assistant professor
positions
 Types vary. Some require NIH
intramural experience.
 Offered by NCI, NHLBI, NIAID,
NIEHS, NIAAA and NINR
Two-Phase Application
 Phase 1
– Scientific merit
– No institution yet
– Applicants with fundable scores have a
year to find a position as an assistant
professor.
 Phase 2
– Assistant professor with own lab and
little to no teaching and administrative
responsibilities
– Significant start-up funds
 Facilities & Administrative
Allowances = 8%
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K99/R00 Pathway to Independence
Award
Overview
 Transition award for postdocs
moving to assistant professor
positions (tenure track or
equivalent)
 Supported by almost all ICs with
variations
Benefits
 K99 Phase
– Mentored Phase: Up to 2 years
– Research Support: Up to
$90,000/yr
– Facilities & Administrative
Allowances = 8%
 R00 Phase
 No citizenship/green card
requirement
– Independent Phase: Up to 3
years; 75% effort
For IC contacts and policies
– Research Support: $249,000/yr
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/contacts/
parent_K99_R00.html
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Small Grant Program (R03)
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Provides limited funding for a short period of time to
support a variety of types of projects, including:
→ Pilot or feasibility studies
→ Collection of preliminary data
→ Secondary analysis of existing data
→ Small, self-contained research projects
→ Development of new technology, etc.
Limited to two years of funding.
Direct costs generally up to $50,000 per year.
Not renewable.
Utilized by more than half of the NIH Institutes and
Centers.
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Exploratory/Developmental
Research (R21)
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Encourages new, exploratory and developmental research
projects by providing support for the early stages of
project development
Sometimes used for pilot and feasibility studies
Preliminary data are not required but may be included if
available
Limited to up to two years of funding
Combined budget for direct costs for the two year project
period usually may not exceed $275,000
No preliminary data is generally required
Most Institutes and Centers utilize the R21 program
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New and Early-Stage Investigators
Becoming an independent research is taking longer and longer
Bridges to Independence:
Fostering the Independence of
New Investigators in Biomedical
Research (2005)
Concerns have been raised for
decades about scientists spending
long periods of time as postdoctoral
appointees, unable to set their own
direction
Age at First R01 Equivalent Award from NIH
FY 1980-2009
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New and Early-Stage Investigators
NIH is finding new methods to encourage funding (and hiring)
of early-stage investigators
Revised New and Early Stage
Investigator Policies (NOT-OD-09013)
NIH Announces Program (K99R00) to Foster the Independence
of New Investigators
Goal of funding new investigators
at same rate as established
investigators submitting new
projects
Facilitate a timely transition
from postdoctoral position to a
stable independent research
position
Support outstanding early-stage
Investigators as they pursue high
risk/high reward research
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Definition of New Investigator
A PD/PI who has not previously competed successfully for a
significant NIH independent research award, other than the
following awards:
→ Research Project Grants: R00, R03, R15, R21, R25, R90, (RL9, RL5),
R34, R36, (R41, R43), R55, R56, SC2, SC3
→ All training Grants: T32, T34, T35, T90, D43
→ All Fellowships: F awards
→ Mentored Career Awards: All individual and institutional
mentored K awards
→ Loan repayment contracts: L30, L32, L40, L50, L60
→ Instrumentation, Construction, Education, Health Disparity
Endowment Grants, or Meeting Awards: G07, G08, G11, G13, G20,
R13, S10, S15, S21, S22
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Definition of Early Stage Investigator
A PD/PI who qualifies as a New Investigator is considered an
Early Stage Investigator (ESI) if he/she is within 10 years of
completing his/her terminal research degree or is within 10
years of completing medical residency (or the equivalent).
→ Implementing the Early Stage Investigator Policy: eRA
Commons profiles include degree and residency
completion dates
→ Encouraging early transition to research independence:
Modifying the NIH New Investigator policy to identify
ESIs
→ Can request an extension of the ESI Period
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NIH New Investigator Policies
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Goal is to encourage funding for scientists new to NIH and
those who are at an early stage in their careers
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New investigators are considered essential to the vitality
of health-related research, thus several NIH initiatives to
nurture promising scientists
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New policy intended to level the playing field to allow new
investigators to achieve success rates comparable to those
of established scientists
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The ESI policy is an important part of NIH initiative to
enhance the peer review process with a goal to “fund the
best science, by the best scientists, with the least amount
of administrative burden”
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New Investigator Initiatives
 New Investigators (NIs) receive special attention at Council as
high program priority or equivalent
 Increased payline for scored R01 applications from NIs
 No imposed reductions in duration and amount of awards
(beyond the recommendations of the initial review group) for NIs
 Fund applications to achieve a designated success rate rather
than setting a specific payline for NIs applying for R01s
 R01 NIs whose applications score below the payline can submit
5-page letters responding to critiques in the summary statement
for Advisory Council review. If these letters respond satisfactorily
to the concerns raised by the study sections, the Council can
decide to fund these applications, avoiding the need for
resubmission
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NIH Director’s
New Innovator Award
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Support creative new investigators with highly
innovative research ideas at early career stages.
No preliminary data required.
Evaluate pre-application—Invite full application.
Potential for significant impact on an important
biomedical or behavioral research problem.
Applicants must hold independent research
position at a domestic institution.
Doctoral degree or completed internship/residency
within past 10 years.
Must commit at least 25% of research effort.
There are no citizenship or residency
requirements.
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NIH Director’s
Early Independence Award (EIA)
A new program to allow exceptional young
investigators to “skip” the post-doc!
“For
the most creative of young scientists, nothing
can equal the chance to have a lab of one's own.”
Francis Collins, Nature, 2010
 Inspired in some respects by programs at
Carnegie, Whitehead, UCSF, and other
institutions showing that exceptional individuals
do not require a post-doc to undertake
pioneering research.
 Solicited and incorporated input from research
community.
 First year will be a pilot (~10 awards) to test ideas
and process, but may be scaled up in subsequent
years.
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NIH Director’s
Early Independence Award (EIA)
What’s Novel?
New PhD or MD locates an institution
willing to host them for an EIA
• Must be within 12 mo. before or after
graduation
• Must demonstrate exceptional
creativity, maturity, management
skills
• Research relevant to NIH mission
• Strong letters of recommendation
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Institution may actively recruit eligible EIA
candidates
• Institution ensures independent lab
space/supplies/staff space/staff/equipment
• Appointment up to 5 yrs
• Protected research time for development as
researcher
• Proposed research complements and
enhances institution’s programs
• Institution may choose to retain candidate
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NIH Director’s
Early Independence Award (EIA)
Program features
 Seeking truly exceptional early career scientists
who would benefit by skipping the post-doc
 Institutions recruit exceptional junior scientists
to apply for these positions
 Junior scientists may identify a host institution
and negotiate a position
 An institution may submit up to two applications
 Awards will be up to $250k per year (direct costs)
for up to 5 years
 Expected to be very competitive selection
process
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Critical Stages and Awards
Now, let’s review the career development slides for a
Ph.D and M.D. For each path, critical stages and
awards are circled in red.
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Career Path for a Ph.D.
(or equivalent)
T32- Institutional Training Grant (NRSA) (has pre& postdoc slots)
F31- Individual Predoc Fellowship (NRSA) (some
ICs only support Diversity F30/31s)
F32- Individual Postdoc Fellowship (NRSA)
K22- Research Scholar Development Award
K99/R00- Pathway to Independence Award
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K01- Mentored Research Scientist Development K02- Independent Scientist Award
Award
F33- Sr. Postdoc Fellowship (NRSA)
R03- Small Grant
R37- MERIT Award
R21- Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant
R01- Research Grant
P01- Program Project Grant
U01- Cooperative Agreement
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Career Path for an M.D.
(or equivalent)
T35- Short-term Training Grant for Health
Professional Students
T32- Institutional Training Grant (NRSA) (has
pre-& postdoc slots)
F32- Individual Postdoc Fellowship (NRSA)
K08- Mentored Clinical Scientist Development
Award
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K23- Mentored Patient-Oriented Research
R01- Research Grant
Career Development Award
K02- Independent Scientist Award
K22- Research Scholar Development Award
F33- Sr. Postdoctoral Fellowship (NRSA)
K99/R00- Pathway to Independence Award
K24- Mid-Career Investigator in Patient-Oriented
R03- Small Grant
Research
R21- Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant R37- MERIT Award
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Additional Resources
To learn more about NIH grants and training
opportunities, visit http://grants.nih.gov
Also, you may follow funding announcements
at http://twitter.com/nihforfunding
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