The information on this page relates to NIGMS funding opportunities for candidates at early stages in their career, as described below, who wish to further develop their careers in biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research. Use the decision tree to identify a potential fit, then check the appropriate notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) to confirm full eligibility of you and your institution. We highly recommend that prospective applicants consult with a program officer to assure that the proposed research is within NIGMS mission. If you are interested in research project grants (RPGs), please refer to our RPG decision tree.
Will you be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident at the time of award?
Learn more about citizenship at the National Institutes of Health Grants Policy Statement.
Are you in, or will you be in, a full-time faculty position or equivalent by the time of award? If you are a current or former program director/principal investigator (PD/PI) on NIH grants, check appropriate K program NOFO for further details on eligibility.
Do you hold a health professional doctoral degree?
Health professional doctoral degree examples include M.D., D.O., D.D.S., D.M.D., O.D., D.C., Pharm.D., and N.D., as well as a doctoral degree in nursing research or practice. Individuals with the Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in clinical disciplines such as clinical psychology, nursing, clinical genetics, speech-language pathology, audiology or rehabilitation are also eligible. Individuals holding the Ph.D. in a non-clinical discipline, but who are certified to perform clinical duties, should contact the NIGMS program official.
Are you in a mentored postdoctoral position?
The NIGMS expects that applicants seeking the K99/R00 award are postdoctoral scientists in biomedical science who require at least 12 months of mentored research training and career development to become a competitive candidate for an independent faculty position. This typically means acquiring and gaining skills with new research tools, systems, or methodological approaches and organizational and management skills critical for an independent research career in an academic setting. Applicants should understand that the K99/R00 award supports both research project aims and career development objectives with both elements considered in review of the application. (Pathway to Independence Awards (K99/R00))
Do you interact directly with patients for the purpose of your research, i.e., conduct patient-oriented research?
For the purposes of the K23 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 (or colleague) 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. Excluded from this definition are in vitro studies that utilize human tissues but do not deal directly with patients. In other words, patient-oriented research is research in which it is necessary to know the identity of the patients from whom the cells or tissues under study are derived. (PA-24-185)
Will you have completed your clinical training—including specialty and, if applicable, subspecialty training—prior to receiving an award?
Do you have an advanced degree in a quantitative area of science or engineering (e.g., M.S.E.E., Ph.D., D.Sc.) and are you participating in research in that discipline?
Is your goal to expand your research capability and make significant contributions to research that is relevant to the NIGMS mission?
Learn more about the NIGMS mission at the NIGMS Overview webpage.
You are not eligible for NIGMS K08, K23, K25, or MOSAIC K99/R00, but you may be eligible for the NIH Pathway to Independence Award K99/R00:Are you an investigator conducting NIH-relevant research in a mentored postdoctoral training position with no more than 4 years of postdoctoral experience?
Are you actively interviewing for tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty position?
The K99 is not intended to extend time in the postdoctoral lab while an individual is on the job market. Individuals nearing the end of their 4-year eligibility must make a strong case for the need for additional mentored training. Individuals who are testing the academic job market by applying or interviewing for tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty positions are not the intended candidates for NIGMS K99/R00 awards. A decision to apply for independent, tenure-track faculty positions implies that the applicant (with the concurrence of their mentor) is prepared to launch an independent career. An invitation to interview for a faculty position also indicates that search committees consider an individual as a competitive candidate who is prepared for independence. Therefore, applicants who have been actively interviewing for tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty positions will generally be considered a lower priority for funding by NIGMS. (Pathway to Independence Awards (K99/R00))
Please explore NIGMS training opportunities appropriate for your career stage. If you are in an independent reseach position, consider NIGMS research project grant opportunities.
You may be eligible for NIGMS Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08).
If you are a current or former program director/principal investigator (PD/PI) or project leader on NIH grants, check appropriate NOFO for further details on eligibility.
You may be eligible for NIGMS Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23).
You are not eligible for NIGMS K23. Consider other NIGMS training or research project grant opportunities.
You may be eligible for NIGMS Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (K25) support to integrate your expertise with NIGMS-relevant research.
You are not eligible for NIGMS K25.
You may be eligible for NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00).
You are not eligible for a K99/R00. Consider other NIGMS training or research project grant opportunities.
Are you an investigator conducting NIH-relevant research in a mentored postdoctoral training position with no more than 4 years of postdoctoral experience?
You may be eligible for NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00), but the award will not be made if you achieve independence (any faculty or non-mentored research position) before a K99 award is made.
You are not eligible for a K99/R00. Consider other NIGMS training or research project grant opportunities .
You are not the intended candidate for the NIGMS Maximizing Opportunites for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00).You may be eligible for the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00), but the award will not be made if you achieve independence (any faculty or non-mentored research position) before a K99 award is made.
You may be eligible for NIGMS Maximizing Opportunites for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00) and/or NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00).
Please explore NIH training opportunities for your career stage.
Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award - for clinicians interested in basic and translational research who completed postgraduate clinical training and have secured a full-time faculty appointment or equivalent.
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award – for clinicians interested in pursuing career in patient-oriented research who completed postgraduate clinical training and have secured a full-time faculty appointment or equivalent.
Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award – for research-oriented investigators with an advanced degree in a quantitative area of science or engineering who commit to research relevant to NIGMS mission and hold a tenure-track faculty position or equivalent.
NIH Pathway to Independence Award – for postdoctoral scientists who plan to transition to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions.
NIGMS Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity – for postdoctoral scientists who plan to transition to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions.
