Funding and Career Opportunities

VU & VUMC Limited Submission Opportunity

NIH Director’s Early Independence Awards (DP5 Clinical Trial Optional)

Applications due May 16, 2024

VU and VUMC may each submit two applications to the NIH Director's Early Independence Award.

The NIH Director's Early Independence Award (DP5 Clinical Trial Optional) supports rigorous and promising junior investigators who wish to pursue independent research soon after completion of their terminal doctoral degree or post-graduate clinical training, thereby forgoing the traditional post-doctoral training period and accelerating their entry into an independent research career. For the program to support the best possible researchers and research, applications are sought which reflect the full diversity of the research workforce.

Though most newly graduated doctoral-level researchers would benefit from post-doctoral training, a small number of capable junior investigators are ready to launch independent research careers. The Early Independence Award is intended for these select junior investigators, who have already established a record of scientific innovation and research productivity and have demonstrated unusual scientific vision and maturity. Typical post-doctoral training would unnecessarily delay their entry into independent research. The NIH Director’s Early Independence Award also provides an opportunity for institutions to invigorate their research programs by bringing in fresh scientific perspectives of the awardees they host.

By the end of the award period, Early Independence Award investigators are expected to be competitive for continued funding of their research program through other NIH funding activities and for permanent research-oriented positions.

Eligibility

• Individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups and from the full spectrum of eligible institutions in all geographic locations, are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Applications in all topics relevant to the broad mission of NIH are welcome, including, but not limited to, topics in the behavioral, social, biomedical, applied, and formal sciences and topics that may involve basic, translational, or clinical research. The NIH Director's Early Independence Award is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research programof the NIH Common Fund.
• Time window for eligibility:The receipt date of the terminal doctoral degree or end of post-graduate clinical training of the PD/PI must be between May 1, 2023, and September 30, 2025. The degree receipt date is that which appears on the official transcript for the degree. The end of post-graduate clinical training includes residency and fellowship periods. The PD/PI must not have served as a post-doctoral fellow for more than 12 months following a previous, non-terminal doctoral degree (i.e., a post-doctoral fellowship served before May 1, 2023).
• At the time of application, the PD/PI must not have served as a post-doctoral fellow for more than 12 months following a previous, non-terminal doctoral degree (i.e., a post-doctoral fellowship served before May 1, 2023). To be consistent with the updated NIH definition of Early Stage Investigators, eligible clinical training includes clinical residency and clinical fellowship.
• Research independence at time of application:Individuals are eligible only if they, at the time of application submission, do not have research independence. Lack of research independence is defined functionally rather than by position title. Eligible individuals must have all the following characteristics:
  • The PD/PI's current research agenda is set through concurrence with mentors.
  • The PD/PI's research is funded primarily through support to other investigators (mentored fellowships such as NIH F31 or F32 Fellowships or NSF Graduate Research Fellowships do not preclude eligibility).
  • The PD/PI does not have any space assigned directly by the institution for the conduct of their research.
  • The PD/PI, according to institutional policy, cannot apply for an NIH R01 grant without a special waiver or exemption from the institution.
    
    

There is no U.S. citizenship requirement for PDs/PIs.

Level of effort: Individuals must commit at least 9.6 person-months each year (i.e., 80% effort of a 12-month appointment) to the Early Independence Award project in years 1-2 of the project period. In years 3-5, awardees may reduce effort towards the Early Independence Award project but must commit at least 9.6 person-months each year (i.e., 80% effort of a 12-month appointment) to independent research in general. General independent research includes the effort spent on the Early Independence Award project and any other independent research projects the awardee is working on.

Budget Info: Awards will be for up to $250,000 direct costs per year for a period of 5 years, plus applicable Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs.

See the RFA for more information.

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered to submit a proposal must submit the following materials by 5 p.m. on May 16, 2024.
**Note the different submission instructions for VU and VUMC postdocs, below.**

1. Brief (2-page maximum) research plan including summary budget;
   1. Include three sections with the following headings to mirror the specific aims format: "Research Objectives," "Institutional Support," and "Early Independence Rationale."
2. Statement of support from department chair/center director;
   1. The letter must address requirements for Institutional Resources & Career Development Commitment, specifically: allocated laboratory space, institutional financial commitment to investigator, and plans for mentoring and assuring scientific independence.
3. NIH Biosketch

For VU-employed Postdocs:

• Submit all application materials via Infoready by May 16, 2024 at the following link: https://vanderbilt.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1936186.
• Any questions about this opportunity, eligibility, or the LSO process may be directed to VU-LSO@Vanderbilt.edu.

For VUMC-employed Postdocs:

• Submit all application materials in a single PDF to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by May 16, 2024. Visit the OOR site for more detail.
• Any questions about this opportunity, eligibility, or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

Applications due May 22, 2024

Overview

Vanderbilt University may submit two (2) nominations and Vanderbilt University Medical Center may submit two (2) nominations to the American Diabetes Association for the Pathway to Stop Diabetes Awards, one (1) nomination spanning basic through preclinical research and one (1) nomination spanning clinical through public health research. Each nomination can be for either of the Pathway Program funding mechanisms.

The Pathway to Stop Diabetes Program intends to attract brilliant scientists approaching the peak of their creativity to diabetes research, and to accelerate their research progress by providing the necessary resources and support for conducting transformative science.

This call for nominations is prioritizing exceptional investigators across the spectrum of diabetes research, spanning basic science through public health research and implementation science. The ideal applicant will propose innovative research with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of people at risk of diabetes or living with the disease - and the pathway to this impact is clear.

Examples of basic through preclinical research studies (for nomination #1) include:

• Innovative mechanistic studies on fundamental or new aspects of biology
• Novel insights derived from data science using AI/Machine Learning
• Development of new technologies, devices, and/or experimental approaches
• Identification and validation of novel and unique therapeutic targets

Examples of clinical through public health research (for nomination #2) include:

• Clinical experimental medicine studies
• Identification and validation of novel biomarkers
• Health services research
• Behavioral research
• Population epidemiology
• Health economics research
• Patient preference / Quality of Life
• Dissemination and implementation science
• Health Care system-based interventions

Nominations are welcomed from all areas of diabetes and span prevention, management, and cure of all diabetes types (i.e. type 1, type 2 and gestational), diabetes-related disease states (obesity, prediabetes, and other insulin resistant states) and complications. The program intends to attract a broad range of expertise to the field of diabetes from various fields of science and technology, including medicine, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, and physics.

Funding Mechanisms

Initiator Award

The Pathway to Stop Diabetes® Initiator award is designed to support early career researchers who have distinguished themselves during their research training as exceptionally talented and promising research investigators with a high likelihood of establishing successful, independent research programs and making seminal contributions in diabetes research. These awards are highly competitive and intended to support particularly innovative and transformational ideas that have the potential to have an exceptional impact in diabetes with an emphasis on the investigator’s potential to significantly transform diabetes through research (‘moving the needle’) to improve the lives of people with diabetes. These awards provide salary and research support for applicants during late stages of mentored training through establishment as independent research faculty.

Initiator awards will provide two (2) distinct phases of research support. Applicants may request up to seven (7) years of combined funding support for phases one and two. The proposed project budget should not exceed the maximum total budget up to $1,625,000 USD.

• Phase One: During phase one, applicants may request up to $100,000 USD per year (including 10% indirect costs) for up to two (2) years for mentored research training to allow investigators to complete on-going research, publish results, receive additional training, and develop independent research plans.
  
  Phase two support will be approved by the ADA Research Programs team contingent upon adequate progress in phase one, as well as the receipt and approval of documentation verifying that:

1. The candidate has obtained a faculty appointment at an accredited research institution.
2. The institution has agreed to provide adequate laboratory space necessary to perform the proposed research and adequate time (75% effort) to dedicate to research.
3. The institution provides the candidate with an adequate and protected start-up package.

• Phase Two: During phase two, applicants may request up to $325,000 USD per year (including 30% indirect costs) for up to five (5) years to support independent research.

Eligibility:

• Must currently be in full-time research training position (post-doctoral fellow, research fellowship)
• Have no more than seven years of research training following terminal doctoral degree
• Cannot concurrently hold an NIH K99/R00 grant. (All other Career Development awards are allowable unless concurrent awards prohibited by the other granting agency)
• Must hold a MD, PhD, DMD, DO, PharmD, DVM or an equivalent health- or science-related degree
• Candidate’s must hold a full-time appointment at their sponsoring institution.

Maximum Funding: Up to $100,000/year in Phase One for up to two years; Up to $325,000/year in Phase Two for up to five years. Maximum combined support for Phase One and Phase Two is $1,625,000.
Support: Project support & PI salary
Indirect Support: Up to 10% of directs in Phase One; Up to 30% of directs in Phase Two

Project % Effort Required: 75-100% effort to the ADA project in Phase One, 50-75% effort to the ADA project in Phase Two

Internal Application Instructions for Vanderbilt University

Interested candidates should visit https://vanderbilt.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1937376 to apply for the internal LSO competition and to find additional information about the opportunity.  The deadline for the internal competition is May 22, 2024.

Any questions about these opportunities may be directed to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu

Internal Application Instructions for Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Anyone interested in being considered as one of VUMC’s nominees must submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on May 22, 2024.

1. Brief (2-page maximum) research plan, including summary budget
2. NIH Biosketch or 5-page CV
3. Statement of support from department chair/center director

Submissions should reference the name of the award (“ADA Initiator Award” or “ADA Accelerator Award”) in the subject line of the email.

Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu

The Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) program is part of NIH’s efforts to enhance diversity within the academic biomedical research workforce, and is designed to facilitate the transition of promising postdoctoral researchers from diverse backgrounds, for example individuals from groups underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce at the faculty level, into independent, tenure-track or equivalent research-intensive faculty positions. The program has two components: an institutionally-focused research education cooperative agreement (UE5) and an individual postdoctoral career transition award (K99/R00) to enhance diversity. The objective of the MOSAIC Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00) is to enhance workforce diversity by facilitating a timely transition of promising postdoctoral researchers from diverse backgrounds (e.g., see Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity) from their mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent research-intensive faculty positions.

MOSAIC UE5 Funding Opportunity Announcement, PAR-21-277

The MOSAIC UE5 program supports awards to independent organizations (e.g., scientific societies). MOSAIC UE5 awardees will support educational activities that equip MOSAIC K99/R00 scholars with professional skills and provide them with the appropriate mentoring and professional networks to allow them to transition into, advance, and succeed in independent, tenure-track or equivalent research-intensive faculty positions. MOSAIC UE5 awardees will:

• Develop cohorts of MOSAIC K99/R00 scholars based on scientific areas;
• Provide opportunities for MOSAIC scholars to engage in career development activities that will foster their progression to and success in independent academic research careers (e.g. courses for skills development);
• Enhance the scientific and professional networks of MOSAIC scholars beyond their local institutions;
• Identify and connect scholars with additional mentors who can facilitate appropriate career advancement;
• Organize regular meetings that provide appropriate leaders at the institutions where MOSAIC scholars conduct research (e.g., postdoctoral research advisors or postdoctoral affairs deans during the mentored research phase; department chairs, deans, or provosts during the independent phase) a forum to exchange ideas, and share evidence-informed approaches to improve mentoring relationships, promote inclusion and equity in the biomedical research enterprise, and enhance diversity;
• Enhance institutional accountability for the scholars’ career advancement; and
• Track and publicize outcomes (e.g., publicly available websites).

Current MOSAIC UE5 Awardees are The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB), The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), and The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Awardee organizations must provide career development and mentoring activities aligned with and appropriate for the disciplinary backgrounds of scholars supported through the MOSAIC K99/R00 program. Areas of programmatic need will be indicated through Notices of Special Interest (NOSIs) released annually by NIH. Applications that do not address the program areas of need specified in the NOSI will be considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed.

The NOSI for the November 2022 receipt date is NOT-GM-22-038.

MOSAIC Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00)

MOSAIC K99/R00 Funding Opportunity Announcements

• PAR-21-271 – MOSAIC Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 – Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• PAR-21-272 – MOSAIC Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 – Independent Clinical Trial Required)
• PAR-21-273 – MOSAIC Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 – Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required (BESH)

The MOSAIC K99/R00 program is designed to facilitate a timely transition of promising postdoctoral researchers from diverse backgrounds (e.g., see NIH’s Interest in Diversity) from their mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent research-intensive faculty positions. The MOSAIC K99/R00 program will provide independent NIH research support before and after this transition to help awardees launch successful, independent research careers. Additionally, MOSAIC K99/R00 scholars will be part of organized scientific cohorts and will be expected to participate in mentoring, networking, and professional development activities coordinated by MOSAIC Institutionally-Focused Research Education Award to Promote Diversity (UE5) grantees.

MOSAIC K99/R00 Program Goals and Considerations

The MOSAIC K99/R00 program is intended to foster the development of creative, innovative, independent researchers who will be competitive for subsequent independent biomedical research funding, and who will enhance diversity in the biomedical research workforce. Additionally, it is widely recognized that scientists from underrepresented groups often assume disproportionate academic service and outreach loads, even during their training, and that these contributions to the research environment are generally not appropriately recognized and rewarded in the measures of career advancement (i.e., “the diversity tax”). The MOSAIC K99/R00 program seeks to support early career scientists with demonstrated and compelling commitments and contributions to enhancing diversity in the biomedical sciences..

Individuals must be in mentored, postdoctoral training positions to be eligible to apply to the K99/R00 program. The K99 is not intended to extend time in the postdoctoral lab while an individual is on the job market. If an applicant achieves independence (any faculty or non-mentored research position) before a K99 award is made, neither the K99, nor the R00 award, will be made.

The K99/R00 award will provide up to 5 years of support in two phases. The initial (K99) phase will provide support for up to 2 years of mentored postdoctoral career development. The second (R00) phase will provide up to 3 years of independent research support, which is contingent on satisfactory progress during the K99 phase and an approved, independent, tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty position. The two award phases are intended to be continuous in time. Although exceptions may be possible in limited circumstances, R00 awards will generally only be made to those K99 PDs/PIs who accept independent, tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty positions by the end of the K99 award period.

Applicants must have no more than 4 years of postdoctoral research experience at the time of the initial or the subsequent Resubmission application. Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply no later than the third year of their postdoctoral training to ensure awardees receive maximum benefit from both the K99 phase of the award, and to facilitate a timely transition to independence. Because the program aims to support the career development of scholars early in their postdoctoral training, candidates who have not yet published a first-author manuscript during their postdoctoral training, but whose previous and current studies and future plans are likely to support a successful independent research career are encouraged to apply.

The K99/R00 award is intended for individuals who require at least 12 months of mentored career development (K99 phase) before transitioning to the R00 award phase of the program. Consequently, the strongest applicants will require and propose a well-conceived plan for 1–2 years of substantive mentored career development that will help them become competitive candidates for tenure-track faculty positions and prepare them to launch robust, independent research programs. An individual who cannot provide a compelling rationale for at least one year of additional mentored career development at the time of award is not a strong candidate for this award. If an applicant achieves independence (any faculty or non-mentored research position) before a K99 award is made, neither the K99, nor the R00 award, will be made.

MOSAIC K99/R00 Applicant Eligibility

Candidates for the K99/R00 award must have a clinical or research doctorate (including PhD, MD, DO, DC, ND, DDS, DMD, DVM, ScD, DNS, PharmD or equivalent doctoral degrees). Clinicians (including those with MD, DDS, DVM and other licensed health professionals) in a clinical faculty position that denotes independence in clinical responsibilities but not in research may also be eligible for the K99/R00 award.

By the time of award, the individual must be a citizen or a non-citizen national of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., possess a currently valid Permanent Resident Card USCIS Form I-551, or other legal verification of such status). K99/R00 applicants must have no more than 4 years of postdoctoral research experience as of the relevant application due date regardless of whether it is a New or Resubmission application. Individuals must be in mentored, postdoctoral training positions to be eligible to apply to the K99/R00 program. If an applicant achieves independence (i.e., any faculty or non-mentored research position) before a K99 award is made, neither the K99 award, nor the R00 award, will be issued.

Consistent with the NIH Extension Policy for Early Stage Investigator Status (ESI), NIH will approve an extension of one year for childbirth within the 4-year K99 eligibility window. Applicants who will be PD/PIs on a K99 application must provide the child’s date of birth in the extension request justification submitted to IC program officials and/or scientific/research contacts listed in the FOA at least 12 weeks before submitting an application.

Parental, medical, or other well-justified leave for personal or family situations is not included in the 4-year eligibility limit, nor is clinical training with no research involvement (e.g., full-time residency training). Part-time postdoctoral research training, related to personal or family situations or occurring during a research residency or fellowship, will be pro-rated accordingly. In addition, time spent conducting postgraduate clinical training that does not involve research is not considered as part of the 4-year research training eligibility limit. Only time dedicated to research activities counts toward the 4-year limit. Please refer to the NIH Extension Policy for Eligibility Window for Pathway to Independence Awards (K99/R00).

For more information about the MOSAIC UE5 and K99/R00 Programs, please read the FOAs, Answers to Frequently Asked Questions, and contact Dr. Kenneth Gibbs or Dr. Kalynda Gonzales Stokes.

For more information and to apply, visit their website here.

Supports postdoctoral researchers in performing work that will broaden their perspectives, facilitate interdisciplinary interactions, and help establish them in leadership positions within the atmospheric and geospace sciences communities.

Synopsis

The Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS), awards Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (PRF) to highly qualified early career investigators to carry out an independent research program. The research plan of each Fellowship must address scientific questions within the scope of AGS disciplines. These disciplines include Atmospheric Chemistry (ATC), Climate and Large-Scale Dynamics (CLD), Paleoclimate (PC), and Physical and Dynamic Meteorology (PDM) in the Atmospheric Sciences, and Aeronomy (AER), Magnetospheric Physics (MAG), Solar Terrestrial (ST), and Space Weather Research (SWR) in the Geospace Sciences.

The AGS-PRF program supports researchers (also known as Fellows) for a period of up to 24 months with Fellowships that can be taken to the institution of their choice. The program is intended to recognize beginning investigators of significant potential and provide them with experiences in research that will broaden perspectives, facilitate interdisciplinary interactions, and help establish them in leadership positions within the Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences community. Fellowships are awarded to individual Fellows, not institutions, and are administered by the Fellows.

AGS has made it a priority to address challenges in creating an inclusive geoscience discipline through activities that increase belonging, accessibility, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (BAJEDI). Proposers are encouraged to explicitly address this priority in their proposed activities. Proposers who are women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), or who have attended two-year colleges and minority-serving institutions for undergraduate or graduate school, or plan to conduct their Fellowship activities at one of these institutions (e.g. Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Alaska Native Serving Institutions, and Hawaiian Native and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions) are especially encouraged to apply.

Program Notice: https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/atmospheric-geospace-sciences-postdoctoral

The purpose of the Pathway to Independence Award in Tobacco Regulatory Research (K99/R00) is to increase and maintain a strong cohort of new and talented independent investigators conducting research that will inform the development and evaluation of regulations on tobacco product manufacturing, distribution, and marketing. This program is designed to facilitate a timely transition of outstanding postdoctoral researchers with a research and/or clinical doctorate degree from mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions. This program will provide independent NIH research support during this transition in order to help awardees launch competitive, independent research careers.

Research projects must address the research priorities related to the regulatory authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) as mandated by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (FSPTCA), Public Law 111-31.

The awards under this FOA will be administered by NIH using funds made available through the CTP and the FSPTCA (P.L. 111-31).

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is designed specifically for candidates proposing research that does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary study to a clinical trial. Applicants to this FOA are permitted to propose research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor. Those proposing a clinical trial or an ancillary clinical trial as lead investigator, should apply to the companion FOA (RFA-OD-22-026).

For more information, visit: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OD-22-025.html

The purpose of the Pathway to Independence Award in Tobacco Regulatory Research (K99/R00) is to increase and maintain a strong cohort of new and talented independent investigators conducting research that will inform the development and evaluation of regulations on tobacco product manufacturing, distribution, and marketing. This program is designed to facilitate a timely transition of outstanding postdoctoral researchers with a research and/or clinical doctorate degree from mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions. This program will provide independent research support during this transition in order to help awardees launch competitive, independent research careers.

Research projects must address the research priorities related to the regulatory authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) as mandated by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (FSPTCA), Public Law 111-31.

The awards under this FOA will be administered by NIH using funds made available through the CTP and the FSPTCA (P.L. 111-31).

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is designed specifically for applicants proposing to serve as the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or a separate ancillary study to an existing trial, as part of their research and career development. Applicants not planning an independent clinical trial, or proposing to gain research experience in a clinical trial led by another investigator, must apply to companion FOA (RFA-OD-22-025).

For more information, visit: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OD-22-025.html