Advice for Applicants
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The career development award category is broad, and special rules may apply for your award. Read the program announcement carefully, and consider the following advice as you prepare your application.
K01
- Apply only if you are doing research in the fields of epidemiology and outcomes research.
- If you are junior in terms of your research career, you are still eligible for this award. For more information see Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01).
K02
- Build on the science in your R01 project.
- Demonstrate how your ideas have developed over the course of your research and discuss your career development plans.
K08 and K23
- You'll need a strong CV, including an outstanding academic record and letters of recommendation. Spend time developing a state-of-the-art Research Plan and show that you have strong institutional commitment, such as a promised faculty appointment after your award term.
- When choosing your mentor, select a top-notch scientist with superior funding, robust publication history, and the time and interest to mentor you. Ask your mentor to read and edit your application.
- If you have a substantial publication record in the field and are at the assistant professor level, you may want to consider applying for an R01 instead. Read What's an R01 in our New Investigator Guide to Funding to learn more about this option, and if you're interested, get more information in the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal.
K22
- In the first phase of the application process, submit a CV that details your career goals, a Research Plan, and three recommendations.
- Within a year of receiving a fundable score, you must obtain an offer of an assistant professorship at an academic institution. Just having the K22 can help with this -- it shows you can already get NIAID funding on your own.
- To qualify for the second phase, you'll need to show that your position offers an assistant professorship, your own laboratory, significant start-up funds, and minimal teaching or other responsibilities.
K24
- Your application should include 75 percent science and 25 percent mentoring, teaching, and career development. Clearly explain why you want this additional funding and describe your plans to mentor or sponsor junior researchers.
K25
- Reviewers expect less detail in your Research Plan because most K25 applicants aren't highly experienced researchers.
K99/R00
- Keep in mind that NIAID gives preference to applicants requesting three years of support -- one year for the K99 and two for the R00 -- instead of the five years that NIH allows. Also note that we make very few awards.
- Include in your application a career development plan, Research Plan with a description of the project you will pursue in the R00 phase, and at least three letters of reference.
- During the initial mentored (K99) phase, you must secure a tenure-track, full-time assistant professor position at an academic institution.
- To qualify for the independent investigator (R00) phase, your division or department chair will need to submit a letter demonstrating the institution's commitment to you by providing protected research time, space, facilities, and support needed to conduct the proposed research.
- For more information, see the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) program announcement and our Pathway to Independence Awards (K99/R00) SOP.
NIAID will not accept K-series applications proposing to conduct new, independent clinical trials. For more information, read the March 28, 2008, Guide notice.
Additional Resources
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