Funding and Career Opportunities

Vanderbilt University may submit two nominees for this award. 
Vanderbilt University Medical Center may submit two nominees for this award. 

The Susan G. Komen Career Transition Award aims to help outstanding senior postdoctoral fellows and clinical fellows, working under the guidance of a mentor, launch their competitive, independent breast cancer research careers. Career Transition Awards provide up to five years of funding in two phases: Phase 1 supports the final years of mentored, postdoctoral training; and Phase 2 supports the independent research of the early career, tenure-track investigators.

Applicants my request up to 5 years of funding totaling up to $650,000 over the two phases of the award. Up to $100,000.00 per year (direct costs only) for up to two years may be requested for the first phase of the Career Transition Award to support the postdoctoral work. For the second phase of the Career Transition Award, the Applicant/PI may request up to $150,000.00 per year (direct and indirect costs) for up to three years to support independent research.

Research projects must be hypothesis-driven, breast cancer-focused studies. They may be considered basic, translational, clinical and/or population science in nature and should align with Komen’s research priorities and/or mission to save lives from breast cancer. Komen’s research priorities are conquering metastatic and aggressive breast cancers, advancing personalized breast cancer care throughout the continuum of care and eliminating breast cancer disparities and inequities.

Strongest applicants will provide a vision statement encompassing the 5-year grant term, including a well-conceived research project plan for 1–2 years of substantive mentored research, the plan to build upon this research in Phase 2, and career development activities that will help them become competitive candidates for tenure-track faculty positions (preferably at another institution from their mentored phase training) and prepare them to launch robust, independent breast cancer research labs.

The foundation specifically encourages proposals from applicants who identify as someone from groups shown to be historically minoritized and marginalized in biomedical research from National Science Foundation data, including Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, and individuals with disabilities, as well as individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds according to the criteria used by the NIH (https://extramural-diversity.nih.gov/diversity-matters/get-the-facts).

Eligibility Criteria:

• Individuals pursuing independent breast cancer research careers who are in the final years of mentored postdoctoral research training positions with no more than five years of total postdoctoral research experience at the time of Letter of Intent submission (August 7, 2024). For this application clinical fellows are considered eligible and equal to the postdoctoral rank.
• Must have a doctoral degree, including M.D., Ph.D., Dr.P.H., D.O., or equivalent.
• May not hold any appointment designated as faculty (e.g., assistant professor, clinical assistant professor, faculty-level instructor, or equivalent). Clinical fellows with the title instructor are allowed as long as they are no more than 5 years into their training similar to above bullet concerning postdoctoral training.
• Must be able to devote at least 75% of full-time effort to breast cancer research and activities, i.e., protected research time.
• Must conduct proposed breast cancer research and training at the Lead Mentor’s U.S.-based institution and must be designated as a member/employee of the Lead Mentor’s laboratory by date of Letter of Intent submission.
• Applicant/PI may not hold another career transition award, training award (K-type awards) or R-type award at time of notification of intent to fund (on or around April 15, 2025). If Applicant previously held an R-type award at any point, they are not eligible to apply for this award.
• If the applicant is a current Komen grantee, they must ensure that all past and current Komen-funded Grants are up to date and in compliance with all Komen requirements, e.g., progress report submissions, IRB approvals, etc. by the Letter of Intent due date (August 7, 2024).
• Applicant is not required to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

See the program announcement and funding opportunities website for more information.

Submission Guidelines for Vanderbilt University Postdocs: 

Interested postdocs should visit https://vanderbilt.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/1942117 to submit an application for the internal LSO competition and to find additional information about the opportunity. The deadline for the internal competition is July 11, 2024.

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

Submission Guidelines for Vanderbilt University Medical Center Postdocs: 

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 July 11, 2024.

1. Brief (2 page maximum) research plan including summary budget a. Research plan should include project title and hypothesis, research aim(s) and methods, and brief discussion of the project’s potential impact

2. Letter of support from department chair/center director

3. Biosketch in current NIH format

Please indicate in your email if you identify as someone from groups shown to be historically minoritized and marginalized in biomedical research from National Science Foundation data, including Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, and individuals with disabilities, as well as individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds according to the criteria used by the NIH (https://extramural-diversity.nih.gov/diversitymatters/get-the-facts).

Please reference the program name in the subject line of the email. The selected nominees will submit an LOI including an institutional letter of support by August 7, 2024. Any questions about this opportunity 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

Avenir means future in French, and this award looks toward the future by supporting early stage investigators proposing highly innovative studies. The award will support those in an early stage of their career who may lack the preliminary data required for an R01 grant, but who propose high impact research and who show promise of being tomorrow's leaders in the field of genetics or epigenetics of substance use disorders.

The Genetics or Epigenetics of Substance Use Disorders Avenir Award program supports early stage investigators proposing highly innovative studies that open new areas of research for the genetics or epigenetics of addiction. These may be novel methods or approaches that can potentially be applied to the analysis of the genetics or epigenetics of addiction. Investigators outside the field of addiction interested in applying their novel approaches to the genetics or epigenetics of addiction are encouraged to apply.

For more information see:

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-23-021.html

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Satterlee JS, Pollock JD, Volkow ND. The NIDA Avenir award in genetics or epigenetics of substance use disorders. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2023 Dec;127:103899. doi: 10.1016/j.mcn.2023.103899. Epub 2023 Sep 20.

Past Awardees:

• See a list of previous Avenir Award Winners

Contacts:

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

Jonathan D. Pollock, Ph.D

National Institute on Drug Abuse

Telephone: 301-435-1309

Email: jpollock@mail.nih.gov

John Satterlee, Ph.D.

National Institute on Drug Abuse

Telephone: 301-435-1020

Email: satterleej@nida.nih.gov

Peer Review Contact(s)

Dharmendar Rathore, PhD

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Telephone: 301-402-6965

Email: dharmendar.rathore@nih.gov

Financial/Grants Management Contact(s)

Pam Fleming

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Telephone:301-480-1159

Email: pfleming@mail.nih.gov