The NIH BRAIN Initiative offers several funding opportunities to support research training of postdoctoral fellows.
As highlighted in the BRAIN 2025 report, supporting workforce diversity in the biomedical research community is critical for training the next generation of investigators. The following notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs) seek to enhance training, equity, and inclusion of postdoctoral fellows.
RFA-MH-23-330 BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Required; Reissue of RFA-NS-19-044) and RFA-MH-23-331 BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed; Reissue of RFA-NS-19-043)
The purpose of the NIH BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00) is to enhance diversity in the neuroscience workforce and maintain a strong cohort of talented independent investigators from diverse backgrounds focused on BRAIN Initiative priority areas. This program is designed to facilitate the transition of postdoctoral researchers from mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions by providing NIH research support during the transition to help awardees launch competitive, independent research careers. The K99/R00 award is intended for individuals who require at least 12 months of mentored research training and career development (K99 phase) before transitioning to the R00 award phase of the program.
Applications are due June 14, 2023 for new submissions and July 13, 2023 for resubmissions. Please view the full funding opportunity for more information. Additional resources, such as current and past K99/R00 awardees, a technical assistance webinar, and other training information can be found on the NIH BRAIN Initiative training webpage.
RFA-MH-23-110 BRAIN Initiative Fellows: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32; Reissue of RFA-MH-20-620)
This funding opportunity seeks to enhance the research training of postdoctoral fellows in fields that align with the NIH BRAIN Initiative priority areas, including neuroethics. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals in research areas that clearly complements their predoctoral research. Formal training in analytical tools appropriate for the proposed research is expected to be an integral component of the research training plan. In order to maximize the training potential of the F32 award, this program encourages applications from individuals who have not yet completed their terminal doctoral degree and expect to do so within 12 months of the application due date. This funding opportunity does not allow applicants to propose to lead an independent clinical trial but does allow applicants to propose research in a clinical trial led by a sponsor or co-sponsor.
The next application due date is August 9, 2023. Please read the full funding opportunity and view the F32 technical assistance webinar for more information. Interested in learning more about F32 awardees? Check out our series on the BRAIN Blog that highlights the experiences of current and past NIH BRAIN F32 grantees.