Checklist for New Investigators

Caution: this page may contain outdated information while we update based on the changes we summarized in "The Art of Application."

As you gain experience with the new applications, please send your lessons learned and any other suggestions to deaweb@niaid.nih.gov. We'll use your feedback to improve our material.

This checklist is based on NIAID's New Investigator Guide to NIH Funding tutorial. Throughout, we provide links to the tutorial for more complete information.

Table of Contents

• Understanding the Basics
• Application Essentials
• Application Strategy
• Writing the Application
• Submitting the Application
• Programs and Resources for New PIs

Understanding the Basics

• Do I know NIH's mission and culture? Read Getting to Know NIH and NIH's Mission -- Why It Matters to You.
• Do I understand the fundamentals of grants? See Putting Grants in Context.
• Do I know what type of grant is appropriate for the career stage I'm at now? Go to Starting a Research Career.
• Have I considered being added to an existing grant or applying for a research supplement?
• Do I meet the criteria for seeking an independent research project grant? See Do You Qualify for Independent Support?
• Do I understand what peer review entails? Go to Perspective on Peer Review.
• Do I qualify as a new PI? To see if you do, go to Are You "New"?
  • Have I stated in my biosketch that I am a new investigator?

Application Essentials

• Is my application in sync with NIH's mission? Do I show the health relevance of my research project?
• Do I have what it takes to receive funding, e.g., the ability and means to do the work, an important topic, an organized and well written application? See Application Essentials.
• Am I aware of NIAID's funding philosophy?
  • Do I understand that the Institute awards grants by the payline?
  • Do I know that the Institute also funds outstanding applications that miss the payline?
• Do I have enough preliminary data to apply for an R01, or should I go for a smaller grant, such as an R03 or R21? To find out, read What Award Should You Apply For?
• Do I understand R01 basics, e.g., what are R01s, to whom are they awarded, how are they scored? Go to What's an R01?
• Do I know about the various ways to be informed of policy changes? See Staying Informed.

Application Strategy

• Do I have an application strategy? See Shaping Your Strategy.
• Do I know what's needed to plan my application? Read Planning Your Application.
• Should I pick my own topic, respond to an Institute-specific initiative, or use a high-priority topic as the basis for an investigator-initiated application? See Choosing an Approach.
• Have I used concepts as a guide to NIAID's high-priority areas?
• Have I thought of submitting a multiple PI application? Read Should You Be One of Many PIs?
• Have I requested a small budget, asked for a few years, and limited the proposed work? Read Deciding the Parameters of Your Request.
• Do I know what a funding opportunity announcement is and how to find one?
• Have I prepared for electronic application? Go to Plan Ahead for Electronic Application
  • Have I contacted my organization's business office to find out about procedures and timelines for electronic application?
  • About a month before I want to apply, have I asked my Commons signing official to register me and associate my profile with my organization?
  • Did I find out who is my organization's authorized organizational representative (AOR) for Grants.gov?

Writing the Application

• Have I read NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal and other All About Grants tutorial pages for advice on writing to my audience, addressing NIH review criteria, and other important topics? See Selected Pages From All About Grants.
• Have I sought advice from mentors? Have I considered filling in gaps with collaborators or consultants? See Getting Oriented.
• To make my application stand out, have I done the following:
  • Shown that I have my own resources and institutional support, am independent, and able to lead?
  • Demonstrated that I understand the literature?
  • Provided as much data as possible to support my aims and hypotheses?
  • Left out all nonessential information?
• Have I thought about using my NIH application to apply to a non-PHS organization?

Submitting the Application

• Have I read the following pages for guidance on submitting my application and passing validations?
  • Last Steps After You Finish Writing in the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal
  • How to Submit Electronically on Time in the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal
• Did I not include information in my application that I will send to NIH just-in-time?
• Have I refrained from including other support?

Programs and Resources for New PIs

• Do I know about NIH and NIAID programs that help new PIs? See Programs for New PIs.
• Have I checked NIH's and NIAID's online information on the application process? Go to Web Resources.

For more information, see NIAID's NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal. Find more checklists at All About Grants tutorials.