Applicant Profile
To qualify, you must be at the postdoctoral level to senior faculty level with an advanced doctoral (e.g., M.S.E.E., Ph.D., D.Sc.) degree in a quantitative area of science (e.g., engineering, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer sciences), show evidence of productivity in your field and a desire to expand your research capability with the goal of making significant contributions to behavioral, biomedical (basic or clinical), bioimaging, or bioengineering research.
Former principal investigators on NIH research projects or subprojects and previous recipients of certain awards are not eligible; refer to the notice of funding opportunity for a complete list of exclusions.
Notice of Funding Opportunity
Award Specifics
Duration of 3 to 5 years (minimum of 3), not renewable.
Salary up to $100,000 (if institutional base salary is equivalent or more) plus fringe benefits.
Research development costs of $50,000 each year.
Facilities and administrative costs based on eight percent of modified total direct costs.
Minimum 9 person months (or 75 percent) effort required each year. Learn more about Percent Effort and Concurrent Salary Support for Research Career Development (K) Awards.
Application
Reviewers expect less detail in your Research Plan because they recognize your limited experience; most K25 applicants aren't highly experienced researchers in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research areas.
NIAID will not accept K25 applications proposing an independent clinical trial. Learn more at Clinical Trials and NIAID Research Career Development (K) Opportunities.
Also check Application Advice for Research Career Development (K) Awards.
During Your Award
In the last 2 years of a K25 award, NIH permits concurrent salary support from a peer-reviewed grant from any federal agency if 1) your K award is active, and 2) you are a principal investigator on a competing research project grant or director of a subproject on a multicomponent grant from NIH or another federal agency.
More Information
Learn more on the NIAID Research Career Development (K) Awards main page.
Email your questions to AITrainingHelpDesk@mail.nih.gov.
We can also advise you on your eligibility for a particular K program and whether your proposed research aligns with NIAID if you send us your NIH-formatted biosketch and Specific Aims page. Learn more at Create Biosketches and Draft Specific Aims.