Skip left side navigation and go to content

Independent Scientist Award (K02)
(Postdoctoral Individuals/New Independent Researchers)

The K02 award is a special salary-only grant designed to provide protected time for newly independent scientists who currently have non-research obligations such as heavy teaching loads, clinical work, committee assignments, service, and administrative duties that prevent them from having a period of intensive research focus.  This award is targeted to persons with doctoral degrees who have completed their research training and have independent peer-reviewed research support and who need a period of protected research time in order to foster their research career development.  It is not intended for investigators who already have full time to perform research, or have substantial publication records or considerable research support indicating that they are well established in their fields.   The American Heart Association (AHA) Established Investigator Awardees should contact their AHA official to see if they are eligible to apply for the K02.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have ongoing peer reviewed support for the conduct of the research activities such that the K02 will provide support for at least two or more years concurrently with the independent support.  The K02 Award is a valuable opportunity for newly independent investigators to develop their biomedical research careers in the areas of cardiovascular, pulmonary, blood diseases and resources, transfusion medicine, and sleep disorders.  The scientific focus of applications submitted to NHLBI must be in one or more of those areas.

The K02 application should describe the current amount of time devoted to research and specifics about the non-research duties that successful applicants will be relieved from.  Applicants should describe their current research and what additional work will be done with support from the K02.

Who is eligible?  Investigators at non-federal public or private U.S. institutions engaged in health-related research.  Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or permanent resident.  The applicant must have independent, peer-reviewed research support at the time that the K02 would be awarded.

The opportunities?   Protected time for research

Duration of support?  Full-time for 3 to 5 years, at least 75 percent effort.  Not renewable.

Where?  At non-Federal public or private U.S. institutions

Applications due?  February 12, June 12, and October 12 - new applications;
March 12, July 12, and November 12 - resubmission applications. Letters of intent (LOI) are requested from applicants who are planning to submit resubmission applications. The LOIs should be submitted one month in advance of the resubmission receipt due date.

Additional information on application receipt dates is located in the notice, "Change in Standing Receipt Dates for NIH/AHRQ/NIOSH Beginning in January 2007," http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-07-001.html. The new receipt dates are effective as of January 2007 and will apply to both paper and electronic applications.

Salary:  Up to $75,000 per year plus fringe benefits.  No other research development support funds are provided.

The most recent announcement of the NIH-wide K02 award can be found at the following URL:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-527.html.

The NHLBI has developed Helpful Hints for Independent Scientist Award (K02), which can be found at the following URL: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/funding/training/redbook/hints4k02.htm  

The NHLBI Website also lists training programs under the category Request for Applications/Proposals & Program Announcements through the application receipt date.

Please note that the links indicated above are for two different websites. To return to the NHLBI Research Training and Career Development website, use the Internet navigation "Back" button.

How to apply:  Institutions apply to the NIH using application form PHS 398.  The form is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in an interactive format. For further assistance contact Grants Info, Telephone (301) 435-0714, E-mail:grantsinfo@nih.gov.

Applicants are reminded that there are special instructions for preparing individual career award applications in the PHS 398, beginning in Section III. Do not use the instructions for regular research grants found in the PHS 398.

Note: NIH is in the process of converting to SF 424 (Research and Related [R&R]) forms and electronic submission through Grants.gov. Information on this plan (SF 424) and on registering for electronic submission is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-05-067.html. Updates regarding the transition process are at http://era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/.

Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application and three signed photocopies, in one package to:

Center for Scientific Review
National Institutes of Health
Two Rockledge Center, Room 1040
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7710
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7710 (U.S. Postal Service Express or regular mail)
Bethesda, Maryland 20817 (for express/courier service)
At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application and all five collated sets of the appendix material must be sent to:

Chief, Review Branch
Division of Extramural Research Activities
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive Two Rockledge Centre,
Room 7214, MSC 7924
Bethesda , MD 20892-7924
Telephone: (301) 435-0270 FAX: (301) 480-0730
Email: Chief, Review Branch

Please contact the following NHLBI staff member if you have questions about this award:

Traci Heath Mondoro, Ph.D.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7950
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7950
(for overnight delivery, insert Room 10135
and use zip code 20817)
Telephone: 301-435-0052
FAX: 301-480-0867
Email:mondorot@nhlbi.nih.gov

Revised: January 2007

 

    

 

See also:

Skip footer links and go to content