Independent Scientist Award (Parent K02) (PA-16-192)

Table of IC-Specific Information, Requirements and Staff Contacts

Release Date: April 15, 2016
Expiration Date: January 8, 2018

NIH Institute or Center Contacts	Institute/Center Specific Information
National Institute on Aging (NIA) Scientific Program Contact: Shahrooz Vahedi, PhD Phone: 301-496-9322 Email: shahrooz.vahedi@nih.gov Grants Management Contact: Ms. Traci Lafferty, NIA Phone: (301) 496-1472 Email: laffertt@mail.nih.gov	NIA Specific Information: Salary Support: Up to 100,000 plus fringe benefits per year. Research Support: Up to $8,000 per year (for tuition and other training-related expenses). Under most circumstances K02 awardees must have independent funding to support research expenses. Are competing K02 renewals accepted? No.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Scientific Program Contact: Rosalind Breslow, Ph.D. Phone: 301 594 6231 Email: rbreslow@mail.nih.gov Grants Management Contact: Judy Fox Phone: (301) 443-4704 Email: jfox@mail.nih.gov	NIAAA Specific Information: Purpose: The K02 program through NIAAA is primarily a salary award to provide at least 75% protected time for recently independent scientists to focus on research. Eligibility: Eligibility for a K02 award is limited to those who have an active alcohol research-relevant grant at the time of award. Applicants must be a named PD/PI on an active R01 or equivalent alcohol-related grant or on a sub-project of a multi-component research project. PD/PIs on R03 or R21 grants are not eligible. Applicants for NIAAA K02 awards must have demonstrated independent alcohol-related research accomplishments at the time of application, but not yet be considered well-established in the research area of the application. Some indicators of being well-established are tenure or the equivalent, or considerable research support that already requires commitment of a major part of the investigator’s time. At the time of the K02 award, the K02 project period should overlap by at least two years with current research grant support (excluding any period of no-cost extension). If the qualifying grant lapses during the K02 project period, the K02 support may be continued for one year after the lapse so the PI can obtain new or renewal funding. If no additional support has been obtained at that time, NIAAA may terminate the K02 award. If the requested K02 project period will exceed the period of funded research grant support, the candidate should address his/her plans concerning continuing research support (e.g., planned grant application submissions). Research Plan: The K02 research plan can comprise an ongoing independent research program, an expansion of one or more research aims of an ongoing grant, or a new research trajectory (if research support is in place); the scope of the research plan should be made clear in the application. Salary Support: Up to $90,000 plus fringe benefits per year. Research Support: Up to $25,000 per year. Are competing K02 renewals accepted? No.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Scientific Program Contact: Dennis A. Twombly, Ph.D. Phone: 301-451-3371 Email: dtwombly@mail.nih.gov Grants Management Contact: Bryan S. Clark, MBA Phone: (301) 435-6975 Email: clarkb1@mail.nih.gov	NICHD Specific Information: Research Scope: NICHD offers research career development awards in areas relevant to normal and abnormal human development, including contraception, fertilization, pregnancy, childbirth, prenatal and postnatal development, and childhood development through adolescence. The mission areas also include research on intellectual and developmental disabilities and rehabilitation medicine. More detailed information can be found at: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/research/by-nichd/pages/index.aspx. Purpose: The K02 program through NICHD is primarily a salary award to provide at least 75% protected time for recently independent scientists to focus on their research careers. Applicants must describe their current commitments and justify the need for additional protected research time. Investigators who are well-established in their fields are considered ineligible. Some indicators of having achieved this status are tenure or the equivalent, or considerable research support that already requires commitment of a major part of the investigator’s time. Grant Support: Eligibility for a K02 award is limited to those who have an active NICHD grant at the time of award. Applicants must be a named PD/PI on an active R01 or equivalent grant or on a sub-project of a multi-component research project. PD/PIs on R03 or R21 grants are not eligible. At the time of the K02 award, the K02 project period should overlap by at least two years with the NICHD research project grant support (excluding any period of no-cost extension). If the qualifying grant lapses during the K02 project period, the K02 support may be continued for one year after the lapse so the PI can obtain new or renewal funding. If no additional support has been obtained at that time, NICHD may terminate the K02 award. Research Plan: The K02 research plan may comprise a new research trajectory or an expansion of one or more specific aims of an ongoing grant. The K02 research plan should not merely duplicate the aims of other funded projects. Any overlap in specific aims or effort will be negotiated with Grants Management prior to award. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the NICHD Scientific Program Contact prior to preparing an application. Salary Support: Up to $75,000 plus fringe benefits per year. Research Support: Up to $25,000 per year. Are competing K02 renewals accepted? No.
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) Scientific Program Contact: Lynn Mertens King, Ph.D. Phone: 301-594-5006 Email: lynn.king@nih.gov Grants Management Contact: Dede Rutberg, MBA Phone: (301) 594-4798 Email: rutbergd@mail.nih.gov	NIDCR Specific Information: The NIDCR K02 program supports recently independent scientists having active NIDCR research project grant support (R01 or equivalent) as Principal Investigator (PI). PIs of R03 and R21 grants are not eligible. The duration of the research project grant must be least two years beyond the anticipated award date of the K02 at the time of submission and award. The K02 is primarily a salary award to provide at least 75% protected time for investigators to focus on their research careers. Applicants must describe their current commitments and justify the need for additional protected research time. The K02 research plan can comprise an ongoing independent research program, an expansion of one or more research aims of an ongoing grant, or a new research trajectory (if research support is in place); the scope of the research plan should be made clear in the application. If the requested K02 project period will exceed the period of funded research grant support, the candidate should address his/her plans concerning continuing research support (e.g., planned grant application submissions). If funding for the qualifying NIDCR research project grant lapses during the K02 project period, the K02 support may be continued for one year after the lapse in funding to allow for a resubmission of the research project grant application. If the resubmission is unsuccessful, NIDCR may terminate the K02 award. Salary Support: Up to $75,000 plus fringe benefits per year. Research Support: Up to $15,000 per year. Are competing K02 renewals accepted? No.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Scientific Program Contact: Michele Rankin, Ph.D. Phone: (301) 480-3832 Email: NIDA_Training@nida.nih.gov Grants Management Contact: Carol Alderson Phone: (301) 933-6196 Email: ca10h@nih.gov	NIDA Specific Information: NIDA uses the K02 mechanism broadly, to support scientists at various stages of their independent research careers (e.g., newly independent; mid-career) as a means of enhancing their research programs. This award, however, is not intended for senior scientists who are recognized leaders in the alcohol, or drug abuse, or related research fields. For additional guidance or information, please see NOT-DA-11-005 or speak with a NIDA Program Oficer. Please see NIDA's budget/salary guidelines at NOT-DA-06-013. Salary Support: Up to $90,000 plus fringe benefits per year. Research Support: Research support is not provided except for predominantly theoretical work, such as modeling or computer simulation, in which case up to $25,000 per year can be obtained. Are competing K02 renewals accepted? The K02 is renewable one time only.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Scientific Program Contact: Carol Shreffler, Ph.D. Phone: (919) 541-1445 Email: Shreffl1@niehs.nih.gov Grants Management Contact: Lisa Edwards Phone: (919) 541-0751 Email: archer@niehs.nih.gov	NIEHS Specific Information: Strong preference is given to candidates with active research project grant support from the NIEHS. If R01 grant support is from another NIH Institute, the candidate must propose a research project and career development program that is expected to have a defined impact on the environmental health sciences, be directly responsive to the mission of the NIEHS, show a decided career shift to the environmental health sciences, and commit to directing an R01 submission to the NIEHS within the first two years of the K02 award that proposes to study the human health effects of an environmentally relevant agent. Examples of environmentally relevant agents include industrial chemicals or manufacturing byproducts, metals, pesticides, herbicides, air pollutants and other inhaled toxicants, particulates or fibers, fungal, bacterial, or biologically derived toxins. Agents considered non-responsive to this announcement include, but are not limited to: alcohol, chemotherapeutic agents, radiation which is not the result of an ambient environmental exposure, smoking, except when considered as a secondary smoke exposure as a component in the indoor environment (particularly in children), drugs of abuse, pharmaceuticals, and infectious or parasitic agents, except when these are disease co-factors to an environmental toxicant exposure to produce the biological effect. PIs on R03 and R21 grant support are not eligible. Salary Support: Up to $75,000 plus fringe benefits per year. Research Support: Up to $25,000 per year. Are competing K02 renewals accepted? No.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Scientific Program Contact: Stephen Korn, Ph.D. Phone: (301) 496-4188 Email: korns@ninds.nih.gov Grants Management Contact: Donna James Phone: (301) 496-9231 Email: jamesd@mail.nih.gov	NINDS Specific Information: In contrast to requirements of other institutes, applicants are not eligible for this award if they have a major, independent, peer-reviewed research grant (R01, subproject on a P01, or equivalent) prior to receiving the K02 award. This program supports the continued career development of clinician-scientists that are committed to a career in neuroscience research. The award provides salary and research costs for the first three years, and continued salary support for years four and five, contingent on successful competition for an R01 or equivalent award. Because a K02 from NINDS is intended for those who are not yet ready to compete successfully for an R01, candidates for the K02 may not submit a K02 and an R01 during the same grant cycle, and may not have both a K02 and an R01 pending simultaneously. Applicants should consult the NINDS training website for NINDS specific information and instructions:http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/areas/training_and_career_development/index.htm. Salary Support: Up to $105,000 plus fringe benefits per year. Research Support: Up to $50,000 per year. Are competing K02 renewals accepted? No.

NIH Institute or Center Contacts

Institute/Center Specific Information

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Scientific Program Contact:
Shahrooz Vahedi, PhD
Phone: 301-496-9322
Email: shahrooz.vahedi@nih.gov

Grants Management Contact:
Ms. Traci Lafferty, NIA
Phone: (301) 496-1472
Email: laffertt@mail.nih.gov

NIA Specific Information:

Salary Support: Up to 100,000 plus fringe benefits per year.
Research Support: Up to $8,000 per year (for tuition and other training-related expenses). Under most circumstances K02 awardees must have independent funding to support research expenses.

Are competing K02 renewals accepted? No.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Scientific Program Contact:
Rosalind Breslow, Ph.D.
Phone: 301 594 6231
Email: rbreslow@mail.nih.gov

Grants Management Contact:
Judy Fox
Phone: (301) 443-4704
Email: jfox@mail.nih.gov

NIAAA Specific Information:

Purpose: The K02 program through NIAAA is primarily a salary award to provide at least 75% protected time for recently independent scientists to focus on research.

Eligibility: Eligibility for a K02 award is limited to those who have an active alcohol research-relevant grant at the time of award. Applicants must be a named PD/PI on an active R01 or equivalent alcohol-related grant or on a sub-project of a multi-component research project. PD/PIs on R03 or R21 grants are not eligible. Applicants for NIAAA K02 awards must have demonstrated independent alcohol-related research accomplishments at the time of application, but not yet be considered well-established in the research area of the application. Some indicators of being well-established are tenure or the equivalent, or considerable research support that already requires commitment of a major part of the investigator’s time. At the time of the K02 award, the K02 project period should overlap by at least two years with current research grant support (excluding any period of no-cost extension). If the qualifying grant lapses during the K02 project period, the K02 support may be continued for one year after the lapse so the PI can obtain new or renewal funding. If no additional support has been obtained at that time, NIAAA may terminate the K02 award. If the requested K02 project period will exceed the period of funded research grant support, the candidate should address his/her plans concerning continuing research support (e.g., planned grant application submissions).

Research Plan: The K02 research plan can comprise an ongoing independent research program, an expansion of one or more research aims of an ongoing grant, or a new research trajectory (if research support is in place); the scope of the research plan should be made clear in the application.

Salary Support: Up to $90,000 plus fringe benefits per year.

Research Support: Up to $25,000 per year.

Are competing K02 renewals accepted? No.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Scientific Program Contact:
Dennis A. Twombly, Ph.D.
Phone: 301-451-3371
Email: dtwombly@mail.nih.gov

Grants Management Contact:
Bryan S. Clark, MBA
Phone: (301) 435-6975
Email: clarkb1@mail.nih.gov

NICHD Specific Information:

Research Scope: NICHD offers research career development awards in areas relevant to normal and abnormal human development, including contraception, fertilization, pregnancy, childbirth, prenatal and postnatal development, and childhood development through adolescence. The mission areas also include research on intellectual and developmental disabilities and rehabilitation medicine. More detailed information can be found at: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/research/by-nichd/pages/index.aspx.
Purpose: The K02 program through NICHD is primarily a salary award to provide at least 75% protected time for recently independent scientists to focus on their research careers. Applicants must describe their current commitments and justify the need for additional protected research time. Investigators who are well-established in their fields are considered ineligible. Some indicators of having achieved this status are tenure or the equivalent, or considerable research support that already requires commitment of a major part of the investigator’s time.
Grant Support: Eligibility for a K02 award is limited to those who have an active NICHD grant at the time of award. Applicants must be a named PD/PI on an active R01 or equivalent grant or on a sub-project of a multi-component research project. PD/PIs on R03 or R21 grants are not eligible. At the time of the K02 award, the K02 project period should overlap by at least two years with the NICHD research project grant support (excluding any period of no-cost extension). If the qualifying grant lapses during the K02 project period, the K02 support may be continued for one year after the lapse so the PI can obtain new or renewal funding. If no additional support has been obtained at that time, NICHD may terminate the K02 award.
Research Plan: The K02 research plan may comprise a new research trajectory or an expansion of one or more specific aims of an ongoing grant. The K02 research plan should not merely duplicate the aims of other funded projects. Any overlap in specific aims or effort will be negotiated with Grants Management prior to award. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the NICHD Scientific Program Contact prior to preparing an application.

Salary Support: Up to $75,000 plus fringe benefits per year.
Research Support: Up to $25,000 per year.

Are competing K02 renewals accepted? No.

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

Scientific Program Contact:
Lynn Mertens King, Ph.D.
Phone: 301-594-5006
Email: lynn.king@nih.gov

Grants Management Contact:
Dede Rutberg, MBA
Phone: (301) 594-4798
Email: rutbergd@mail.nih.gov

NIDCR Specific Information:

The NIDCR K02 program supports recently independent scientists having active NIDCR research project grant support (R01 or equivalent) as Principal Investigator (PI). PIs of R03 and R21 grants are not eligible. The duration of the research project grant must be least two years beyond the anticipated award date of the K02 at the time of submission and award. The K02 is primarily a salary award to provide at least 75% protected time for investigators to focus on their research careers. Applicants must describe their current commitments and justify the need for additional protected research time. The K02 research plan can comprise an ongoing independent research program, an expansion of one or more research aims of an ongoing grant, or a new research trajectory (if research support is in place); the scope of the research plan should be made clear in the application. If the requested K02 project period will exceed the period of funded research grant support, the candidate should address his/her plans concerning continuing research support (e.g., planned grant application submissions). If funding for the qualifying NIDCR research project grant lapses during the K02 project period, the K02 support may be continued for one year after the lapse in funding to allow for a resubmission of the research project grant application. If the resubmission is unsuccessful, NIDCR may terminate the K02 award.

Salary Support: Up to $75,000 plus fringe benefits per year.
Research Support: Up to $15,000 per year.

Are competing K02 renewals accepted? No.

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Scientific Program Contact:
Michele Rankin, Ph.D.
Phone: (301) 480-3832
Email: NIDA_Training@nida.nih.gov

Grants Management Contact:
Carol Alderson
Phone: (301) 933-6196
Email: ca10h@nih.gov

NIDA Specific Information:

NIDA uses the K02 mechanism broadly, to support scientists at various stages of their independent research careers (e.g., newly independent; mid-career) as a means of enhancing their research programs. This award, however, is not intended for senior scientists who are recognized leaders in the alcohol, or drug abuse, or related research fields. For additional guidance or information, please see NOT-DA-11-005 or speak with a NIDA Program Oficer. Please see NIDA's budget/salary guidelines at NOT-DA-06-013.

Salary Support: Up to $90,000 plus fringe benefits per year.
Research Support: Research support is not provided except for predominantly theoretical work, such as modeling or computer simulation, in which case up to $25,000 per year can be obtained.

Are competing K02 renewals accepted? The K02 is renewable one time only.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

Scientific Program Contact:
Carol Shreffler, Ph.D.
Phone: (919) 541-1445
Email: Shreffl1@niehs.nih.gov

Grants Management Contact:
Lisa Edwards
Phone: (919) 541-0751
Email: archer@niehs.nih.gov

NIEHS Specific Information:

Strong preference is given to candidates with active research project grant support from the NIEHS. If R01 grant support is from another NIH Institute, the candidate must propose a research project and career development program that is expected to have a defined impact on the environmental health sciences, be directly responsive to the mission of the NIEHS, show a decided career shift to the environmental health sciences, and commit to directing an R01 submission to the NIEHS within the first two years of the K02 award that proposes to study the human health effects of an environmentally relevant agent. Examples of environmentally relevant agents include industrial chemicals or manufacturing byproducts, metals, pesticides, herbicides, air pollutants and other inhaled toxicants, particulates or fibers, fungal, bacterial, or biologically derived toxins. Agents considered non-responsive to this announcement include, but are not limited to: alcohol, chemotherapeutic agents, radiation which is not the result of an ambient environmental exposure, smoking, except when considered as a secondary smoke exposure as a component in the indoor environment (particularly in children), drugs of abuse, pharmaceuticals, and infectious or parasitic agents, except when these are disease co-factors to an environmental toxicant exposure to produce the biological effect. PIs on R03 and R21 grant support are not eligible.

Salary Support: Up to $75,000 plus fringe benefits per year.
Research Support: Up to $25,000 per year.

Are competing K02 renewals accepted? No.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Scientific Program Contact:
Stephen Korn, Ph.D.
Phone: (301) 496-4188
Email: korns@ninds.nih.gov

Grants Management Contact:
Donna James
Phone: (301) 496-9231
Email: jamesd@mail.nih.gov

NINDS Specific Information:

In contrast to requirements of other institutes, applicants are not eligible for this award if they have a major, independent, peer-reviewed research grant (R01, subproject on a P01, or equivalent) prior to receiving the K02 award. This program supports the continued career development of clinician-scientists that are committed to a career in neuroscience research. The award provides salary and research costs for the first three years, and continued salary support for years four and five, contingent on successful competition for an R01 or equivalent award. Because a K02 from NINDS is intended for those who are not yet ready to compete successfully for an R01, candidates for the K02 may not submit a K02 and an R01 during the same grant cycle, and may not have both a K02 and an R01 pending simultaneously. Applicants should consult the NINDS training website for NINDS specific information and instructions:http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/areas/training_and_career_development/index.htm.

Salary Support: Up to $105,000 plus fringe benefits per year.
Research Support: Up to $50,000 per year.

Are competing K02 renewals accepted? No.