Academic Career Excellence (ACE) Award (K32)

The K32 supports individual postdoctoral research training to broaden their scientific background and extend their potential for research in specified health-related areas. Candidates must be within 12 months before transitioning to the postdoctoral position, or within the first 2 years of their postdoctoral research experience. This award provides up to 3 years of mentored support.

Purpose

The purpose of this program is to increase and maintain a strong cohort of new and talented, NIH-supported, independent investigators.

Organization Eligibility

Eligibility: U.S. domestic institutions

Carefully read the Eligibility section of the funding opportunity for opportunity-specific organization eligibility requirements.

Project Director/ Principal Investigator (PD/PI) Eligibility

PD/PI U.S. Citizenship Requirement: No
Career Stage: Postdoctorate/Residency

U.S. citizen or non-citizen, within 12 months before transitioning to the postdoctoral position, or within the first 2 years of their postdoctoral research experience.

Carefully read the Eligibility section of the funding opportunity for opportunity-specific PD/PI eligibility requirements.

Award Information

Funding Instrument: Grant
Funding Category: Research Training and Career Development
Budget Mechanism Code: OR - Other Research Related
Mentored: Yes

Application and Submission Information

Reference Letters: Required (min 3 , max 5)

Due Dates

The Key Dates section of funding opportunities lists specific due dates. Many opportunities indicate Standard Due Dates apply.

AIDS and AIDS-Related Applications
Beginning with applications for Advisory Council Review in January 2027 (i.e., application due dates on or after May 25, 2026), NIH will no longer accept applications submitted on dedicated AIDS application due dates. (NOT-OD-26-029)

Standard Application Due Dates (when applicable)			Review and Award Cycles
New	Renewal, Resubmission, Revision as Allowed	AIDS and AIDS Related Grant Applications	Scientific Merit Review	Advisory Council Review	Earliest Start Date

FAQs

Resources

Research Training and Career Development funding category

Contact

Your organization's sponsored programs office or grants administrators can answer many internal and agency policy and process questions.
Understand NIH Staff Roles details how and when to find the right NIH contacts:
- Before you apply, check your chosen funding opportunity for application submission, scientific/research, peer review, and financial/grants management contacts.
- After you apply, find NIH staff assignments in the Status module of eRA Commons.

For technical issues E-mail OER Webmaster

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