May 6, 2021
NOT-OD-21-052 - Reminder – Requesting Extensions for Early Career Scientists Whose Career Trajectories Have Been Significantly Impacted by COVID-19
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
NIH recently released NOT-OD-21-052, which provided general guidance for early career scientists affected by COVID-19 to request no-cost extensions or funded extensions. This NIAID Notice provides additional guidance for currently funded NIAID fellowship (F30, F31, F32) award recipients significantly impacted by COVID-19 seeking funded extensions.
Background
NIAID investigators have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and several areas of need specifically have been identified for early career scientists, in particular fellowship (F30, F31, F32) award recipients. To help support NIAID trainees, NIAID is providing an opportunity for select F award recipients in the last year of their award to apply for a funded extension to support their career development to facilitate successful transition to research independence. Due to limited funding in FY2021, the NIAID will not be able to provide funded extensions for all F awardees. To maximize the limited resources, NIAID seeks to support F award recipients in the last year of their award for whom an NIAID-supported cost extension will be most impactful toward subsequent funding and transition to independent investigation.
Eligibility and Cost Extension Criteria
Applicants must be a currently funded NIAID F30, F31, F32 recipient in the final year of their award and have experienced a minimum of a 12-week lab closure or clinical research interruption due to COVID-19. Applicants meeting these requirements may be eligible for a 4-month funded extension. Applicants who have experienced exceptional hardships due to COVID-19 or circumstances that resulted in an extended COVID-19 impact may be eligible for an additional 2-month funded extension, for a total combined 6-month funded extension. Funded extensions for F awardees will be for stipend support and a prorated institutional allowance only, and not for additional resources or research expenses.
NIAID F award recipients who have successfully competed as a PD/PI for a research project grant (RPG) with direct costs of at least $100,000 per year are not eligible for a funded extension.
Application and Submission Information
Currently funded eligible NIAID F award recipients impacted by COVID-19 seeking funded extensions must apply electronically using the following opportunity announcement:
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and PA-20-272 must be followed, with the following additions:
R&R Other Project Information Form (Other Attachments)
PHS 398 Career Development Award Supplemental Form:
R&R Budget Form: Provide a budget and budget justification, including an estimate of funds remaining on the award at the end of the current budget period and a description of why the remaining funds cannot be used to cover the requested extension. Indicate the number of months of additional stipend support and institutional allowance requested.
Diane Adger-Johnson,
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Telephone: 240-669-2924
Email: AITrainingHelpDesk@niaid.nih.gov