NOT-GM-20-038
PAR-19-343

Issued by
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to clarify and revise language in the Eligibility Information, and Application and Submission Information sections of PAR-19-343 Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Part 2. Section III. Eligibility Information

3. Additional Information on Eligibility

Institutional Environment

Current Language

The applicant institution must have a strong, well-established record of research and career development activities and faculty qualified to serve as mentors in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. The applicant institution should have a clear commitment to enhancing diversity in the biomedical research workforce and promoting inclusive and supportive scientific research environments, as described in the Institutional Environment Letter.

Revised Language: Clarifies that information about the research environment is to be provided in the Description of Institutional Environment" attachment.

The applicant institution must have a strong, well-established record of research and career development activities and faculty qualified to serve as mentors in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. The applicant institution should have a clear commitment to enhancing diversity in the biomedical research workforce and promoting inclusive and supportive scientific research environments, as described in the Description of Institutional Environment" attachment.

Part 2. Section IV. Application and Submission Information

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Other Project Information

Other Attachments

Current Language

Candidate Eligibility Statement: The application must include a signed statement from the candidate and an institutional official establishing the eligibility of the candidate for support under this program. The statement must, number of years of postdoctoral experience, and a description of how this particular candidate would further the goals of the MOSAIC Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity.

Applications lacking a Candidate Eligibility Statement will not be reviewed.

Revised Language: Clarifies that the institution is responsible for establishing eligibility, and must include the number of years of postdoctoral research experience.

Candidate Eligibility Statement: The application must include a signed statement from an institutional official establishing the eligibility of the candidate for support under this program. The statement must include the number of years of postdoctoral experience, and a description of how this particular candidate would further the goals of the MOSAIC Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity.

Applications lacking a Candidate Eligibility Statement will not be reviewed.

PHS 398 Career Development Award Supplemental Form

Environmental and Institutional Commitment to the Candidate

Current Language

Description of Institutional Environment

• The sponsoring institution must document a strong, well-established research and career development program related to the candidate's area of interest, including a high-quality research environment with key faculty members and other investigators capable of productive collaboration with the candidate.
• Describe how the institutional research environment is particularly suited for the development of the candidate's research career and the pursuit of the proposed research plan.

Revised Language: Provides additional instructions and extends the page limit for this attachment to 2 pages.

Description of Institutional Environment (2 pages maximum)

• The sponsoring institution must document a strong, well-established research and career development program related to the candidate's area of interest, including a high-quality research environment with key faculty members and other investigators capable of productive collaboration with the candidate.
• Describe how the institutional research environment is particularly suited for the development of the candidate's research career and the pursuit of the proposed research plan.
• Describe any institutional career development resources and activities that will be available to contribute to the candidate’s career development (e.g., an office of postdoctoral affairs, a seminar series for future faculty, etc.).
• Describe any institutional policies and practices that are expected to contribute to the candidate’s research and career development success, such as policies and procedures to (a) promote diversity and inclusion in the research training environment, (b) ensure that the institution’s facilities are accessible to those with disabilities, (c) foster a positive, supportive, and safe research and training environment, and (d) prevent discriminatory harassment and other discriminatory practices and to appropriately respond to allegations of such discriminatory practices, including providing any required notifications to NIH (e.g., requesting a change of PD/PI status; see NOT-OD-15-152 and NOT-OD-18-172).

Institutional Commitment to the Candidate’s Research Career Development

Current Language

• The sponsoring institution must provide a statement of commitment to the candidate's development into a productive, independent investigator, i.e. conducting the proposed mentored research and career development during the K99 phase and competing for, and transitioning to, a tenure-track assistant professor position at an academic institution. While the K99 phase sponsoring institution is not responsible for sponsoring the applicant during the R00 phase, it should be supportive of the candidate prior to initiation of the R00 phase.
• Provide assurance that the candidate will be able to devote a minimum of 9 person-months (75% of full-time professional effort) to the development of his/her research program. The remaining effort should be devoted to activities related to the development of the candidate’s career as an independent scientist.
• Provide assurance that the research facilities, resources, and training opportunities, including faculty capable of productive collaboration with the candidate, will be available for the candidate’s planned career development and research programs during the K99 award period.
• Provide assurance that appropriate time and support for any proposed mentor(s) and/or other staff consistent with the career development plan will be available during the K99 award period.
• For individuals in postdoctoral positions with other titles although still in non-independent, mentored training positions, provide evidence of eligibility for the K99/R00 program.
• If the candidate is not a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident, the sponsoring institution must include information about the candidate’s visa status, an assurance that the candidate’s visa provides sufficient time to complete the K99 phase of the award at a U.S. institution, and assurance that there are no known obstacles (e.g. home country requirement) to the candidate obtaining a visa at the time of the R00 transition.

Revised Language: Removes the instruction for non-citizen candidates, since scholars supported by this K99/R00 FOA must be US Citizens or Permanent Residents.

• The sponsoring institution must provide a statement of commitment to the candidate's development into a productive, independent investigator, i.e. conducting the proposed mentored research and career development during the K99 phase and competing for, and transitioning to, a tenure-track assistant professor position at an academic institution. While the K99 phase sponsoring institution is not responsible for sponsoring the applicant during the R00 phase, it should be supportive of the candidate prior to initiation of the R00 phase.
• Provide assurance that the candidate will be able to devote a minimum of 9 person-months (75% of full-time professional effort) to the development of his/her research program. The remaining effort should be devoted to activities related to the development of the candidate’s career as an independent scientist.
• Provide assurance that the research facilities, resources, and training opportunities, including faculty capable of productive collaboration with the candidate, will be available for the candidate’s planned career development and research programs during the K99 award period.
• Provide assurance that appropriate time and support for any proposed mentor(s) and/or other staff consistent with the career development plan will be available during the K99 award period.
• For individuals in postdoctoral positions with other titles although still in non-independent, mentored training positions, provide evidence of eligibility for the K99/R00 program.

All other aspects of the FOA remain the same.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Kenneth D. Gibbs, Jr., Ph.D., MPH
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Email: kenneth.gibbs@nih.gov