Independent Scientist Award (Parent K02 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PA-20-174)

Scope Note

Table of IC-Specific Information, Requirements and Staff Contacts

Release Date: April 23, 2020
Expiration Date: May 8, 2023

NIH Institute or Center Contacts Institute/Center Specific Information
National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Scientific Program Contact:
NIA Training Office
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Email: [email protected]


Grants Management Contact:
Ms. Jessi Perez, NIA
Phone: 301.402.7739
Email: [email protected]

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:
Hemin Chin, Ph.D.
Program Director
Phone: 301-443-12
Email: [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:
Judy Fox
Phone: (301) 443-4704
Email: [email protected]











NIAAA Specific Information:

For NIAAA Research Priorities, applicants are encouraged to refer to the NIAAA Strategic Plan.

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. NIAAA does not accept competing renewal applications.

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, R21 or R34 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.

Additional Requirements: Applications that include human subject research must comply with NIAAA policy on providing plans for submitting grant-related human subjects data to a NIAAA-sponsored data repository, the NIAAA Data Archive (NIAAA DA ), as described in NOT- AA- 19- 020.

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.


National Institute of Dental and
Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

Scientific Program Contact:
Anissa J. Brown, PhD
Research Training and Career Development Branch
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Telephone: (301) 594-4805
Email: [email protected]


Grants Management Contact:
Dede Rutberg, MBA
Phone: (301) 594-4798
Email: [email protected]
NIDCR Specific Information:

The NIDCR K02 program supports newly independent investigators who are principal investigators of NIDCR R01 or equivalent awards and are seeking 3-5 years of protected time to enhance their research programs. Applicants must describe their current commitments. Full time researchers must describe and justify research career development activities that are not supported by research grant funding. Investigators who have clinical, teaching or administrative responsibilities should justify how time off from these activities will facilitate advancing their research program. The K02 research plan may comprise an ongoing 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 clear in the application. If the requested K02 project period will exceed the period of funded research grant support, candidates should address plans to continuing research support (e.g., planned grant application submissions). In any case, evidence must be provided that adequate resources are available for the successful completion of proposed K02 research and career development activities. If funding for the qualifying NIDCR R01 or equivalent award lapses during the K02 project period, 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 $100,000 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:
Lindsey Friend, Ph.D.
Telephone: (301) 594-4673
Email: [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:
Carol Alderson
Phone: (301) 827-6685
Email: [email protected]

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 contact your NIDA Program Officer or [email protected]

Salary Support: Up to $90,000 plus fringe benefits per year.
Research Support: Research support only provided for theoretical work (e.g. modeling or computer simulation) in which case up to $25,000 per year can be obtained.
Are competing K02 renewals accepted? No.




National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

Scientific Program Contact:
Carol Shreffler, Ph.D.
Phone: (984) 287-3322
Email: [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:
Jenny Greer
Phone: 984-287-3332
Email: [email protected]
NIEHS Specific Information:

NIEHS supports candidates who are newly independent scientists and who are principal investigators of R01 or equivalent grant support. Strong preference is given to candidates who are principal investigators of R01 project grants awarded 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 directly responsive to the mission of the NIEHS, which is to discover how the environment affects people in order to promote healthier lives. Potential applicants whose independent research support is not from NIH need to demonstrate that this research funding is NIH equivalent in terms of funding amount and review rigor. Applicants whose funding is not from NIH and applicants whose research is theoretical and do not have grant funding are encouraged to contact the NIEHS program representative to discuss program relevance and eligibility. PIs on R03 and R00, and R21 grant support are not eligible. For further information on the research interests of the Institute, please see: NIEHS

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: [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:
Donna James
Phone: (301) 496-9231
Email: [email protected]

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: Training and Career Development.

Salary Support: Up to $150,000 plus fringe benefits per year.
Research Support: Up to $50,000 per year.
Are competing K02 renewals accepted? No.




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