National Institutes of Health’s Diversity K Awards
The National Institutes of Health’s Diversity K Awards support postdocs and early faculty from diverse backgrounds in conducting research in NIH mission areas. The long-term goal of these programs are to enhance diversity in the biomedical research workforce.
Read NIH’s Interest in Diversity: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-20-031.html
You may be eligible for more than one K Award, see current funding opportunities: https://researchtraining.nih.gov/programs/career-development
Always contact relevant Program Officers to discuss eligibility and fit. Learn More: https://www.chronicle.com/article/What-to-Say-and-Not-Say-to/131282
For tips & strategies for how to write a K Award, read the All About the K Award, A Grant Writing Academy Workbook (SUNetID Required).
NIH’s Diversity K Awards:
K99 /R00NIGMS; NIBIB; NINR; NIMHD; NHGRI; NIA; NLM; NIMH; NIDA; NIAAA; NHLBI; NIEHS; NIDCD; NIDCR, NIDDK, NCCIH, NIAID, NINDS, NEI, NIAMSPAR-19-343 (Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity.Grant Writing Academy’s MOASIC resources.
K99 /R00NIGMS; NIBIB; NINR; NIMHD; NHGRI; NIA; NLM; NIMH; NIDA; NIAAA; NHLBI; NIEHS; NIDCD; NIDCR, NIDDK, NCCIH, NIAID, NINDS, NEI, NIAMSPAR-19-343 (Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity.Grant Writing Academy’s MOASIC resources.
K Award |
Agency or NIH Institute | FOA # |
Notes |
K01 |
AHRQ |
PA-20-067 | Heath services research training. Can also be used for individuals who had a hiatus in their research careers because of illness or family circumstances. |
K01 |
NCI |
PAR-21-296 (Clinical Trial Required)
PAR-21-295 (Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
The intent of this K01 program is to support cancer research scientists in their early career stages. Candidates must have completed at least two, but usually not more than five years of research training/experience beyond a doctoral degree at the time of submitting a K01 application. |
K01 |
NINDS |
PAR-21-153 (Clinical Trial Required)
PAR-21-234 (Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
Individuals from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical research are eligible for support under this award if they have doctoral research degrees (Ph.D. or equivalent) and are in the first 3 years of a faculty tenure track or equivalent position at the time of application. |
K01 |
NHLBI |
RFA-HL-22-010 (Clinical Trial Required)
RFA-HL-22-011 (Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
Candidates must hold non-tenured faculty appointments (such as instructor, or assistant professor) before the award is made. The faculty appointment must not be contingent on receipt of the award. |
K01 |
NIDCR |
PAR-18-359 (Clinical Trial Required)
PAR-19-160 (Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) PAR-19-161 (Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) |
Provides dental, oral and craniofacial research training. |
K08 |
NCI |
PAR-21-299 (Clinical Trial Required)
PAR-21-300 (Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
NCI-sponsored K08 award is specifically designed to enhance the diversity in the NCI-funded cancer research workforce by supporting eligible clinical scientists from diverse backgrounds, including groups that have been shown to be nationally underrepresented in health-related sciences and for those who are committed to a career in basic biomedical, behavioral or translational cancer research, including research on cancer health disparities. |
K22 |
NCI |
PAR-21-302 (Clinical Trial Required)
PAR-21-301 (Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
The purpose of the NCI Transition Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K22) is to assist postdoctoral fellows or individuals in equivalent positions to transition to positions of assistant professor or equivalent and initiate a successful biomedical career as an independent research scientist. |
K99 / R00 |
NIGMS; NIBIB; NINR; NIMHD; NHGRI; NIA; NLM; NIMH; NIDA; NIAAA; NHLBI; NIEHS; NIDCD; NIDCR, NIDDK, NCCIH, NIAID, NINDS, NEI, NIAMS |
PAR-19-343 (Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity. |
K99 / R00 |
NINDS, NEI; NIA; NIAAA; NIBIB; NICHD; NIDCD; NIDA; NIMH; NCCIH |
RFA-NS-19-044 (Clinical Trial Required)
RFA-NS-19-043 (Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
BRAIN Initiative (https://braininitiative.nih.gov). Applicants must have no more than 5 years of postdoctoral research experience at the time of the initial or the subsequent resubmission application. |
The above Diversity K Awards require the applicant to be a citizen or a non-citizen national of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., possess a currently valid Permanent Resident Card USCIS Form I-551), or other legal verification of such status, by the time of award.