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:
K Award |
Institute | FOA # |
Notes |
K01 |
NCI |
PAR-18-365 (Clinical Trial Required)
PAR-18-364 (Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
Candidates must have completed at least two, but usually not more than five years of postdoctoral training. |
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. |
K01 |
NINDS |
PAR-18-486 (Clinical Trial Required)
PAR-18-490 (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-19-025 (Clinical Trial Required)
RFA-HL-19-026 (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. |
K08 |
NCI |
PAR-18-336 (Clinical Trial Required)
PAR-18-337 (Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
For individuals with clinical doctoral degrees (e.g., MD, DDS, DMD, DO, DC, OD, ND, DVM, PharmD, or PhD in clinical disciplines). |
K22 |
NCI |
PAR-18-367 (Clinical Trial Required)
PAR-18-366 (Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
Must have at least 2 years of postdoctoral training in cancer research at the time of submission (e.g., postdoctoral fellow, postdoctoral associate, clinical fellow, clinical associate or equivalent); and no more than a total of 8 years of mentored research training experience after the terminal clinical or research doctorate at the time of initial application. |
K22 |
NINDS |
PAR-18-468 (Clinical Trial Required)
PAR-18-469 (Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
Individuals are eligible if between 2 and 5 years of postdoctoral prior research training at the time of application. |
K99 / R00 |
NIGMS; NIBIB; NINR; NIMHD; NHGRI; NIA; NLM; NIMH; NIDA; NIAAA; NHLBI; NIEHS; NIDCD; NIDCR, NIDDK, NCCIH, NIAID, NINDS, NEI |
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.