Postdoctoral and Early Career Funding in the Health, Chemical & Life Sciences

Objective To support highly promising beginning scientists in their progress toward independence by encouraging and adequately funding research projects that can bridge the gap between completion of research training and readiness for successful competition as an independent investigator. - Am Heart Assoc

Lorraine Mulfinger, PhD, Associate Director Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Office The Golden Rule of Grants

He who holds the gold makes the rules…

Finding a funding agency FIT and showing PASSION are the keys!

WHY NIH AND USDA?

USDA

NIH + AHRQ Don’t force a fit! Use what Michelle showed us -

Funding Search Engines Another Option Another Option NIH Funding Quick-Start

NIH’s mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce the burdens of illness and disability.

>$30B in research funding annually

Lorraine Mulfinger, PhD, Associate Director Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Office NIH Institute FIT – 21 of them!

1. National Cancer Institute (NCI) - Harold E. Varmus, M.D. 2. National Eye Institute (NEI) - Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D. 3. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) - Gary H. Gibbons, M.D. 4. National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) - Eric D. Green, M.D., Ph.D. 5. National Institute on Aging (NIA) - Richard Hodes, M.D. 6. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) - Kenneth R. Warren, Ph.D. (Acting) 7. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) - Anthony Fauci, M.D. 8. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) - Stephen Katz, M.D., Ph.D. 9. National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) - Roderic I. Pettigrew, M.D., Ph.D. 10. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) - Alan Guttmacher, M.D. 11. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) - James Battey, Jr., M.D., Ph.D. 12. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) - Martha J. Somerman, D.D.S., Ph.D. 13. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) - Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D., M.A.C.P 14. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) - Nora D. Volkow, M.D. 15. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) - Linda S. Birnbaum, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., A.T.S. 16. National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) - Judith H. Greenberg, Ph.D. (Acting) 17. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) - Thomas R. Insel, M.D. 18. National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) - John Ruffin, Ph.D. 19. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) - Story Landis, Ph.D. 20. National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) - Patricia A. Grady, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N. 21. National Library of Medicine (NLM) - Donald A.B. Lindberg, M.D. NIH Proposal Review and Funding Process

Planning: The review process can take 9 months NIH Study Section Fit

Roster Index for Fellowship Study Sections Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA)

F30 - Ruth L. Kirschstein Individual Predoctoral NRSA for MD/PhD​ and other Dual Degree Fellowships

F31 - Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award – (payback, 5 years max, $4,200 TRE)

*F32 - Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award – (no payback, 3 years max, $7,800 TRE)

*By the time of award, the PD/PI (Fellowship Candidate) must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and must have received a research doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution.

- Three Deadlines: April 8, August 8, December 8 - 9-month review cycle! http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32) F32 Research Statement

Applicant fellows must describe a tailored research training plan, including a description of the research strategy (preferably hypothesis-driven) well-suited to the stage of his/her career development. Describe the skills and techniques that the applicant fellow will learn during the award period, and discuss the relationship of the proposed research training to the applicant fellow’s career goals. The applicant fellow must describe the background leading to the proposed research, the significance of the research, the research approach (design and methods) for achieving the Specific Aims, the rationale, and expected/alternative outcomes of the proposed studies. It is beneficial to include pertinent preliminary data obtained by the applicant fellow in the current or prior laboratory. NIH F32 Sponsor’s Statement

The F32 fellowship supports a program of mentored research training from outstanding faculty sponsors. The sponsor(s) should describe their current research support and how this support relates to the applicant’s proposed research project. A contingency plan should be provided that describes how the applicant’s research training will be supported should there be a gap in the sponsor’s funding during the proposed award period. The role of the sponsor in the integrated research and training plan should be described. If a team of sponsors is proposed, this plan should describe the role of each sponsor and how they will communicate and coordinate their efforts to mentor the applicant effectively. The training plan should be individualized for the applicant, keeping in mind the applicant’s strengths and any gaps in needed skills, and should be designed to enhance research training. The training plan should be coordinated with the applicant’s Research Strategy. The training plan should outline and justify new training opportunities, any relevant coursework, and professional development activities. Training in professional development skills, e.g. grant-writing, presentation skills, and lab management, is strongly encouraged. The training plan should have the potential to facilitate the applicant’s transition to the next stage of his/her career. The research environment and the availability and quality of needed research facilities and research resources (e.g., equipment, laboratory space, computing resources, subject populations) should be described. The sponsor and any co-sponsors are expected to provide an assessment of the applicant’s qualifications and potential for a career as a productive, independent researcher. Sample NIH Applications - NIAID

Sample NIH Applications Stipends

 Predoctoral

 Postdoctoral NIH Career Transition Award – K99/R00

K99/R00 – From Career (K) to Research (R)  The K99/R00 award will provide up to 5 years of support in 2 phases.  Eligibility – < 5 years of postdoctoral experience application or subsequent resubmission(s) and do not already have a full-time tenure track assistant professor position (or equivalent).  1) Mentored phase – up to 2 years The candidate must propose a research project that will be pursued during the K99 phase and transition into an independent project during the R00 phase of the award.  2) Individual phase – up to 3 years of support to conduct research as an independent scientist at an extramural sponsoring institution/organization to which the individual has been recruited, NIH Director’s Early Independence Awards

NIH Director's Early Independence Awards (DP5)

 The NIH Director’s Early Independence Award Program supports exceptional investigators who wish to pursue independent research directly after completion of their terminal doctoral/research degree or clinical residency, thereby forgoing the traditional post-doctoral training period and accelerating their entry into an independent research career.  Eligibility: within the preceding 12 months must have received a terminal doctoral degree or completed medical residency  Candidate : Institution Matching Site: (http://commonfund.nih.gov/earlyindependence/matchingportal/index.aspx)

 LOI: December 29, 2015  Due Date: January 29, 2016  Limited to 2 applications/institution USDA NIFA Fellowship Grant Program

What are USDA NIFA Foundational Areas? • Plant health and production and plant products; • Animal health and production and animal products; • Food safety, nutrition, and health; • Renewable energy, natural resources, and environment; • Agriculture systems and technology; and • Agriculture economics and rural communities.

What are USDA NIFA Challenge Areas? • Agricultural and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability & Change; • Childhood Obesity Prevention; • Food Safety; • Food Security; • Sustainable Bioenergy; and • Water Resources. USDA NIFA Fellowship Grant Program

“Focused research, education, and/or extension objectives aligned with NIFA’s Challenge and/or Foundational Program areas”

Released early December; LOIs due immediately; Proposals due Mid-February Due Date.

SHORT FUSE! Review the OLD Solicitation to prepare: http://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/14_AFRI%20Fellowships%20modified.p df Contact: Ray A. Ali

LOI – December 12, 2013; Application – February 20, 2014 – released in Nov

Postdoc not to exceed $150,000 for two years: Salary + $30K Misc

USDA – US Department of Agriculture; NIFA – National Institute of Food and Agriculture; AFRI – Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Developing (Fellowship) a Sales Plan

Generic Grant Outline  Executive Summary – show your passion & need  Statement of Need – why are YOU unique  Project Description  Mentor Description – you have the PERFECT mentor  Budget  Organization Information (Facilities & Resources) – you have found the #1 institution in your field  Conclusion – Impact, Dissemination, Sustainability – what will you GIVE BACK?

http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/shortcourse/components.html QUESTIONS?

Lorraine Mulfinger, PhD Associate Director Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Office (SIRO) The Pennsylvania State University 101B Beecher-Dock House University Park, PA 16802 Office: 814-865-7787 Fax: 814-863-2830 Email: [email protected]

Access this presentation at: http://www.research.psu.edu/offices/siro/siro-forms-resources

BACKUP SLIDES

 SLIDES with info for anticipated questions Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) Funding Search Site: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/

Type of FOA Receipt Date Money Set Peer Review Specificity of Topic Advantage to Aside Applicant

1) Parent Standard None In Center for Scientific Non-specific, investigator- May submit any Announcements receipt dates, Review (CSR) or in an IC, initiated “unsolicited” topic within the usually open by one of many review research. Not all ICs breadth of the NIH for three years committees participate in all parent mission. Competiti FOAs. on tied mainly to an IC's overall payline 2) IC-Specific Standard No set asides In CSR or in an IC, by Often broadly defined or a Competition tied Program receipt dates, (unless PAS); one of many review reminder of a scientific mainly to the IC's Announcements unless PAR; may be committees (unless PAR) need; investigator- overall payline (PA, PAR, PAS) usually open funded initiated “unsolicited” for three years beyond the research payline 3) Request for Single Specifies Usually in an IC, but NIH-Requested Research; Competition Applications funds and sometimes in CSR. Well-defined scientific depends on (RFA) targets Same review committee area number of number of for all applications. applicants and awards Usually reviewed by a dollars set aside one-time Special Emphasis Panel Solicitation and Award Numbering Solicitation Numbering Example: RFA-HL-06-004 An RFA issued by NHLBI (HL) in 2006 or for funding in 2006 (06) with an associated serial number (004) for that calendar year. NIH Funding Search: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/

Grant Numbering Example: 1 R01 MH9999-01 A1 1- This is the Type Code. The three most common types are: 1- first time application; 2- competing continuations; 5- non-competing continuations R01- An Activity Code indicating the type of grant mechanism. MH- Funding Institute Code. MH = NIMH = Nat. Inst. Of Mental Health 99999- A unique Serial Number identifying the project. 01- Grant Year. "01" indicates the first year of a grant application or funded grant. A1- Optional Suffix. "A1" indicates that the application was submitted once previously without being funded.

PSU Grant Examples 1 R21 HL112114-01 Nano-Acoustic Masonry of Microgels for Tissue Engin - Melik Demirel - $250,479 2 R01 GM013306-46 Phosphate Activation Mechanisms – Stephen Benkovic - $491,047 5 R01 EB002016-19 Software for Analyzing Biosequence Data – Webb Miller - $708,479 5 T32 HD007514-13 Family Demography Training – Gordon De Jong - $1,047,637

Renewable Award Types: Amounts and Standard Receipt Dates

Activity Codes Program Description 2012 Average Award 3 Cycle I-Due Date Cycle II -Due Date Cycle III-Due Date R03/R21 Small or $80K / yr – $400K / yr February 5 June 5 October 5 Exploratory Grants (2 years) R011 Research Grants $400K and ↑ / yr February 5 June 5 October 5 (3-5 years) R18/U18/ Research/Education/ $350K - $650K / yr January 25 May 25 September 25 R24/R25 Demonstration (5 years) P01/P20/ Program Projects and $500K-$2M / yr January 25 May 25 September 25 P30/P40/P60 Centers (5 years) 1,2 F31/F32 Individ Predoctoral $4,200-$6,750/yr + April 8 August 8 December 8 /Postdoctoral Stipend/Tuit (2-3 yrs) T321,2 Institutional $150K-$330K/ yr (5 January 25 May 25 September 25 Graduate Training years) U011,2 Cooperative ~$1M / yr February 5 June 5 October 5 Agreements (5 years) OTHERS Instrumentation, Research Infrastructure, Career, Etc. See types at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/ac_search_results.htm

1 Renewable after 5 years; 2Generally require a base of R01-funded PI’s; 3 http://www.report.nih.gov/fundingfacts/index.cfm Review and Award Cycles

Cycle I Cycle II Cycle III

September - Submission Date January - February May-June October Scientific Merit June - July October - November February - March Review Advisory Council August or October January May Round Earliest Project Start September or April July Date December

• 9-12 months from submission to award receipt • Two submissions frequently required How frequently are NIH applications funded on first submission?

2nd revision no longer allowed NIH Scoring System

For the overall impact score, • the scale is used by all eligible (without conflict of interest) SRG (Scientific Review Group) members • 5 is considered an average score • not an average of criterion scores • determines percentile when assigned

For criterion scores, • the scale is used by the assigned reviewers to evaluate (at least) five individual criteria (e.g., Significance, Investigator(s), Innovation, Approach, Environment).

NIH Scores, Percentiles & Pay Lines

• Applications that are not discussed at the meeting will be given the designation “ND”

• A percentile is the approximate percentage of applications that received a better overall impact/priority score from the study section during the past year.

• Only a subset of all applications receive percentiles. The types of applications that are percentiled vary across different NIH Institutes and Centers.

• Some of the ICs publish paylines as part of their funding strategies to guide applicants on their likelihood of receiving funding. Application scores can only be compared against the payline for the fiscal year when the application will be considered for funding, which is not necessarily the year when it was submitted. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/financial/index.htm#strategies

• Recent published paylines have varied from 6th- 15th percentiles: http://writedit.wordpress.com/nih-paylines-resources/