Research Training & Career Development Opportunities by Education Level

Updated: January 2024

Revised January 2024

Navigating the complex world of NIH Funding can be daunting. Hopefully these pages will help you to better understand your eligibility for various grants and programs based on your specific education level. The information below is focused on NIH training programs in which the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) participates. Links are provided below for each of the programs as well as contact information for NIAAA.

For information on all training programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) please visit the NIH Research Training and Career Development Programs page. For information on understanding the NIH and finding the right fit for your research, please refer to the NIH’s Office of Extramural Research (OER) Grants Basics page.

Not all NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) participate in all programs so we encourage you to read through the program descriptions and notice of funding opportunities (NOFOs) before contacting program staff.

All Fellowship Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) are designed specifically for candidates proposing research that does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary study to a clinical trial, but does allow candidates to propose research experience in a clinical trial led by a sponsor or co-sponsor.

Resources: NIH Clinical Trial Policy

NIH Clinical Trial Policy and Requirements for Grants and Contracts
Does Your Human Subjects Research Study Meet the NIH Definition of a Clinical Trial Decision Tool
Basic Experimental Studies Involving Humans (BESH)

High School and Undergraduate

Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research (SIP) - NIH Intramural training opportunity. This program provides an opportunity to spend the summer working onsite at the NIH with some of the leading scientists in the world.

NIAAA Staff Contact: Richard Doucette, richard.doucette@nih.gov

Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers (administrative supplement - clinical trial not allowed).

NIAAA Staff Contact: Deidra Roach, MD, droach@mail.nih.gov

Predoctoral or Medical School Research Training

NIAAA Staff Contact: Richard Doucette, richard.doucette@nih.gov

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individuals MD/Ph.D. (F30). Provides promising predoctoral students who have matriculated in combined MD/Ph.D. or other dual doctorate degree training programs (e.g. DDS/PhD, AuD/PhD, DVM/PhD), and who intend careers as physician-scientists or other clinician-scientists.

NIAAA Staff Contact: Peter Gao, Ph.D., gaozh@mail.nih.gov

Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (NRSA) (F31). Mentored research training opportunity for up to 5 years of support toward a research doctoral degree (Ph.D., D.Sc.). Provides annual stipend, funds for tuition/fees, research supplies, equipment, travel and other related research items.

NIAAA Staff Contact: Ivana Grakalic, Ph.D., igrakalic@mail.nih.gov

NIH Blueprint Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award (F99/K00)
This program aims to encourage and retain outstanding graduate students who are from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in neuroscience research. This two-phase award will facilitate completion of the doctoral dissertation and transition students to strong neuroscience positions.

NIAAA Staff Contact: Ivana Grakalic, Ph.D., igrakalic@mail.nih.gov

Postdoctoral Research Training

Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)

Provides up to 3 years support at postdoctoral level, for expenses for supplies, equipment, travel, tuition, and fees. Stipend based on years of relevant postdoctoral experience.

NIAAA Staff Contact: Qi Ying Liu, Ph.D., liuqiy@mail.nih.gov

BRAIN Initiative Fellows: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32)

NIAAA Staff Contact: Ivana Grakalic, Ph.D., igrakalic@mail.nih.gov

Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award (K01)

Provides support for 3 to 5 years of intensive, supervised career development in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences leading to research independence.

NIAAA Staff Contact: Mohammed Akbar, Ph.D., mohammed.akbar@nih.gov

Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08)

Provides 3 to 5 years of supervised specialized study for outstanding clinical research scientists with health professional doctoral degrees, who have the potential to develop into independent investigators and who are committed to a career in laboratory- or field-based research.

NIAAA Staff Contact: Svetlana Radaeva, Ph.D., sradaeva@mail.nih.gov

Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00)

Provides up to 5 years of support consisting of two phases: 1-2 years of mentored support for highly promising, postdoctoral research scientists, followed by up to 3 years of independent support contingent on securing an independent research position. Applicants must be within 4 years of having earned their doctoral degree.

NIAAA Staff Contact: Changhai Cui, Ph.D., Changhai.Cui@nih.gov

NIH BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00)

NIAAA Staff Contact: Ivana Grakalic, Ph.D., igrakalic@mail.nih.gov

Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) Institutionally-Focused Research Education Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

NIAAA Staff Contact: Gary Murray, Ph.D., murrayg@mail.nih.gov

Early-Career Awards

Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award (K01)
Provides support for 3 to 5 years of intensive, supervised career development in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences leading to research independence.

NIAAA Staff Contact: Mohammed Akbar, Ph.D., mohammed.akbar@nih.gov

Independent Research Scientist Development Award (K02)
Provides 3 to 5 years of salary support and “protected time” for newly independent scientists who can demonstrate the need for a period of intensive research focus as a means of enhancing their research careers.

NIAAA Staff Contact: Brett Hagman, Ph.D., brett.hagman@nih.gov

Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08)
Provides 3 to 5 years of supervised specialized study for outstanding clinical research scientists with health professional doctoral degrees, who have the potential to develop into independent investigators and who are committed to a career in laboratory- or field-based research.

NIAAA Staff Contact: Svetlana Radaeva, Ph.D., sradaeva@mail.nih.gov

Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Supports 3 to 5 years for the career development of individuals with a clinical doctoral degree who have made a commitment to focus their research endeavors on patient-oriented research.

NIAAA Staff Contact: Deidra Roach, M.D., droach@mail.nih.gov

Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (K25)
Provides support and “protected time” for a period of supervised study and research for productive professionals with quantitative (e.g., mathematics, statistics, economics, computer science, imaging science, informatics, physics, chemistry) and engineering backgrounds to integrate their expertise with NIH-relevant research.

NIAAA Staff Contact: John Matochik, Ph.D., jmatochi@mail.nih.gov

Mid-Career Awards

Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24)
Provides support to mid-career health-professional doctorates or equivalent who are typically at the Associate Professor level or the equivalent (see Section III. Eligible Individuals) for protected time to devote to patient-oriented research (POR) and to act as research mentors primarily for clinical residents, clinical fellows and/or junior clinical faculty.

NIAAA Staff Contact: Deidra Roach, MD, droach@mail.nih.gov

Diversity Applicants and Minority-Serving Institutions

Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Diversity Supplements)
Administrative supplement awarded to an existing parent grant. Funding is provided for salary support, research supplies, and travel. The program supports individuals at the high school, undergraduate, predoctoral (graduate), postdoctoral, and investigator levels.

NIAAA Staff Contact: Gary Murray, Ph.D., murrayg@mail.nih.gov

Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (F31)
Mentored research training opportunity for up to 5 years of support toward a research doctoral degree (Ph.D., D.Sc.). Provides annual stipend, funds for tuition/fees, research supplies, equipment, travel and other related research items.

NIAAA Staff Contact: Gary Murray, Ph.D., murrayg@mail.nih.gov

NIAAA Staff Contact: Ivana Grakalic, Ph.D., igrakalic@mail.nih.gov

Ruth L. Kirschstein Undergraduate NRSA Institutional Research Training Grants (T34)
Currently the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) is the only NIH Institute that supports the T34 mechanism. This program aims to prepare high-achieving, underrepresented students for doctoral programs in biomedical research fields.

Notice of Special Interest to Encourage Eligible NIH HEAL Initiative Awardees to Apply for PA-20-222 Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Staff Contact: Gary Murray, Ph.D., murrayg@mail.nih.gov

Administrative Supplements to Promote Diversity in Research and Development Small Businesses-SBIR/STTR (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

NIAAA Staff Contact: Megan Ryan M.B.A., mryan1@mail.nih.gov

Institutional Awards

Summer Research Education Experience Programs (R25 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
Provides a summer research experience for high school and college students. Also offers opportunities for science teachers through institutional research grants.

NIAAA Staff Contact: Laura Kwako, Ph.D., Laura.Kwako@nih.gov

Providing Research Education Experiences to Enhance Diversity in the Next Generation of Substance Abuse and Addiction Scientists (R25 – Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

NIAAA Staff Contact: Laura Kwako, Ph.D., Laura.Kwako@nih.gov

Alcohol and Other Substance Use Research Education Programs for Health Professionals (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

NIAAA Staff Contact: Laura Kwako, Ph.D., Laura.Kwako@nih.gov

NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research: Computational Training in Neuroscience and Behavior (T90/R90 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
This training program exposes undergraduate and graduate students to a wide range of neuroscience and behavioral questions, quantitative methods, and experimental systems to ensure a strong dual foundation in clinical and quantitative science.

NIAAA Staff Contact: Elizabeth Powell, Ph.D., Elizabeth.Powell3@nih.gov

Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
Awarded to eligible domestic institutions to enhance predoctoral and postdoctoral research training, including short-term research training, to help ensure that a diverse and highly trained workforce is available to meet the needs of the Nation’s biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research agenda.

A list of NIAAA Training Programs can be found:

NIAAA T32 Supplemental Information: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/ResearchInformation/ExtramuralResearch/T32supplementalinformation.htm.

NIAAA Staff Contact: Mariela Shirley, Ph.D., shirleym@mail.nih.gov

Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant (T35)
NIAAA supports short-term research training for students who are active in alcohol research in order to promote the application of new biomedical, behavioral and statistical technologies that advance alcohol research.

NIAAA Staff Contact: Mariela Shirley, Ph.D., shirleym@mail.nih.gov

NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP)

A set of programs established by Congress designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research careers. The LRP repays up to $35,000 annually of a researcher’s qualified educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research.

NIH Division of Loan Repayment website: https://www.lrp.nih.gov/

NIAAA Staff Contact: Elizabeth Powell, Ph.D., Elizabeth.Powell3@nih.gov

Research Training & Career Development Opportunities by Education Level

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