The goal of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to provide information to the extramural community regarding an administrative supplement to provide full or part-time mentored research training experiences for individuals with high potential to re-enter, re-integrate into, or re-train in an active research career after an interruption for family responsibilities or other qualifying circumstances as described below. The supplement grants are intended to provide these scientists with an opportunity to update or extend their research skills and knowledge and prepare them to re-establish or revitalize their careers in basic biomedical, behavioral, clinical, translational, or social science research. It is anticipated that by the completion of the supplement support period, the awardee will be prepared to apply for a fellowship (F), career development (K) award, research award (R), SBIR/STTR, or other types of independent research support.
Potential applicants should note the NIDCD-specific information for this program:
- The institution/university of principal investigator (PI) determines, justifies, and certifies the eligibility of the candidate.
- The PI of the NIDCD-funded award prepares the supplement application with input from the candidate.
- Typically, supplements are provided for one year, with a strong justification for a second year.
- The application must clearly describe the need for additional mentored research training.
- The research strategy section in the application must include the following subheadings:
- Career development plan: The PI should include details of specific activities and milestones to be accomplished during the supplement duration. For predoctoral fellows, postdoctoral fellows, and medical students, a plan to transition to NIH mainstream research training and/or research funding should be provided.
- Mentoring research plan: The PI should describe the specific activities planned for the candidate during the supplement period as well as a description of his or her previous training and mentoring experience.
- For high school, undergraduate, postbaccalaureate (includes baccalaureate holders, master’s students, and master’s holders), and predoctoral students (includes students accepted and currently enrolled in graduate programs such as Ph.D., Au.D., and medical students), and postdoctoral fellows, the application should include a biosketch for the candidate using the NIH fellowship biosketch format.
- The parent award must have an active budget that is at least equivalent to the duration of the requested supplement and should not be in (or go into) a no-cost extension.
- Typically, NIDCD allows one supplement per parent award to support one candidate. Possible exceptions will be considered for exceptional PIs and candidates with a strong justification and with support from the program official assigned to the parent award.
- Supplements are limited to candidates who are citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States or to candidates who have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States (i.e., in possession of a Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551).
- Candidates supported on a research award (like an R01) may not be transferred to a supplement to increase the availability of funds to the parent award for other uses.
- Candidates may be temporarily supported by the parent award while the application is under review.
- Discussions of the supplement request with the program officer assigned to the parent award are highly encouraged to make sure that the proposed project falls within the scope of the parent award.
- NIDCD accepts applications on a rolling basis.
- The requested start date should not be the application submission date. Please allow at least 6 weeks between submission and start date for processing and review of the application.
- Salary and/or effort can only be requested for the candidate. Any other staff must be supported by the parent award or in-kind.