Advancing Research Careers (ARC) Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Transition Award to Promote Broad Participation (F99/K00 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PAR-25-084

The purpose of the Advancing Research Careers (ARC) Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Transition Award to Promote Broad Participation (F99/K00) program is to facilitate the transition of promising, late-stage graduate students from diverse backgrounds into mentored postdoctoral research positions. This two-phase award will provide support for late-stage graduate students pursuing research related to the mission areas of participating NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs) to complete their doctoral research training (F99 phase), and to transition into and succeed in postdoctoral biomedical research and career development opportunities (K00 phase). The program also is designed to support predoctoral researchers who, appropriate to their career stage, have demonstrated contributions and propose meaningful plans to promote broad participation in the biomedical research workforce, such as activities that promote inclusive, supportive, and accessible biomedical research environments that support the success of trainees and scientists from all backgrounds, including individuals from underrepresented groups. It is anticipated that successful completion of this phased award program will position ARC scholars to advance in impactful careers in the biomedical research workforce that typically require postdoctoral training (for example, academic research and teaching at a range of organization types, industry or government research).

Program Considerations

Consistent with existing NIH practice and applicable law:

• An applicant organization may not use the race, ethnicity, or sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, or transgender status) of a prospective F99 candidate as an eligibility criteria.
• NIH does not use the race, ethnicity, or sex of a candidate to establish program eligibility, as part of the application review process, or as a factor in making funding decisions.

Pre-application consultation: Before beginning an application, candidates are strongly encouraged to visit the ARC program website for resources including recent applicant webinars and answers to frequently asked questions. After consulting these resources, candidates are strongly encouraged to reach out to the appropriate contacts (see Section VII below) as early as possible before the due date:

• The Scientific/Research Contact can assess the alignment of the proposed research with the Institute or Center’s priority areas (please send a biosketch and specific aims page to facilitate this assessment).
• The Peer Review Contact can answer questions about the review process and is the NIH point of contact between application submission and the release of the summary statement.
• The Financial/Grants Management Contact can address budgetary questions.

Two-phase award: The F99/K00 award will provide up to 5 years of support in two phases:

• The initial phase (F99) will provide 1-2 years of support to complete Ph.D. research training. The ARC F99/K00 award is intended for individuals who require at least 12 months of predoctoral research training (F99 phase) before transitioning to the K00 award phase of the program. During the F99 phase, students are expected to complete their doctoral degree, identify postdoctoral research mentor(s) distinct from their predoctoral sponsor(s), and work with these mentors to develop a postdoctoral research project.
• The second phase (K00) will provide up to 3 years of support for mentored postdoctoral research and career development. A K00 award will be made only to a candidate who has successfully completed the F99-supported training, secured an appropriate postdoctoral position, and provided a strong research and career development plan that will occur in a supportive research environment. A separate application for the K00 phase will be submitted to the awarding IC no later than 3 months prior to the proposed activation date of the K00 award (see Section VI.2). This application should be prepared in collaboration with the K00 mentor(s) and demonstrate how the K00 will further facilitate achievement of a career in the biomedical research workforce (e.g., academic research and teaching, industry or government research, and research-related careers that typically benefit from postdoctoral research experience).

For the F99 phase, award budgets are composed of stipends, tuition and fees, and organizational allowance, as described below. 

For the K00 phase, award budgets are composed of salaries and fringe benefits, research and career development support, and indirect costs.

Not Required

February 13, 2025, June 13, 2025; October 10, 2023

Laurie Stepanek, Ph.D.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Email: laurie.stepanek@nih.gov

Lameese D. Akacem, Ph.D.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Email: lameese.akacem@nih.gov

 

Sekai Chideya-Chihota, MD, MPH
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Phone: 240-552-2994
Email: sekai.chideya@nih.gov