Administrative Supplement Programs
To support trainees, early-career, and established scientists, NIAMS participates in several programs focused on promoting the continuation and retention of investigators.
For questions about NIAMS' various supplement programs, please contact Deepti Bajpai and copy [email protected].
Overview of Family Friendly Supplement Programs to Support Early Career Investigators and K awardees
Data from the National Science Foundation (NSF) demonstrates that investigators, especially women, are more likely to cite family responsibilities as a reason for leaving the work force. Pregnancy and childbirth appear to be significant contributors to the underemployment of women scientists and engineers, given that pregnancy can impact research productivity. The demands of childbirth and subsequent primary caregiving responsibilities may necessitate changes to career goals and alter researchers’ career trajectories, depriving the scientific workforce of an important source of talent and undermining NIH's investment in promising avenues of new research.
NIAMS participates in two programs for targeted investigator groups enhancing the retention of either:
- Early-career investigators facing critical life events who are transitioning to the first renewal of their first independent research project grant award or to a second new NIH research project grant award.
- NIAMS K awardees to minimize departures from biomedical research workforce during their K award duration.
These programs provide up to $50,000/yr. Direct Cost (for no more than 1 year) in support to allow the continuation of research progress by supporting additional personnel, computational services, supplies, and equipment that will promote the continuity of the research project during a period in which the Program Director/ Principal Investigator (PD/PI) experiences critical life events.
Administrative Supplement for Continuity of Biomedical and Behavioral Research Among First-Time Recipients of NIH Research Project Grant Awards
Read the funding opportunity (NOT-DO-20-055) for information and submission instructions
The overarching goal of this pilot program is to enhance the retention of investigators facing critical life events who are transitioning to the first renewal of their first independent research project grant award or to a second new NIH research project grant award. Retention at the first renewal or continuous NIH research project grant support is crucial for sustaining both ongoing NIH research and an investment in the future of biomedical research. This program supports at-risk investigators as identified in the NIH Next Generation Researchers Initiative.
This retention program seeks to maintain the productivity of current first-time recipients of eligible independent NIH research project grant awards who are dealing with a critical life event(s), such that they can remain competitive for the first renewal of their award or for a second research project grant award. For retention supplements to support the transition from K award to independence, see the companion NOSI.
Qualifying Critical Life Events
The PD/PI must demonstrate a critical life event such as childbirth or adoption during the parent grant project period; or primary caregiving responsibilities of an ailing spouse, partner, or a member of the immediate family. In circumstances in which the critical life event is pending and is expected to occur during the project period, the supplement period may be submitted in advance of the event.
Eligibility
Receipt Dates
NIAMS has 2 receipt dates for this program: May 1 and November 1. Funds are expected to be awarded by July 1st and Jan 1st, respectively.
NIAMS-Specific Information for Applicants
For more information about NIAMS Supplement Programs, visit the NIAMS Types of Funding Mechanisms webpage.
- Six months of support must be remaining on the parent research grant at the time of the supplement award.
- Supplements may not be awarded on a project that is in a No Cost Extension (NCE).
- NIAMS strongly encourages the PD(s)/ PI(s) to contact both the scientific contact and the NIAMS Program Officer of the parent research grant prior to submitting an application.
Supplement applications submitted to NIAMS must provide documentation that, at the time of the award, the PI is facing at least one of the following critical life events:
- Will give birth within the next 3 months or has given birth in the past 12 months;
- Is acting as the primary caregiver within the first year of the birth or adoption of a child;
- Is acting as the primary caregiver for an ailing spouse, child, partner, or a member of the immediate family;
- Is experiencing a serious personal health issue or illness and/or debilitating condition.
Only one parent at a time can be designated as the primary caregiver to a child.
The supplement is not retroactive. At least 6 months of support must be remaining on the grant at the start of the supplement award. Supplements may not be awarded on a grant that is in a No Cost Extension (NCE).
Administrative Supplements to Promote Research Continuity and Retention of NIH Mentored Career Development (K) Award Recipients and Scholars
Read the funding opportunity (NOT-OD-23-031) for additional information and submission instructions.
The overarching goal of this program is to enhance the retention of investigators facing critical life events who are transitioning from mentored career development awards to research independence and to minimize departures from biomedical research workforce. This supplement program is intended to ensure continuity of research among recipients of mentored career development (K) awards by providing supplemental research support to help sustain the investigator’s research during a period in which the PD/PI experiences critical life events which have the potential to impact research progress or potential productivity.
Eligibility
Receipt Dates
NIAMS has 2 receipt dates for this program: May 1st and Nov 1st. Funds are expected to be awarded by July 1st and Jan 1st, respectively.
NIAMS-Specific Information for Applicants
For more information about NIAMS Supplement Programs, visit the NIAMS Types of Funding Mechanisms webpage.
- Six months of support must be remaining on the parent research grant at the time of the supplement award.
- Supplements may not be awarded on a project that is in a No Cost Extension (NCE).
- NIAMS strongly encourages the PD(s)/ PI(s) to contact both the scientific contact and the NIAMS Program Officer of the parent research grant prior to submitting an application.
Supplement applications submitted to NIAMS must provide documentation that, at the time of the award, the PI is facing at least one of the following critical life events:
- Will give birth within the next 3 months or has given birth in the past 12 months;
- Is acting as the primary caregiver within the first year of the birth or adoption of a child;
- Is acting as the primary caregiver for an ailing spouse, child, partner, or a member of the immediate family;
- Is experiencing a serious personal health issue or illness and/or debilitating condition.
Only one parent at a time can be designated as the primary caregiver to a child.
The supplement is not retroactive. At least 6 months of support must be remaining on the grant at the start of the supplement award. Supplements may not be awarded on a grant that is in a No Cost Extension (NCE).
Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry, Reintegration into, and Retraining in Health-Related Research Careers
Read the notice of funding opportunity (NOT-OD-23-170).
NIAMS participates in two of the three supplement programs that enable administrative supplements to be given to existing NIH research grants; and are intended to support full- or part-time research by researchers returning to the scientific workforce or those wishing to expand their skill sets. The supplements are designed to enhance existing research skills and knowledge to prepare them to apply for a fellowship (F), career development (K) award, research grant (R), or another type of independent research support.
- Reentry Supplements Program: provides mentored research training opportunities for a minimum of one year to scientists who have had at least six months of interruption in their careers for family responsibilities or other qualifying circumstances so they can reenter active research careers. Most candidates for reentry supplements should have a doctorate or an equivalent degree; however, some awarding NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs) may allow predoctoral students, including those enrolled in dual-degree programs, to apply to the program.
- Reintegration Program: addresses the critical need of scientists who have been adversely affected by unsafe or discriminatory environments resulting from unlawful harassment to rapidly transition into new research environments that are safe and supportive. Predoctoral and postdoctoral students are eligible to apply for reintegration supplements.
Note: NIAMS does not currently participate in the Retraining/ Retooling Program. Participants who are interested in switching fields should apply to the NIAMS K01 program, which promotes the re-entry and retraining into a new field.
Supplement Program Eligibility
Reentry supplements candidates should have a doctoral degree, such as an M.D., D.D.S., Ph.D., O.D., D.V.M., or equivalent. For some NIH ICs, predoctoral students, including those enrolled in dual-degree programs (e.g., M.D.-Ph.D., D.D.S.-Ph.D., D.V.M.-Ph.D.) may also be eligible to apply. Please visit the NIH Grants & Research webpage for links to ICO websites, points of contact, and email addresses.
Reintegration supplements allow postdoctoral and predoctoral candidates to transition to a new safe and supportive research environment so they can complete their graduate degree or research training.
Qualifying Circumstances
Re-entry: Doctoral degree holders who have experienced a career interruption of at least six months and no more than eight years may apply to the re-entry program. Examples of qualifying interruptions for re-entry supplements include, but are not limited to: a complete or partial hiatus from research activities for child-rearing; an incapacitating illness or injury of the candidate, spouse, partner, or a member of the immediate family; job offers rescinded as a result of natural disasters or public health emergencies, relocation to accommodate a spouse, partner, or another close family member; pursuit of non-research endeavors that would permit earlier repayment of debt incurred in obtaining a doctoral degree; and military service.
The program is not intended to support additional graduate training and is not intended to support career changes from non-research to research careers for individuals without prior research training. Generally, the candidate should be in a complete or partial hiatus from research activities at the time of application and should not be engaged in full-time paid research activities. Because NIH ICs may have varying degrees of flexibility in implementing the Re-entry program, potential applicants should consult with the contact at the NIH awarding component at the earliest possible stage to discuss their unique situation.
See Table of IC-Specific Information, Requirements, and Staff Contacts
Re-integration: Candidates with doctoral degrees and graduate students seeking to transition out of unsafe research environments because of discriminatory and unlawful harassment are eligible to apply for re-integration supplement support to continue research training as soon as a new and safe research environment has been identified.
Application Receipt Dates
NIAMS accepts and reviews applications on a continuous basis between October 1 and May 31 of each fiscal year. Applications received after May 31 will be considered for funding in the next fiscal year.
Budget and Period of Support
NIH staff will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.
NIAMS-Specific Information
NIAMS participates in both the Re-Entry Supplement and the Re-Integration Programs.
The following are NIAMS eligibility requirements for the Re-Entry Supplement Program:
- Pre-doctoral students, including those enrolled in dual-degree programs (e.g. M.D.-Ph.D., D.D.S.-Ph.D., D.V.M.-Ph.D.) are not eligible to apply.
- For candidates holding doctoral degrees, the career interruption should be at least one year and no more than eight years.
- Preference will be given to candidates with a complete hiatus from research activities.
NIAMS strongly encourages the PI of the parent research grant to contact both the scientific contact listed in this table and the NIAMS Program Officer of that grant.
Refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity for more information on how to apply to these initiatives and what to include in your application.