Learn About the NIH Pathway to Independence Awards
Program Purpose: The purpose of the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) program is to facilitate a timely transition of outstanding postdoctoral researchers with a research and/or clinical doctorate degree from mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions.
The program consists of two phases: a mentored K99 phase consisting of 1-2 years of research under a sponsored mentor and 3 years of R00 support in an independent research position as faculty upon successful completion of the K99.
Duration: 1-2 years (minimum 1 year) of K99 research support, 3 years R00 support.
Salary Support: For the K99 phase: $60,000 per year for salary support (up to $75,000 per year for applicants with an M.D. degree) plus fringe benefits. The total cost for the independent phase (R00) may not exceed $249,000 per year.
Research Support: For the K99 phase, $20,000 for research support cost. The total cost for the independent phase (R00) may not exceed $249,000 per year.
Questions? Contact us at [email protected].
Eligibility Information
- Candidates for the K99/R00 award must have a clinical or research doctorate (including Ph.D., M.D., D.O., D.C., N.D., D.D.S., D.M.D., D.V.M., Sc.D., D.N.S., PharmD or equivalent doctoral degrees). Clinicians (including those with M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M. and other licensed health professionals) in a clinical faculty position that denotes independence in clinical responsibilities but not in research may also be eligible for the K99/R00 award.
- K99/R00 applicants must have no more than 4 years of postdoctoral research experience as of the relevant application due date, regardless of whether it is a new or resubmission application. Individuals must be in mentored, postdoctoral training positions to be eligible to apply to the K99/R00 program. If the candidate achieves independence (i.e., any faculty or non-mentored research position) before a K99 award is made, neither the K99 award, nor the R00 award, will be issued.
- There is no citizenship requirement for K99 candidates. A candidate may be a citizen or a non-citizen national of the United States, have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., possess a currently valid Permanent Resident Card USCIS Form I-551, or other legal verification of such status), or be a non-U.S. citizen.
Additionally, individuals are NOT eligible if they:
- Have currently or previously held an independent research faculty or tenure-track faculty position, or its equivalent, in academia, industry or elsewhere; or,
- Have more than 4 years of related postdoctoral research training at the time of initial application or resubmission; or,
- Have been an independent Program Director/ Principal Investigator (PD/PI) on NIH research grants (e.g. R01, R03, R21), NIH career development awards (e.g., K01, K07, K08, K23, K25), or other peer-reviewed NIH or non-NIH research grants over $100,000 direct costs per year, or Project Leaders on sub-projects of program project (P01) or center (P50) grants or the equivalent.
Ph.D. candidates in post-graduate positions other than postdoctoral fellowships or Clinicians: Please see the associated funding opportunity for help determining if your position qualifies toward the 4-year limit.
Note: NIAMS will not use K99/R00 awards to support individuals who already have faculty appointments—including assistant professor, clinical assistant professor, research assistant professor and instructor—or their equivalent in academia, industry or elsewhere.
Please see NIH Early-Stage Investigator (ESI) and K99 Eligibility Extension Policies for additional information on K99 eligibility extensions.