NIH NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00) Solicitation

Please see the full solicitation for complete information about the funding opportunity. Below is a summary assembled by the Research & Innovation Office (RIO).

Program Summary 

The purpose of the NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00) is to encourage and retain outstanding graduate students recognized by their institutions for their high potential and strong interest in pursuing careers as independent cancer researchers. The award will facilitate the transition of talented graduate students into successful cancer research postdoctoral appointments, and provide opportunities for career development activities relevant to their long-term career goals of becoming independent cancer researchers.

The F99/K00 award is intended for individuals who require 1-2 years to complete their Ph.D. dissertation research training (F99 phase) before transitioning to mentored postdoctoral research training (K00 phase). Consequently, applicants are expected to propose an individualized research training plan for the next 1-2 years of dissertation research training and a plan for 3-4 years of mentored postdoctoral research and career development activities that will prepare them for independent cancer-focused research careers.

The F99/K00 award is meant to provide up to 6 years of support in two phases. The initial (F99) phase will provide support for 1-2 years of dissertation research (final experiments, dissertation preparation, and selection of a postdoctoral mentor). The transition (K00) phase will provide up to 4 years of mentored postdoctoral research and career development support, contingent upon successful completion of the doctoral degree requirements and securing a cancer-focused postdoctoral position. The two award phases are intended to be continuous in time. A K00 award will be made only to a PD/PI who has successfully completed the F99-supported training, secured a cancer-focused postdoctoral appointment, and provided NCI with a strong research and career development plan.

Deadlines

CU Internal Deadline: 11:59pm MST October 9, 2019

Sponsor Letter of Intent Deadline: 5:00pm MST November 4, 2019

Sponsor Application Deadline: 5:00pm MST December 4, 2019

Internal Application Requirements (all in PDF format)

  • Sponsor Information (1 page maximum): Sponsor name, title, and department/unit.
  • Applicant Background & Goals for Fellowship Training (2 pages maximum): Please include the following elements: a description of how past research experiences and F99/K00 plans contribute to achieving the long-term career goal, training goals and objectives and how the award will enable them, and activities planned under the award.
  • Research Training Plan (2 pages maximum): For both the dissertation research project (F99 phase) and the postdoctoral research direction (K00 phase), please
    • (a) describe significance (overview of scientific question being addressed/investigated and potential impact; and
    • (b) describe the approach.
      • For the F99 phase, the approach section should include a project report on dissertation research (approach, outcomes, methodologies) and a proposal for the work to be completed (experimental design, anticipated results, potential problems and follow-up studies).
      • For the K00 phase, the approach section should provide a general description of how the research will be conducted (approach, methodologies, anticipated results, challenges (and how to address)).
  • Budget Overview (1 page maximum): A basic budget outlining project costs is sufficient; detailed OCG budgets are not required.

To access the online application, visit: https://cuboulderovcr.secure-platform.com/a/solicitations/home/6423

Eligibility

Any applicant fellow with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) is invited to work with his/her sponsor and organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support. Multiple PDs/PIs are not allowed.

The applicant must have a baccalaureate degree and be currently enrolled as a graduate student in the third or fourth year of a mentored PhD or equivalent research degree program (e.g., DrPH, ScD) in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences at a domestic institution. F99 eligibility is determined from the date of enrollment as a graduate student at the PhD institution and includes the time spent to earn a MS degree unless there was a major change in research area and a change in research mentor. The applicant must be at the dissertation research stage of training at the time of award, and must show evidence of high academic performance in the sciences and commitment to a career as an independent cancer research scientist.

F99 awardees are required to pursue their research training on a full-time basis, normally defined as 40 hours per week or as specified by the sponsoring institution in accordance with its own policies.

K00 awardees are required to have a full-time appointment at the applicant institution, and to commit a minimum of 9 person months (or 75% of their full-time appointment at the applicant institution) to their career development and research training. K00 awardees may engage in other duties (e.g., other research, training, clinical and teaching activities) as part of the remaining 25% effort not covered by the award, as long as such duties do not interfere with or detract from the proposed career development program.

Before submitting the application, the applicant must identify an F99 sponsor(s) who will supervise the proposed dissertation research training experience. The primary sponsor should be an active investigator in the area of the proposed research training and be committed both to the applicant’s research training and to direct supervision of his/her research. The primary sponsor must document the availability of sufficient research funds and facilities for high-quality research training. Applicants may identify more than one sponsor, i.e., a team of sponsors, if this is deemed advantageous for providing expert advice in all aspects of the research and training program. When there is a sponsor team, one individual must be identified as the primary sponsor who will coordinate the applicant’s training program. The applicant must work with the sponsor(s) in preparing the application.

Limited Submission Guidelines

Each institution is eligible to submit one application per due date.

Award Information

NCI intends to commit $1.2 M to fund up to 24 awards in FY2020.

For the F99 phase, award budgets are composed of stipends, tuition and fees, and institutional allowance, as described below. For the K00 phase, award budgets are composed of salary and fringe benefits, tuition and fees, research and career development support, and indirect costs, as described below.

For the F99/K00 award, individuals may receive up to 6 years combined support for both phases, which includes up to 2 years in the F99 fellowship phase and up to 4 years in the K00 career development phase.