NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award F99/K00
Fellowship details
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.
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) does not allow applicants to propose to lead an independent clinical trial, but does allow applicants to propose research experience in a clinical trial led by a sponsor or co-sponsor.
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.
Please note: It is not required that cancer be the topic of predoctoral work, but it is required for postdoctoral work.
NCI intends to commit $1.1 M to fund up to 24 awards in FY2024, and $1.1 M to fund up to 24 awards in FY 2025. Please see the full RFA for more details: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-23-042.html
Each eligible institution is eligible to submit one application per due date. Therefore, UCI may put forward one nomination for this award opportunity and is therefore soliciting applications from qualified predoctoral students interested in pursuing postdoctoral work in cancer research.
- UCI Internal Application Opens: August 19, 2024
- UCI Internal Application Deadline: September 27, 2024
- The selected UCI applicant will be notified by October 21, 2024
- External Deadline Deadline for NCI: November 19, 2024 by 5:00pm local time of the applicant organization
Please see the full RFA for full details on eligibility requirements: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-23-042.html
Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with their organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and women are always encouraged to apply for NIH support. See, Reminder: Notice of NIH’s Encouragement of Applications Supporting Individuals from Underrepresented Ethnic and Racial Groups as well as Individuals with Disabilities, NOT-OD-22-019.
For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Citizenship Requirements
An applicant must be a citizen or a noncitizen national of the United States, or has 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 with a valid U.S. visa. For applications submitted on behalf of non-U.S. citizens with valid U.S. visas, the visa status during each phase of the F99/K00 award must allow the PD/PI to conduct the proposed research at the applicant institution. For the F99 phase of the award, the applicant F99 institution is responsible for determining and documenting, in the nomination letter, that the applicant’s visa will allow the applicant to remain in the U.S. to complete the F99 phase of the award, and that there are no known obstacles that would prevent the applicant from obtaining a visa for the K00 phase. For the K00 phase of the award, the U.S institution at which the K00 phase of the award will be conducted is responsible for determining and documenting, in the transition application, that the PD/PI’s visa will allow the PD/PI to remain in the U.S. for the duration of the K00 award. NCI may request verifying information as part of the pre-award process.
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.
This program is expected to enhance the research career trajectories of cancer researchers and foster progression to research independence. K00 awardees remain eligible to apply to subsequent mentored Career Development (K) and Pathway to Independence (K99/R00) award programs.
To apply for UCI’s nomination, interested applicants should use the application form to upload and submit the following:
- Specific aims of applicant’s predoctoral to postdoctoral work in cancer research. One page per NIH guidelines (For help please review this guide).
- If the applicant’s pre-doctoral work is not cancer-related, an additional ½ page may be used to present a clear plan for cancer training.
- Applicant’s CV
For more information about this opportunity, please review the full RFA at NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00)