Are You "New"?
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When applying for your first independent NIH research grant, new and early-stage investigators get some breaks:
- Higher paylines.
- NIH sets target numbers for funding new R01 investigators.
- As a result, NIAID must use a higher payline, making it easier for new and early-stage investigators to get an award. Go to NIAID Paylines.
- Initial peer review.
- Peer reviewers look more at potential than achievement -- they
weigh your academic and research background heavily.
- Reviewers may expect new R01 investigators to have fewer preliminary data, resources, and publications than more established researchers do.
- New and early-stage investigator applications are not interspersed with those of established investigators at the review meeting, when feasible.
- Selective pay and R56-Bridge awards.
- If your R01 application did not succeed, NIAID may still fund you through two programs, selective pay and R56-Bridge awards.
How to Qualify for New and Early-Stage Investigator Status
ESI is a subset of new investigator status. ESIs must have completed a final research degree or discipline-specific training within 10 years of applying. |
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NIH has two types of special status for people applying for their first independent R01: new investigator and early-stage investigator (ESI).
New investigator defined. To qualify as an NIH new investigator, you cannot have been a principal investigator on a major NIH grant that you applied for. See the next section, Previous Awards Status, for information on exceptions.
ESI defined. As a subset of new investigator status, an ESI is a scientist who is within 10 years of either of the following:
- A final research degree.
- Discipline-specific training required to become a researcher.
You can request an extension of your ESI status past the 10-year window due to special circumstances. Read more on the next page, How to Extend the Early Stage Investigator Window.
Keep in mind that on a multiple PI application, all PIs must qualify as new or ESI for the application to get either status.
Previous Awards Status
Once you apply for and receive a major NIH grant, you no longer qualify to be a new investigator or an ESI.
See the list of exceptions in the NIH Definition of a New Investigator, and be aware that NIAID has another exception: the R33 phase of an R21/R33 Phased Innovation Award.
If an award isn't on that list, you would lose your ESI or new investigator status as soon as you receive the grant. However, you can still qualify for either status if you become a PI on a major NIH grant you did not apply for, e.g., if your institution assigns you to be the PI of an existing grant.
Also, you can no longer apply as a new investigator once you become a PI on a multiple PI award.
Identify Yourself!
Enter degree and discipline-specific training dates in your Commons profile.
The information will enable NIH to identify ESIs and new investigators. Also make sure your biosketch states that you are a new investigator or ESI.
Once you've entered your information, it's important to check your Commons profile to make sure your new or ESI status is in order. That's because even though the system uses data you put in, it has its limitations.
If your status isn't correct, contact the Commons Help Desk and ask that they change it. In your email, include your name and the application number.
Find more information online:
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