Finding Your Way— 

Resources for Early Career Researchers

Tips from the National Institute on Aging

The National Institute on Aging’s (NIA) mission 

is to improve the health and well-being of older 

people through biological, clinical, and social 

and behavioral research. Part of this mission is 

to train and develop scientists who one day may 

become leaders in the field of aging research. 

NIA supports four divisions of extramural 

research. The division that most closely matches 

your research interest may be able to offer guidance about funding and training opportunities 

specific to your area of expertise.

Division of Aging Biology (DAB) focuses 

on understanding molecular, genetic, cellular, 

and physiological mechanisms underlying the 

processes of aging and age-related changes 

in humans and in animal models.For more 

information, contact: DABquery@nia.nih.gov.

Division of Behavioral and Social 

Research (DBSR) supports research on 

aging at the individual and population 

levels. DBSR examines how people change 

over the adult life course and the societal 

impact of changing age demographics. For more 

information, contact: DBSRquery@nia.nih.gov. 

Entry of new investigators into the ranks of independent, NIH-funded researchers is 

essential to the health of this country’s biomedical research enterprise...

From the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Statement of Commitment to New and Early Stage Investigators

Division of Geriatrics and Clinical 

Gerontology (DGCG) investigates factors 

contributing to health and disease in older 

people and over the course of the human 

lifespan. This includes looking at aging’s 

relationship to health outcomes and funding 

clinical trials. For more information, contact: 

DGCGquery@nia.nih.gov. 

Division of Neuroscience (DN) seeks 

to understand the neural and behavioral 

processes associated with the aging nervous 

system. DN also supports biological, clinical, 

and epidemiological studies of Alzheimer’s 

disease and other neurodegenerative diseases 

associated with aging. NIA is legislatively 

designated as the lead Federal agency for 

Alzheimer’s research. For more information, 

contact: DNquery@nia.nih.gov.

Contact Division of Extramural 

Activities (DEA) for general information 

about research supported by NIA and 

answers to your grant-related questions. 

If it is unclear what division to contact 

regarding your research interest, DEA 

can help direct you to the right NIA 

program area.

Email: DEAquery@nia.nih.gov

Phone: 1-301-496-9322
FINDING YOUR WAY—RESOURCES FOR EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS

2

Tutorials on grant writing

“All About Grants” tutorials help 

investigators plan and write grant 

applications and manage their 

awards. See www.niaid.nih.gov/

researchfunding/grant/pages/aag.aspx.

NIA Career Development and 

Training Opportunities

NIA has several programs to support predoctoral 

and postdoctoral fellows and clinically trained 

individuals interested in studying aging processes,

age-related diseases, and the special problems and 

needs of older people. The Institute also hosts an 

annual professional development workshop that 

teaches skills critical for becoming a successful, 

federally funded scientist. The research and funding section of NIA’s website has the most current 

information about opportunities and application 

deadlines: www.nia.nih.gov/research. 

The following selection of grants and training 

opportunities may be of particular interest to 

early career scientists.

Funding opportunities

Mentored Career Development Awards 

(K-awards) are available for junior to midcareer faculty with a health professional 

doctorate who are interested in basic, clinical, 

and translational research, in areas related to 

the NIA mission. K-awards can also support 

postdoctoral fellows within 4 years of their 

doctorate and junior faculty who are developing or expanding their research program in 

the area of aging and geriatrics. See 

www.nia.nih.gov/research/dea/researchcareer-development-awards.

Paul B. Beeson Career Development Award 

Program (K08 and K23) supports career 

development of clinically trained faculty who 

are committed to basic, patient-oriented, or 

translational aging research. The program is 

co-sponsored by NIA with the John A. Hartford 

Foundation and the American Federation for

Aging Research. See http://grants.nih.gov/grants/

guide/rfa-files/RFA-AG-15-016.html (K08) and

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/

RFA-AG-15-017.html (K23).

Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowship 

Awards (F-awards, also known as National 

Research Service Awards, or NRSA) support

individual predoctoral (F30, F31) and postdoctoral (F32) projects for those working on 

a research or health professional doctorate. 

Fellowships provide a stipend, tuition and fees, 

and training-related expenses. The NIA F30 

award supports students in combined MD-PhD 

programs. Additional NRSA awards include the 

Individual Predoctoral Fellowships to Promote 

Diversity in Health-Related Research (F31) 

and the NRSA for Senior Fellows (F33). See

http://grants.nih.gov/training/F_files_nrsa.htm. 

In addition, NIA’s Aging Research Dissertation 

Awards to Increase Diversity (R36) support 

individuals completing their doctoral work. See 

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/

PAR-13-152.html.

Institutional Training Grants (T-awards)

are awarded to institutions to support annual 

or short-term (summer) research and training 

opportunities for predoctoral, postdoctoral, 

or medical students. See www.nia.nih.gov/

research/dea/research-training-and-careeraward-support.

The NIH Office of Extramural 

Research (OER) has complete 

information on the grants process, 

including application forms and 

information on grant policies. OER’s 

website includes the NIH Guide for 

Grants and Contracts, a searchable 

database of all of NIH’s Funding 

Opportunity Announcements (FOAs), 

Requests for Applications (RFAs), and 

Policy Notices: http://grants.nih.gov/

grants/oer.htm.
3

TIPS FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

Medical Student Training in Aging Research 

(MSTAR) Program (T35) encourages medical students, particularly those interested in 

research, to consider a career in academic 

geriatrics. NIA partners with the American 

Federation for Aging Research and several 

foundations to offer 8- to 12-week MSTAR 

Program scholarships to first and second year 

medical students, providing hands-on and didactic research training in aging and geriatrics. 

See www.afar.org/research/funding/mstar. 

Grants for Early Medical/Surgical Specialists’ 

Transition to Aging Research (GEMSSTAR) 

(R03) provide a first independent research 

award to physicians who have recently completed training in their medical or surgical 

sub-specialty and who wish to pursue research 

in aging-related aspects of their sub-specialty. 

Competitive applicants must secure additional 

support to pursue a professional development 

plan in order to receive the R03 award. See 

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/

RFA-AG-15-007.html and www.nia.nih.gov/

research/dgcg/grants-early-medical-surgicalspecialists-transition-aging-research-gemsstar.

Research Project Grants (R01) support projects 

performed by an independent investigator 

(or investigators) in an area representing his/

her (their) specific interests and competencies. 

Providing R01 support to new and early-stage 

investigators is one of NIA’s highest priorities. 

NIA, like many other NIH Institutes, provides an 

advantage in the funding line for new and earlystage investigator R01 applications relative to 

established investigator applications. NIA policies 

in support of new and early-stage investigators 

can be found at www.nia.nih.gov/research/dea/

funding-policies. If you are not sure whether you 

are considered a new or early-stage investigator, 

see NIH’s definition at http://grants.nih.gov/

grants/new_investigators/index.htm.

Training opportunity 

NIA Butler-Williams Scholars Program,

formerly the Summer Institute on Aging 

Research, is an intensive week-long program 

to provide fellows and junior faculty with an 

introduction to many aspects of aging research. 

Scholars learn from the Institute’s scientists 

and grantees about NIA’s research priorities, 

as well as topics such as designing effective 

research projects, applying for funding, and 

addressing challenges related to the conduct 

of rigorous aging health disparities research. 

The program brings together researchers from 

underrepresented groups and those interested 

in research on aging and health disparities. See 

www.nia.nih.gov/about/events/2014/butlerwilliams-scholars-program-2015.

Other Federal Funding for 

Health Research 

Depending on your research interest, you may 

find funding opportunities from other Institutes 

and Centers at NIH, as well as from various 

components of the U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services (HHS). Many funding 

opportunities offered through the Federal 

Government can be found at www.grants.gov. 

● Learn about Institutes and Centers at NIH: 

www.nih.gov/icd

● Learn about Operating Divisions at HHS: 

www.hhs.gov/about/foa/opdivs 

NIA’s Intramural Research Program,

located in Baltimore, Maryland, offers

laboratory, clinical, and epidemiological 

research experiences for postbaccalaureate 

and postdoctoral candidates interested in 

aging, ranging from summer internships 

to multiyear fellowships. Fellows attend 

NIA scientific seminars and can compete 

in the annual NIH-wide Fellows Award 

for Research Excellence. See 

www.grc.nia.nih.gov/training.

Inside NIA: A Blog for Researchers 

features NIA funding opportunities, 

research priorities and news, training, 

and policy, as well as grantsmanship 

tips, meeting information, and other 

resources. Sign up for the weekly email 

or RSS: www.nia.nih.gov/research/blog.
FINDING YOUR WAY—RESOURCES FOR EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS

Gerontological Society of America, 

American Society on Aging, and 

The American Geriatrics Society

The Gerontological Society of America 

(GSA), American Society on Aging (ASA),

and The American Geriatrics Society 

are three membership organizations 

with a focus on aging research and

geriatric care. Each hosts an annual

professional meeting and offers a 

variety of training resources and 

information-sharing opportunities. 

They have special student memberships

and a section dedicated to providing 

professional development for students 

and early career professionals in aging. 

Learn more about GSA’s Emerging 

Scholar and Professional Organization 

at www.geron.org/44-membership/

emerging-scholar-and-professionalorganization. 

Learn more about ASA’s The Students 

and Emerging Professionals Group at 

www.asaging.org/students-and-emergingprofessionals-step-group. 

Learn more about AGS’s student 

and resident e-membership at 

www.americangeriatrics.org/join/

member_benefits/benefits_for_students_

residents__fellows_in_training.

Here are some examples of other funding and 

training opportunities at HHS:

Administration for Community Living (ACL)

supports projects to develop a comprehensive, 

coordinated, and cost-effective system of homeand community-based services helping older 

people maintain their health and independence. 

See http://acl.gov/Funding_Opportunities.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

(CDC) supports Prevention Research Centers, 

a network that conducts applied public health 

research, www.cdc.gov/prc. Also, in partnership 

with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 

Services, The Atlantic Philanthropies, the John A. 

Hartford Foundation, the Gerontological Society 

of America and its National Hartford Centers 

for Gerontological Nursing Excellence, and the 

Veterans Health Administration, CDC helps 

support the Health and Aging Policy Fellows 

Program, www.healthandagingpolicy.org.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 

offers researchers and other healthcare professionals a broad range of quantitative information 

on their programs, including estimates of future 

Medicare and Medicaid spending or enrollment, 

current spending, and claims data. CMS also 

conducts demonstration projects to explore 

alternative policies of healthcare coverage and 

delivery. See www.cms.gov. 

To order free publications (in English or Spanish) or sign up for email alerts, go to www.nia.nih.gov/health.

For more information about health and aging, contact:

National Institute on Aging Information Center

P.O. Box 8057, Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057

1-800-222-2225 (toll-free)

1-800-222-4225 (TTY/toll-free)

niaic@nia.nih.gov

www.nia.nih.gov

www.nia.nih.gov/espanol

APRIL 2015