Finding Your Way— 

Resources for Early Career Researchers

Tips from the National Institute on Aging

National Institute on Aging’s (NIA) mission is 

to improve the health and well-being of older 

people through basic, 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 basic 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 basic 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 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 basic, clinical, 

and epidemiological studies of Alzheimer’s 

disease and other neurodegenerative diseases 

associated with aging. NIA is legislatively 

designated as the lead Federal agency on 

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

National Institute on Aging

National Institutes of health

NIH...Turning Discovery into health®

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Finding Your Way—Resources for Early Career Researchers

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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 Opportunities for 

New Investigators

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. NIA also 

hosts two professional development workshops 

around the U.S. that teach skills critical for 

becoming a successful, federally funded 

scientist. The research and training section of 

NIA’s website has the most current information 

about funding and training opportunities 

and application deadlines: www.nia.nih.gov/

research. 

The following is a selection of grants and 

training programs that might 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 5 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/

nia-new-and-early-stage-investigators.

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-13-011.html (K08) and http://

grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFAAG-13-012.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-11-

291.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/institutional-training-grants.

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.
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Tips from the National Institute on AginG

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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/rfafiles/RFA-AG-13-006.html.

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 early-stage 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/nia-new-and-early-stage-investigators. 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 opportunities 

NIA sponsors two workshops that bring 

together researchers from underrepresented 

groups and those interested in research on 

aging and health disparities, the Summer 

Institute on Aging Research and the Technical 

Assistance Workshop.

NIA Summer Institute on Aging Research

is an intensive week-long program to provide 

fellows and junior faculty with an introduction 

to aging research. Participants learn from the 

Institute’s scientists and grantees about NIA’s 

research portfolio, including topics such as 

designing effective research projects, applying 

for funding, talking with the media, and 

addressing challenges related to conducting 

research with diverse cohorts. 

NIA Grants Technical Assistance Workshop 

is a 2-day interactive forum with lectures 

on a spectrum of aging-research topics and 

on applying for NIA grants. Workshop 

participants present current or planned 

research projects and receive feedback from 

peers and NIA staff. The workshop is held 

immediately before the annual scientific 

meeting of the Gerontological Society of 

America.

Federal Support for Funding 

Aging Research Outside of NIA

Administration on Aging (AoA), part of the 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

(HHS), supports projectsto develop a comprehensive, coordinated, and cost-effective system 

of home- and community-based services 

helping older people maintain their health and 

independence. See www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/

Grants. 

NIA’s Intramural Research Program,

located in Baltimore, Maryland, offers 

a variety of 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.
Finding Your Way—Resources for Early Career Researchers

Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 

Aging Initiative is a Federal effort to protect 

the environmental health of older people. As 

part of this Initiative, the EPA funds a variety 

of related projects, listed online, at www.epa.gov/

aging/grants.

Gerontological Society of America & 

American Society on Aging

The Gerontological Society of America 

(GSA) and American Society on 

Aging (ASA) are two membership 

organizations with a focus on aging 

research. Each hosts an annual 

professional meeting and offers a 

variety of training resources and 

information-sharing opportunities. Both 

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/Students. 

Learn more about ASA’s The Students 

and Emerging Professionals Group 

at www.asaging.org/students-andemerging-professionals-step-group.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), part of HHS, has a mission to 

improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and 

effectiveness of health care for all Americans. 

See www.ahrq.gov.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s

(CDC) Healthy Aging Initiative hosts the 

Prevention Research Centers Healthy Aging 

Research Network to assist in developing a 

national research and dissemination agenda 

related to the public health aspects of healthy 

aging. See www.cdc.gov/aging/han.

Additionally, CDC, part of HHS, in partnership 

with The Atlantic Philanthropies foundation, 

supports a Health and Aging Policy Fellow. 

See www.healthandagingpolicy.org.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 

(CMS), part of HHS, administers the Medicare 

program and monitors State Medicaid 

programs. CMS offers researchers and other 

health care 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 health care 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)

www.nia.nih.gov

www.nia.nih.gov/espanol

NOVEMBER 2012