Training and Career Development Fellowships & Grants | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Introduction to Research Training at NIDA

NIDA offers a strategic set of funding mechanisms to support the development of research scientists through multiple stages of their careers. These awards are designed to ensure that scientists of the very highest caliber are available to meet the Nation’s need for drug abuse and addiction research. NIDA’s portfolio includes research in basic, clinical, and translational sciences. This includes genetics, epigenetics, molecular biology, neuroimaging, cognitive and social neuroscience, pharmacological and behavioral therapies, prevention, epidemiology, health services, health disparities, HIV/AIDS and other related domains. NIDA also promotes opportunities for quantitative scientists from fields such as mathematics, bioengineering, and physics to apply their knowledge to the study of drug abuse and addiction. Through cross-disciplinary training and a focus on emerging technologies and scientific opportunities, NIDA seeks to ensure a cutting-edge research workforce that will advance the knowledge base needed to combat these urgent public health problems.

NIDA invites you to discover research training, research education, career development, and other trans-NIH opportunities for yourself and/or your mentees within these webpages. For questions pertaining to these training webpages, please contact the training officer.

Research Training & Career Development Opportunities

Undergraduates

NIDA Diversity Scholars Travel Awards Program
NIDA Diversity Scholars Travel Awards are offered to undergraduates, postbaccalaureates, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and early-stage investigators conducting substance use and addiction research. The monetary travel awards help with the cost of attending national scientific conferences that open doors for networking, presenting posters or oral talks, as well as other career development opportunities. Read more about the Travel Awards.

NIDA Summer Research Internship Program
The NIDA Summer Research Internship Program is designed for undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds to experience substance abuse and addiction research in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical and social sciences areas. Through this program, students age 18 years and older are introduced to the field of drug abuse and addiction research by participating in research internships with NIDA funded scientists at universities across the United States.
Read about the NIDA Summer Research Internship Program.

Summer Training Program for Underrepresented Populations Available at NIDA’s Research Campus in Baltimore, Maryland
Students in high school, college, graduate, or professional school are eligible for on-campus summer programs at NIDA Intramural Research Program (IRP). During this program, most of your time will be spent working with a scientist on a research project. The Recruitment and Training Program for Underrepresented Populations (RTURP) provides paid training opportunities for students who are interested in the scientific basis of drug abuse and are from an underrepresented group.

Graduate Students

Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Program Directors/Principal Investigators holding specific types of research grants (see the funding opportunity for activity codes) can apply for administrative supplements to improve the diversity of the research workforce by recruiting and supporting students, post-doctorates, and eligible investigators from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in health-related research. This supplement opportunity is also available to PDs/PIs of research grants who are or become disabled and need additional support to accommodate their disability in order to continue to work on the research project. Administrative supplements must support work within the scope of the original project. Read more about this supplement opportunity NIDA Diversity Supplement Website. See how to apply and FAQs for more information.
See the active Notice of Funding Opportunity

HEAL grantees
See Notice of Special Interest which encourages eligible NIH HEAL Initiative Awardees to apply for Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual M.D./Ph.D. Fellows (F30)
Provides combined medical school and predoctoral Ph.D. support for a maximum of 6 years, annual stipend, funds for tuition/fees, research supplies, equipment, travel and related items. See active F31 Notices of Funding Opportunity.

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellows (F31)
Provides up to 5 years of support toward a research doctoral degree (Ph.D., D.Sc.), annual stipend, funds for tuition/fees, research supplies, equipment, travel and related items. See active F31 Notices of Funding Opportunity.

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Predoctoral Fellows to Promote Diversity in Health Related Research (F31)
Provides up to 5 years of support to individuals from underrepresented groups (including individuals from racial/ethnic groups, with disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds) toward a research doctoral degree or combined professional doctoral/research degree (M.D./Ph.D.). See active F32 Notices of Funding Opportunity.

Drug Abuse Dissertation Research: Epidemiology, Prevention, Treatment, Services and/or Women and Sex/Gender Differences (R36)
Provides up to 2 years support for drug abuse doctoral dissertation research. See active R36 Notices of Funding Opportunity.

Postdoctoral Scholars

HEAL grantees
See Notice of Special Interest which encourages eligible NIH HEAL Initiative Awardees to apply for Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research

NIDA Diversity Scholars Network (NDSN)
The NDSN is a competitive program aimed at enhancing the funding success of early-stage investigators from diverse backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups, interested conducting substance use and addiction research. The NDSN program consists of three separate meetings that aim to assist scholars in applying for and receiving NIH career development awards and research grants. Learn more about eligibility and how to apply.

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows (F32)
Provides up to 3 years support at postdoctoral level, for expenses for supplies, equipment, travel, tuition and fees. Stipend based on years of relevant postdoctoral experience. See active F32 Notices of Funding Opportunity

NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00)
Provides up to 5 years of support consisting of two phases: 1-2 years of mentored support for highly promising, postdoctoral research scientists, followed by up to 3 years of independent support contingent on securing an independent research position. K99/R00 applicants must have no more than 4 years of postdoctoral research experience at the time of initial application or resubmission. See active K99/R00 Notices of Funding Opportunity

BRAIN K99/R00 – Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity
Provides up to 5 years of support consisting of two phases: 1-2 years of mentored support for highly promising, postdoctoral research scientists, followed by up to 3 years of independent support contingent on securing an independent research position. This program is designed to enhance workforce diversity and foster a strong cohort of new, highly skilled and well trained, NIH-supported, independent investigators from diverse backgrounds (including nationally underrepresented groups) working in research areas supported by the BRAIN Initiative. See active BRAIN K99R00 Notices of Funding Opportunity

MOSAIC K99/R00 – Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers
The MOSAIC K99/R00 program is designed to facilitate a timely transition of promising postdoctoral researchers from diverse backgrounds from their mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions at research-intensive institutions. Similar to other K99/R00 mechanisms, the MOSAIC K99/R00 award provides support during a postdoctoral and independent phase. MOSAIC K99/R00 scholars will be part of organized scientific cohorts to participate in mentoring, networking, and professional development activities. See active MOSAIC K99/R00 Notices of Funding Opportunity

INVEST Drug Abuse Research Fellowship
The NIDA International Program, INVEST Drug Abuse Research Fellowship, combines postdoctoral research training in the United States with professional development activities and grant-writing guidance to form a unique program for drug abuse scientists. This 12 month fellowship provides opportunities for fellows and their U.S. mentors to be part of a network of international scientists who exchange information and collaborate on drug abuse research nationally, regionally, and globally. Eligibility and how to apply.

Loan Repayment Program
NIDA participates in the NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs). LRPs are a set of programs established by Congress and designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research careers. The escalating costs of advanced education and training in medicine and clinical specialties are forcing some scientists to abandon their research careers for higher-paying private industry or private practice careers. Learn more about how to apply and the application process on the NIH LRP website. For additional information on NIDA’s participation in the LRP program, contact Dr. Lindsey Friend.

Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry and Re-integration into Health-Related Research Careers
The goal of this program is to provide support for a mentored research training experience for individuals with high potential to re-enter or re-integrate into an active research career, after an interruption for family responsibilities or other qualifying circumstances. This program encourages re-entry and re-integration administrative supplement applications to existing NIH research grants to support full or part-time mentored research experiences by these individuals. The supplement grants are intended to provide these scientists an opportunity to update or extend their research skills and knowledge and prepare them to re-establish their careers in basic biomedical, behavioral, clinical, translational or social science research. For more detailed information see the Notice of Special Interest. For additional information on NIDA’s participation in the Re-Entry Supplement Program, contact Dr. Lindsey Friend.

Administrative Supplements to Promote Research Continuity and Retention
The goal of this program is to support the transition and retention of investigators from mentored career development to research independence and to minimize departures from biomedical workforce at this critical juncture. The supplement is designed to promote continuity of the career development during a period in which the PD/PI experiences critical life events which have the potential to impact research progress or productivity.
Researchers with active selected K awards or R project grants are eligible. For the purposes of this program, childbirth, adoption, and primary caregiving responsibilities of an ailing spouse, child, partner, or a member of the immediate family during the project period are critical life events that would qualify for consideration. Administrative supplements must support work within the scope of the original project. Prospective applicants can apply under the general administrative supplement. For more detailed information see the Office of Research on Women's Health website. For additional information on NIDA’s participation in the Research Continuity and Retention Program, contact Dr. Lindsey Friend.

Early-Stage Investigators

HEAL grantees
See Notice of Special Interest which encourages eligible NIH HEAL Initiative Awardees to apply for Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research

Avenir Award Program for Research on Substance Use Disorders and HIV (DP2)
NIDA has supported highly innovative researchers proposing potentially transformative research. The Avenir Award for HIV/AIDS Research is designed to complement the Avant-Garde award by focusing on early-stage investigators. Avenir applicants may propose research in any area of high priority HIV/AIDS research that has the potential to open new areas of HIV/AIDS research and/or lead to new avenues for treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS among substance users. See active DP2 Notices of Funding Opportunity

Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01)
Provides support for 3 to 5 years of intensive, supervised career development in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences leading to research independence. See active K01 Notices of Funding Opportunity

Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08)
Provides 3 to 5 years of supervised specialized study for outstanding clinical research scientists with health professional doctoral degrees, who have the potential to develop into independent investigators and who are committed to a career in laboratory- or field-based research. See active K08 Notices of Funding Opportunity

Mentored Patient-Oriented Career Development Award (K23)
Provides support for 3 to 5 years of supervised study and research for the career development of investigators with a clinical doctoral degree, or its equivalent, who have made a commitment to focus their research endeavors on patient-oriented research. See active K23 Notices of Funding Opportunity

Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award (K25)
Provides support for 3 to 5 years of career development in clinical biomedicine, bioengineering, bioimaging, or behavioral medicine for investigators in quantitative science and engineering research who had not previously focused primarily on questions of health and disease. See active K25 Notices of Funding Opportunity

Established Investigators

NIDA Small Grants Program (R03)
Intended for newer, less experienced investigators; investigators at institutions without well-developed research traditions and resources; and more experienced investigators conducting exploratory studies that either represent a significant change in research direction or test new methods or techniques. Provides research support up to a maximum of $50,000 per year in direct costs for up to 2 years. Learn about the R03 Program.

I/START—Imaging-Science Track Award for Research Transition (R03)
Facilitates the entry of new investigators to the area of brain imaging/clinical neurobiology research, allowing for the design and collection of “proof of concept” brain imaging data for use in transitioning to more extensive research proposals. This mechanism has a 1-year maximum of $150,000 in direct costs. See Active R03 Notices of Funding Opportunity

AIDS-Science Track Award for Research Transition (R03)
Facilitates the entry of newly independent and early career investigators to the area of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS research. Provides support for two years, with a maximum of $100,000 per year in direct costs. Investigators funded under this mechanism are expected to use their data to develop R01 grant applications on the intersection of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS. See Active R03 Notices of Funding Opportunity

D/START - Data Science Track Award for Research Transition (D/START) (R03)
This program supports investigators applying advanced data science techniques to address timely and challenging research questions related to substance use and substance use disorders (SUD). As defined by NIH, data science encompasses the development and use of quantitative and analytical methods to extract knowledge from large and complex data sets. Expanding expertise in data science, particularly in big data analytics and computational science, is crucial for advancing SUD research. The goal is to generate data-driven insights to inform the development and implementation of interventions for prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery across diverse populations.
See active D-START Notices of Funding Opportunity

Exploratory/Developmental Grant Applications (R21)
Designed to test innovative or conceptually creative, scientifically sound ideas and to enable exploration of the feasibility of the research question or approach. Data demonstrating feasibility are desirable. Novel and creative approaches are essential. Provides up to 2 years of funding and a maximum of $275,000 in direct costs (both years combined). See active R21 Notices of Funding Opportunity Parent Announcements
Learn more about the R21 program.

NIH Research Project Grant (R01)
An independent grant mechanism used for many of the research grant opportunities available at NIDA. Grantees can support mentored research training opportunities on their R01 grants. See Active R02 Notices of Funding Opportunity Parent Announcements
Learn more about NIH Research Project Grants.

NIDA ESI MERIT Award (R37)
Provides up to 7 years of support in two segments with the first being an initial 4-5 year award and second an extension of up to two additional years. The MERIT award provides longer term grant support to Early-Stage Investigators (ESIs) to give them flexibility and opportunity for creativity and innovation, and additional time to successfully launch their careers before having to submit renewal applications. Investigators may not apply for an ESI MERIT award; NIDA program staff will nominate eligible investigators for consideration by the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse. See Notice NOT-DA-24-017.

Institutional Grants and Other Training Programs

NIH Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA)
NIDA participates "NIH Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA). The overarching goal of this R25 program is to support the educational activities for PreK through 12th grade, as well as informal science educational activities, that enhance diversity of the biomedical, behavioral and clinical research workforce and foster a better understanding of NIH-funded research and its public health implications. Information on current SEPA projects can be found at: Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA).

NIH Summer Research Experience Program for High School, College Students, and Science Teachers (R25)
Provides high quality summer research experiences for high school and college students, and for science teachers via institutional research education grants. These grant programs must focus on substance use/abuse/addiction and are expected to: help attract young students to careers in science; provide opportunities for college students to gain valuable research experience to help prepare them for graduate school; and enhance the skills of science teachers and enable them to more effectively communicate the nature of the scientific process to their students. The grant programs should also contribute to enhancing overall science literacy. Participants are selected and appointed to the program by the grantee institution. See theactive Notice of Funding Opportunity

Institutionally-Focused Research Education Award to Promote Diversity
This program provides support for well-designed courses for skills development and mentoring activities to prepare cohorts of postdoctoral and early-career faculty scholars supported by MOSAIC K99/R00 awards to transition into, succeed, and advance in independent, tenure-track or equivalent, research-intensive faculty careers. See the active Notices of Funding Opportunity

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Institutional Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Traineeships (T32)
NIDA supports predoctoral and postdoctoral students through institutional training sites across the country. The overall goal of the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) program is to help ensure that a diverse pool of highly trained scientists is available in appropriate scientific disciplines to address the Nation's biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs. In order to accomplish this goal, NRSA training programs are designed to train individuals to conduct research and to prepare for research careers. More information about NRSA programs may be found at the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) website. Applications for these positions need to go directly to the training sites’ program directors. See the active T32 Notices of Funding Opportunity

Mentored Clinical Scientists Development Program Award (K12)
Provides support to an educational institution or professional organization to support career development experiences for clinicians, leading to research independence. Newly trained clinicians are selected and appointed to the program by the grantee institution. Clinical research includes patient-oriented research, behavioral research, epidemiologic research, outcomes/health services research, and research with human tissues and specimens where an investigator directly interacts with human subjects in an outpatient or inpatient setting. See the active K12 Notices of Funding Opportunity

Providing Research Education Experiences to Enhance Diversity in the Next Generation of Substance Abuse and Addiction Scientists (R25 – Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
This NIDA R25 funding opportunity seeks to facilitate the research education of undergraduate students, postbaccalaureates, predoctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, and early-stage investigators from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the NIDA research portfolio. Individuals who are knowledgeable about substance abuse and addiction research and interested in focusing on this research area later in their careers are encouraged to apply. See the active Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Research Education Program for Clinical Researchers and Clinicians (R25)
NIDA supports the research education of medical/graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, medical residents, and/or independent scientists through institutional research education grants. These grants provide institutional support for clinically focused, transdisciplinary training programs in substance use/abuse/addiction research. Eligible participants should be training for careers as clinical researchers, clinicians/service providers, or (optimally) a combination of the two. Participants are selected and appointed to the program by the grantee institution. See the active Notice of Funding Opportunity

Alcohol and Other Substance Use Research Education Programs for Health Professionals (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
This NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports educational activities with a primary focus on outreach. This FOA provides support for educational programs designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of a wide array of health professional participants, both individuals currently practicing their professions and those in training for health professions. This program will support projects designed to engage practicing health care professionals in education about current and emerging knowledge derived from scientific research on the neurobiology, epidemiology, prevention, and/or treatment of alcohol and other substance use disorders and related health conditions. See the active Notice of Funding Opportunity

The Support of Research Excellence (SuRE & SuRE-First) Program
The Support for Research Excellence (SuRE) Program has replaced the Support of Competitive Research (SCORE) Program. SuRE is a research capacity building program designed to develop and sustain research excellence in U.S. higher education institutions that receive limited NIH research support and serve students from groups underrepresented in biomedical research with an emphasis on providing students with research opportunities and enriching the research environment at the applicant institutions. Faculty investigators who have had experience leading independent research who are not currently program directors/principal investigators of active NIH research project grants may apply for a SuRE Award. Faculty who haven’t had any prior independent research grant support are encouraged to apply for the SuRE-First Award. See the active Notices of Funding Opportunity

Resources

Update and Policy Changes

Policy for T32 Programs

NIDA funded T32 programs are permitted to add new trainees within the last year of the program's funding with prior approval from NIDA. This policy will help to protect new trainees from a sudden lapse of funding within a relatively short period of time should the applicant's competing application not be awarded.

Prior approval can be obtained under the following circumstances: 1) the new trainee(s) require(s) support under this mechanism for only a brief time, or 2) there is a contingency plan in place to provide continuous support for the trainee(s), should the competing application not be awarded. In either case, there should be no expectation that NIDA will continue to support trainees through the T32 program once the program's funding is finished. The procedure for obtaining prior approval will be a written request accompanied by a reasonable justification submitted to the assigned NIDA Program Official, at least 2 months prior to when the trainee will be appointed.

Please be advised that this policy and requirements will be included in all T32 Notices of Grant Award.

FAQs

NIH Research Training FAQs

December 26, 2024