NCCIH Research Blog

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is committed to supporting research training and career development programs and increase the number, quality and diversity of scientists trained to conduct rigorous complementary and integrative health research. As part of our particular focus on individuals from groups who are underrepresented in scientific research, we are excited to announce our Center’s participation in the Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) program.

The MOSAIC program is designed to facilitate the transition of promising postdoctoral researchers from diverse backgrounds into independent faculty careers in research-intensive institutions. The program has two components: 1) individual postdoctoral career transition awards to promote diversity (K99/R00), and 2) institutionally-focused research education cooperative agreement awards (UE5).

MOSAIC Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00)

The MOSAIC K99/R00 program (PAR-19-343) is intended to support promising postdoctoral researchers from diverse backgrounds to transition from mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions at research-intensive institutions. The K99/R00 award will provide up to 2 years support in a mentored postdoctoral position in the K99 phase and then up to 3 years of independent research support in the R00 phase (5 years total support). Importantly, this funding opportunity does not allow independent clinical trials in either the K99 or R00 phase.

Applicants should come from groups identified as underrepresented in science (see NIH’s Interest in Diversity), must have no more than 4 years of postdoctoral experience at the time of application, must meet U.S. citizenship requirements, and cannot have held an independent research position or significant National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding as the principal investigator. Applicants must commit 75 percent effort in both phases. NCCIH will provide salary commensurate with the institution’s salary structure and up to $20,000 per year for research in the K99 phase. The total cost for the R00 phase cannot exceed $249,000 per year. Transition from the K99 to the R00 phase is dependent upon completing the K99 phase aims and obtaining an independent research position with strong institutional support (e.g., tenure-track position).

MOSAIC K99/R00 scholars will also be organized into scientific cohorts and will be expected to participate in mentoring, networking, and professional development activities coordinated by MOSAIC Institutionally-Focused Research Education Award to Promote Diversity (UE5) grantees.

MOSAIC Institutionally-Focused Research Education Awards (UE5)

The MOSAIC UE5 program (PAR-19-342) will award independent organizations (e.g., scientific societies) to support educational activities that equip MOSAIC K99/R00 scholars with professional skills and provide them with the appropriate mentoring and professional networks to allow them to transition into, advance, and succeed in independent academic research careers The awarded UE5 organizations will form cohorts of K99/R00 awardees and provide career development opportunities.

MOSAIC Preapplication Webinar

If you are interested in learning more about the MOSAIC Program, we encourage you to attend an informational webinar on August 18, 2020 from 1-3pm ET (we will describe both the K99/R00 and UE5 funding opportunities). For information on how to join the webinar, see https://www.nigms.nih.gov/News/meetings/Pages/NIH-MOSAIC-Program-Webinar.aspx  

The next application due date is October 12, 2020 for the K99/R00 and November 2, 2020 for the UE5. Please contact Dr. Lanay Mudd on NCCIH’s Program Staff for feedback on your study aims if you intend to apply. For additional information, see the MOSAIC Program webpage and Frequently Asked Questions.