Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Transition Award

The Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Transition Award, also known as the Parent F99/K00 award, is a forecasted funding opportunity from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NIH is a leading federal agency responsible for biomedical and public health research, and this specific initiative aligns with its broader mission to support the development of future scientific leaders. The program is designed to retain and support highly promising graduate students as they complete their doctoral research and transition into mentored postdoctoral career development opportunities in research areas relevant to participating NIH Institutes and Centers. This funding opportunity aims to foster a seamless and productive transition from the predoctoral phase to postdoctoral research training. By providing a mechanism for sustained support during this critical career juncture, the NIH hopes to improve the pipeline of well-trained, diverse, and productive scientists. While the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has yet to be published, this early forecast serves to inform and prepare potential applicants of the upcoming opportunity and enable them to begin structuring responsive project plans. The award falls under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research category, according to the associated Assistance Listing (93.077), indicating a thematic emphasis on tobacco regulation and public health. However, since NIH Institutes and Centers may have varying research priorities, the specific scope of eligible research projects will depend on which NIH components choose to participate once the NOFO is released. The expected structure of the award supports both doctoral dissertation research and postdoctoral training phases, typically through a phased funding model. There is no matching or cost-sharing requirement for this opportunity, which lowers the barrier to entry for eligible applicants. Eligibility spans a broad set of institutions including private and public institutions of higher education, small businesses, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions). This suggests the program is designed to accommodate a wide range of training environments and host institutions, consistent with the NIH’s emphasis on scientific diversity and inclusion. While a full submission protocol has not yet been disclosed, based on typical NIH procedures, applicants can expect to apply through the Grants.gov portal, with components such as research strategy narratives, biosketches, institutional support letters, and training plans likely to be required. Submission for this opportunity is forecasted to open on January 23, 2026, and close on April 8, 2026. Awards are expected to be made by December 8, 2026, with performance likely commencing on that same date. Applicants seeking clarification or additional information can contact the Division of Biomedical Research Workforce within the NIH Office of Extramural Research at [email protected] or by phone at 301-451-0993. No pre-application requirements or PDF documents are currently listed. As this is a forecasted opportunity, prospective applicants should monitor Grants.gov or the NIH website for the official NOFO and any updates regarding application instructions and eligibility specifics.