Research Training and Career Development Resources

NIAAA has compiled resources intended to assist students, graduates, and scientists to navigate the NIH grants process, access essential information, and learn more about policies relevant to the research training and career development opportunities.

Important information is highlighted at the beginning, followed by a vast array of links to resources from NIAAA, NIH, and other organizations The list covers fundamentals of the grant process, grant writing advice, mentorship tips, on-demand training videos and podcasts, career pathway infographics, training and career development programs, frequently asked questions, and how to stay informed.

Changes to NIH Applications and Peer Review in 2025

NIH is implementing multiple changes that will impact the preparation and peer review of most grant applications submitted to NIH for due dates on or after January 25, 2025. Although each of these initiatives have specific goals, they are all meant to simplify, clarify, or ensure greater fairness.

Learn more about the changes and find resources at the NIH centralized webpage.

Harassment and Discrimination Protections in NIH Training Applications

Applications for National Institutes of Health (NIH) institutional training grants (T15, T32, T34, T35, T36, T37, T90/R90, TL1, TL4) must include a letter on institutional letterhead signed by a key institutional leader that describes the institutional commitment to ensuring that proper policies, procedures, and oversight are in place to prevent discriminatory harassment and other discriminatory practices.

This policy applies to applications submitted for due dates on or after January 25, 2019.

The specific section containing the harassment and discrimination protections is in NOT-OD-19-029.

Early Stage Investigator (ESI) Policies

An ESI is a Program Director/Principal Investigator who has completed their terminal research degree or end of post-graduate clinical training, whichever is later, within the past 10 years and who has not previously competed successfully as a PD/PI for a substantial NIH independent research award.

Learn more about NIH ESI policies.

NIAAA Research Training and Career Development Resources

• NIAAA Centers and Training Working Group Roster
• NIAAA Institutional Research Training Programs
• NIAAA T32 and T35 Supplemental Information
• NIAAA Conference Grants (R13/U13)
• NIAAA R00 Phase Activation (K99/R00)

NIH Research Training Resources

• New to NIH: includes information on the structure of NIH and why it's important to successfully navigate the grants process, as well as a video walkthrough for beginners
• NIH Grants Process Overview
• NIH Staff Roles: includes information that can help you understand the roles of NIH staff and help you contact the right person at each phase of the application and award process
• NIH Grants Policy Statement: the policy requirements that serve as the terms and conditions of NIH grant awards
• In-depth information on specific NIH policy topics, such as Family-Friendly Initiatives, foreign interference, research integrity, rigor and reproducibility, and data and other sharing policies
• NIH On-Demand Event Resources: includes recordings, transcripts, and slide decks for past learning events (such as navigating early career funding opportunities, application preparation and submission, grant writing for success, human subject research training day 1 and day 2, simplified review framework, and mock study section) and the NIH grants conference on funding, policies, and processes
• Peer Review Webinars and Videos by the Center for Scientific Review
• Assisted Referral Tool (ART) developed by the Center for Scientific Review to recommend potentially appropriate study sections
• Sample grant applications from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the National Institute on Aging, and the Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program, Behavioral Research Program, and Implementation Science of the National Cancer Institute
• Research Training and Career Development Frequently Asked Questions
• Extramural Nexus by the Office of Extramural Research: while you are there, subscribe to stay informed
• All About Grants Podcasts by the Office of Extramural Research
• NIH Grants YouTube Channel
• NIH Funding Programs by Career Stage
• Research Career Pathway Infographics: Research-Scientist, Dentist-Scientist, Physician-Scientist, Veterinarian-Scientist
• NIH Research Training and Career Development Programs
• Research Career Development Awards (K Kiosk)
• Fellowship Kiosk (F Kiosk)
• Research Training Kiosk (T Kiosk)
• Other Training-Related Programs Kiosk
• NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools (RePORT)
• Clinical Research Training and Medical Education
• NIH Intramural Training Programs by Education Level
• NIH Intramural Research Integrity Resources

Additional Research Training Resources

Links to non-governmental websites are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement by the government of any products, services, or organizations. The government does not guarantee the accuracy, relevance, or completeness of information on these external sites.

• Grants.gov Community Blog
• National Research Mentoring Network supported by the NIH Common Fund
• Nature Mentoring: an online resource by the journal Nature offering advice and support to scientist mentors and their mentees
• New Investigator Award Program of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology
• MyIDP (Individual Development Plan) – Science Careers