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Postdoctoral Scientists

  • Postdoctoral Fellowships
    Various positions are available at the NIDCR/NIH in Bethesda, Maryland to train professionals with a PhD and/or a DDS, DMD, MD, or DVM. Applicants must be within five years of their graduation date and have less than five years previous postdoctoral experience to apply. Stipend amounts depend on the level of experience and the type of positions available. Perspective applicants can view current NIH postdoctoral openings and contact individual NIDCR laboratories of interest to identify future research positions. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. US citizens and non-US citizens may apply.
  • Postdoctoral Visiting Fellowships (VF)
    Postdoctoral positions are available at the NIDCR/NIH in Bethesda, Maryland to train professionals from all non-U.S. countries with a PhD and/or a DDS, DMD, MD, or DVM. Applicants must be within five years of receiving their graduate degree and have less than five years of relevant previous postdoctoral experience to apply. The stipends for postdoctoral Visiting Fellows are adjusted yearly, and benefits include health insurance for the trainee and his/her family. Perspective applicants can view current NIH postdoctoral openings and contact individual NIDCR laboratories of interest to identify future research positions. Citizens of all non-U.S. countries may apply.
  • NIDCR Clinical Research Fellowship
    This is a two-year full-time program designed to train health professionals in the latest clinical research methodologies. Qualified applicants hold a DDS/DMD, MD/DO, RN, or RDH degree and have demonstrated a sustained interest in dental/oral/craniofacial research, as evidenced by prior research experience and/or masters or doctoral level education beyond clinical training. Projects are designed to facilitate translational research in which clinical research projects are conducted that complement basic science laboratory projects. Fellows work with investigators in the Clinical Research Core and the Human Craniofacial Genetics section. Fellows are provided with a stipend and may be eligible for NIH Loan Repayment Programs. For more information contact Dr. Demetrio L. Domingo at 301-594-9726, ddomingo@mail.nih.gov
  • Individual NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32)
    Provides up to three years support for trainees at academic institutions to broaden their scientific background or extend their potential for research in health-related areas. Applicants must have a doctoral degree. The stipend ranges depending on years of postdoctoral experience. Additional funds are available for other training related expenses. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or permanent residents at the time of award.
  • Institutional Dual Degree Programs (T32)
    NIDCR provides funds to institutions across the country to train postdoctoral fellows who wish to pursue careers in oral health research.  Postdoctoral trainees should contact the training director at the particular institution(s) they are interested in to inquire about available opportunities.  Trainees must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or permanent residents.
  • Individual Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08)
    The purpose of the NIDCR K08 mechanism is to encourage dentists or other clinicians to pursue a career in oral health research.  The prospective candidate must have a DDS/DMD, MD or other clinical doctoral degree, and be willing to spend a minimum of 75 percent of full-time professional effort conducting research.  Priority will be given to dentists who wish to pursue a program that includes didactic and supervised basic or behavioral science research experiences that result in the PhD degree.  Health professionals who already have the PhD degree may use the award for postdoctoral experience.  The NIDCR does not allow support for clinical specialty training to be provided under this program. 

    Supports three to five years of supervised research experience that integrates didactic studies with mentored basic, behavioral or laboratory research.  An annual salary plus commensurate fringe benefits are provided.  Additional funds are available for training related expenses.  Applicants must have a sponsoring institution and mentor.  Applicants must also be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or permanent residents at the time of award.

  • Individual Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
    Supports three to five years of supervised study for clinically trained professionals with a doctoral degree to pursue training in patient-oriented research. Patient-oriented research is defined as research conducted with human subjects (or on material of human origin such as tissues, specimens, and cognitive phenomena) for which an investigator directly interacts with human subjects. This area of research includes: 1) mechanisms of human disease; 2) therapeutic interventions; 3) clinical trials, and; 4) the development of new technologies.

    Candidates must have a sponsoring institution and mentor. Salary, fringe benefits, and training-related expenses are provided. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or permanent residents at the time of award.
  • Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00)
    This two-phase award provides the opportunity for promising postdoctoral scientists to receive both mentored and independent research support from the same award. The initial 1-2 year mentored phase will allow investigators to complete their supervised research work, publish results, and search for an independent research position. The second, independent phase, years 3-5, will allow awardees who secure an assistant professorship, or equivalent position, to establish their own research program and successfully apply for an NIH Investigator-Initiated (R01) grant. Outstanding postdoctoral candidates who have terminal clinical or research doctorates (or equivalent doctoral degrees) and who have no more than 5 years of postdoctoral research training at the time of initial application, or subsequent resubmission(s) are eligible. Former principal investigators of NIH Small Grants (R03) or Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21) are also eligible.

    The NIDCR welcomes applications from postdoctoral scientists seeking to establish an independent research career in social, behavioral, biomedical, and biological science fields relevant to the NIDCR Strategic Plan. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to a career in oral health research, and funding priority will be given to applicants holding a dental degree.

    In addition, although previous K awardees are not generally eligible to apply for a second K award, the NIDCR will accept K99/R00 applications from dentist scientists who have used a previous NIDCR-funded K08 or K23 award to earn the PhD degree. Such applicants must have completed the PhD before applying. All other eligibility requirements and conditions of the K99/R00 mechanism apply.

    For more details regarding the Pathway to Independence Award, see the NIH New Investigators website.
  • Individual Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award (K25)
    Supports career development of investigators with quantitative scientific and engineering backgrounds outside of biology or medicine who wish to focus their research on behavioral, basic or clinical biomedical research. Candidates must have an advanced degree in a quantitative area of science or engineering (e.g. MSEE, PhD, DSc) and have a sponsoring institution and mentor. Salary, fringe benefits and additional funds for research support are provided. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or permanent residents at the time of award.
  • Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research
    Provides research training and career development support for individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.  Funding is awarded to principal investigators on active NIDCR grants who will serve as mentors for the diversity supplement candidates.  The activities proposed in the supplement application must advance the research objectives of the parent grant while providing training opportunities for the candidate.  Contact the NIDCR Training Director for advice on how to go about finding a mentor.
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This page last updated: July 09, 2008