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 Before you apply for an NIAID fellowship or mentored career development award, select an established scientist to act as your sponsor throughout the project. For some projects, you may need two sponsors; check the program announcement for details.
Put time and effort into finding a good sponsor, and make sure you can work effectively together. In evaluating your application, peer reviewers will assess the quality of your sponsor, as well as your CV and research program. After award, you'll need NIAID's approval before you can switch your grant to another lab.
What Should You Look for in a Sponsor?
Your sponsor should be an active investigator, with independent funding in your field of interest. Someone who's no longer doing original research won't score highly with reviewers. Similarly, your application could suffer if your sponsor's expertise doesn't complement your area of investigation.
Peer reviewers will expect your sponsor to offer a solid research and mentoring record, with past trainees who've progressed to significant scientific careers. Although you'll want an experienced sponsor with proven accomplishments, be aware that eminent, established researchers are often away from the lab (and reviewers will know that). Select a mentor who will be available to answer questions and guide you in your research.
Don't underestimate the importance of personal chemistry. Like guidance counselors or college advisors, sponsors should use the benefit of their experience to guide you through unfamiliar situations. If the person you've chosen is aloof or unsympathetic or if you just don't mesh well, you won't derive full benefits from your award. Meet your prospective sponsor and trust your instincts. Historically, this issue has affected some postdocs on individual NRSA fellowships (F32s).
Additional Resources
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