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When applying for your first independent NIH research grant, new investigators get some breaks:
- Higher paylines.
- NIH sets target numbers for funding new R01 investigators.
- As a result, NIAID must use a higher payline, making it easier for new investigators to get an award. Go to NIAID Paylines.
- Initial peer review.
- Peer reviewers look more at potential than achievement -- they
weigh your academic and research background heavily.
- Reviewers may expect new R01 investigators to have fewer preliminary data, resources, and publications than more established researchers do.
- New investigator applications are generally not interspersed with those of established investigators at the review meeting.
- Selective pay and R56-Bridge awards.
How to Qualify for New and Early-Stage Investigator Status
ESI is a subset of new investigator status. ESIs must have completed a final research degree or discipline-specific training within 10 years of applying. |
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NIH has two types of special status for people starting their independent research careers: new investigator and early-stage investigator (ESI).
New investigator defined. To qualify as an NIH new investigator, you cannot have been a principal investigator (PI) on a major NIH grant that you applied for. See the next section for the list of exceptions.
ESI defined. As a subset of new investigator status, an ESI must have completed one of the following within 10 years of applying, whichever was later:
- Final research degree.
- Discipline-specific training required to become a researcher.
You can request an extension of your ESI status past the 10-year window due to special circumstances. Read more on the next page, How to Extend the Early Stage Investigator Window.
Previous Awards Status
Once you apply for and receive a major NIH grant, you no longer qualify to be a new investigator or an ESI. See the list of exceptions in the NIH Definition of a New Investigator, and be aware that NIAID has another exception: the R33 phase of an R21/R33.
If an award isn't on that list, you would lose your ESI or new investigator status as soon as you receive the grant. However, you can still qualify for either status if you become a PI on a major NIH grant you did not apply for, e.g., if your institution assigns you to be the PI of an existing grant.
On a multiple PI application, all PIs must qualify as new or ESI for the application to get either status.
Identify Yourself!
Starting on January 17, 2009, all PIs must enter degree and discipline-specific training dates in their Commons profile.
Be sure to do this right away. The information will enable NIH to identify ESIs and new investigators. Also make sure your biosketch states that you are a new investigator or ESI.
Until that date, check the "new" box on the PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement, so NIH and reviewers can readily identify you.
Find more information online:
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