BRAIN Initiative Career Development & Training

BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity

Supports diverse early-career neuroscientists moving from mentorship to independent research leadership.

The BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award (K99/R00) supports researchers from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds who are conducting BRAIN Initiative-relevant neuroscience research and have fewer than five years of postdoctoral experience at the time of application. The award operates in two sequential phases: the K99 mentored phase, which takes place at the applicant's current postdoctoral institution and provides funding for research training and career development, followed by the R00 independent-research phase, which the awardee activates upon transitioning to a tenure-track or equivalent faculty position at a new institution. Multiple NIH Institutes co-sponsor the award, including NINDS and NIBIB, reflecting its cross-disciplinary scope across neuroscience and biomedical engineering.

Eligibility is restricted to individual postdoctoral researchers at U.S. universities or research organizations; institutional applicants, for-profit entities, and applicants exceeding the five-year postdoctoral cap are ineligible. Diversity from groups underrepresented in biomedical research is an explicit eligibility criterion, not merely a preference. Four application deadlines are offered in 2026: February 13, June 13, and October 15 for new applications, and March 13 for resubmissions, providing multiple entry points annually.

Competitive candidates will present a research plan clearly situated within BRAIN Initiative priorities—such as neural circuit mapping, new neurotechnologies, or large-scale neural data analysis—combined with a strong mentorship plan, a credible timeline for faculty-position attainment, and evidence of the applicant's potential for independent scholarship. Review panels will evaluate scientific merit, training environment quality, career development plan, and the candidate's demonstrated commitment to advancing the BRAIN Initiative's scientific goals.