The NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (DP5 mechanism), established in 2010, accelerates the entry of exceptional junior investigators (within 15 months after or 12 months before receiving their terminal research degree or completing postgraduate clinical training) into positions of independent research by omitting the traditional postdoctoral training period. The review places a strong emphasis on the qualities of the investigator and the environment provided by the host institution.
The NIH Director’s Early Independence Award is part of the Common Fund’s High-Risk, High-Reward Research program, which was created to accelerate the pace of biomedical discoveries by supporting exceptionally creative scientists with highly innovative research. The program seeks to identify scientists with high-impact ideas that may be risky or at a stage too early to fare well in the traditional peer review process. The program encourages creative, outside-the-box thinkers to pursue exciting and innovative ideas in any area of biomedical research relevant to the NIH mission. The program houses three additional awards – the NIH Director's Pioneer Award, NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, and NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award – and is managed by the Office of the Director in partnership with other component NIH Institutes and Centers.
Part of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research program, the award supports outstanding junior scientists with the intellect, scientific creativity, drive, and maturity to flourish independentlylaunch independent research careers and bypass the traditional postdoctoral training period.
- Must complete doctoral degree or clinical training between June 1, 2017 and September 30, 2019
- Must be in non-independent research position at time of application
- Single PI only
- Requires significant institutional support
- Preliminary data not required
- $250,000 direct costs per year for up to 5 years
- Minimum of 80% research effort in first 2 years
- 3-5 Letters of Reference required
At the time of award, either 1) the Early Independence investigator must have received a PhD, MD, DO, DC, DDS, DVM, OD, DPM, ScD, EngD, Dr PH, DNSc, ND (Doctor of Naturopathy), PharmD, DSW, PsyD, or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution (it is the responsibility of the sponsoring institution to determine if a foreign doctoral degree is equivalent), or 2) an authorized official of the degree-granting or training institution must certify that all degree requirements have been met and that the receipt date of the degree (as will appear on the transcript) will be before September 30, 2019; in addition, an authorized official of the host institution must certify that the PD/PI will be eligible to conduct independent research at the institution at the time of the project start date.
For more information, visit https://commonfund.nih.gov/earlyindependence
Interested applicants should send the following documents in sequence in one PDF no later than 4:00 p.m. on the internal submission deadline:
Cover Page must include:
- Descriptive project title
- Name(s), of the PD(s)/PI(s)
- Names of other key personnel
- Participating institution(s)
Two-page summary to include:
- Research Objectives: State your research topic and overall approach. Why is this area of research significant? What impact will your research have if successful? What are the major conceptual or technical innovations you are introducing into this research area?
- Institutional Support: How will the institutional support, including the assurance of research independence, facilitate the accomplishment of your research objectives?
- Early Independence Rationale: How will your scientific and technical background, research accomplishments, leadership/mentorship attributes, and scientific vision be leveraged to accomplish the research objectives?
Letter of Recommendation:
- Letter of Recommendation from the Department Chair/Director
Formatting Guidelines:
- Font/size: Times New Roman (12 pt.)
- Document margins: 1.0” (top, bottom, left and right)
- Standard paper size (8 ½” x 11)
Questions concerning the limited submissions process may be submitted to limitedsubs@psu.edu.