Research Training, Career Development, and Related Programs

The NIMH mission is broad and complex, spanning the range of sciences from genetics and molecular neurobiology—to behavioral and social sciences—to psychopathology—to clinical services, intervention, and prevention research. At these promising times for research on brain, behavior, and its disorders, we are faced with unparalleled scientific opportunities and the consequent need to attract the best and the brightest individuals to research careers.

The Institute is committed to creating viable career paths for junior investigators whose research training and career goals are in areas of program relevance. To accomplish its goal of training future generations of mental health researchers, NIMH has long been among the leading NIH Institutes in supporting National Research Service Award (NRSA) training and Research Career Development programs (K-awards). NIMH is committed to training that prepares junior, early-to-midcareer, and, to a certain extent, more established scientists, to conduct multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research on mental health and mental illness.

NIMH staff most directly responsible for training and career development programs reside at various Divisions and Offices of the Institute, including the intramural research laboratories. Prospective applicants for NRSA institutional training grants, NRSA individual fellowships, and career development awards are strongly encouraged to contact Program Officials with specific expertise and seek their advice on program priorities, relevance of their research to the mission of the NIMH, and other issues such as eligibility for a particular mechanism (e.g., F31 predoctoral fellowships or K01 mentored career development awards). In addition, review staff (Scientific Review Administrators) should be consulted regarding issues related to the assignment and review of applications, and grants management staff (Grants Management Specialists) should be consulted regarding budgetary and other grants management rules and regulations.

If you have any questions, need clarification of specific policies governing NRSA or K-awards, program priorities, etc., please do not hesitate to e-mail or call any of the responsible program, review, or grants management staff.

Training/Career Programs Supported by NIMH

The NIMH supports a wide variety of programs to facilitate the training and career development of scientists at all stages:

• Overview and Time Table of NIMH training and career development programs
• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA), Institutional Training Grants (T32), and Individual Fellowships (F30, F31, F32) [Notice]
• Jointly Sponsored NIH Predoctoral Training Program in the Neurosciences (PA-02-017) [Notice]
• Career Development Awards (K01, K02, K08, K22, K23, K24, and K25)
• Determining Full-Time Professional Effort For Career Awards (NOT-OD-04-056)


• NIMH policy update for career awards, and NIH Extramural Training: K Kiosk—Information about NIH Career Development Awards
• Mental Health Research Education Grants (R25; PAR-02-087)

Programs for Special Populations

This Office of Special Populations supports a broad range of programs:

• Advanced Centers For Mental Health Disparities Research (ACMHDR)
• NIMH Career Opportunities in Research Education and Training (COR) Honors Undergraduate Research Training Grants (T34)
• NIMH Career Opportunities in Research and Training (COR) Honors High School Research Education Grant (R25)
• NIMH Minority Research Infrastructure Support Program (R24)
• NIMH specific Information on Research Supplements (links to the current supplement program announcements are included.)
• NIMH New Minority Faculty Members (K01)
• NIMH Mental Health Dissertation Research Grants to Increase Diversity in the Mental Health Research Arena
• NIH Loan Repayment Programs