Eligibility

Benefactor-Funded Research Mid-Career Development Awards support candidates who are no longer eligible for "Early Stage Investigator" status but have not successfully obtained independent research funding.

Candidates from any Mayo Clinic site and any department or division are eligible to apply for these awards unless the award specifies otherwise. Awards restricted to practicing clinicians are available only to applicants who actively take patient appointments.

Basic and translational scientists with expertise in cell, molecular or physiological science and interest in understanding the basic mechanisms of the stated disease are encouraged to apply.

Research expertise

Eligible candidates should have a demonstrated expertise in their chosen fields, with significant contributions to research, including publications, but have not had a track record of successfully obtaining extramural funding for research projects.

Career stage

Mid-career researchers are defined as individuals who are past the stage of "early investigators" as defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), but who have not reached fully independent external funding, such as NIH R01 funding or similar. Eligible candidates for Benefactor-Funded Research Mid-Career Development Awards must hold one of the following appointments as of Jan. 1, 2024:

  • Associate consultant.
  • Senior associate consultant.
  • Consultant.
  • Mayo Clinic scholar.
  • Nurse scientist.
  • Ph.D.- or Pharm.D.-prepared nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists and acupuncturists.

Individuals are not eligible if, as of Jan. 1, 2024, they:

  • Hold the position of research scientist, research associate, research fellow, resident or clinical fellow.
  • Are a career scientist or clinician investigator with a salary line position.
  • Have the academic rank of professor.
  • Hold career development awards of $100,000 a year or more in total funding through the Benefactor-Funded Research Mid-Career Development Awards program.
  • Have already received five years of funding through the Benefactor-Funded Research Mid-Career Development Awards program.
  • Hold or have received NIH independent research awards including R01 or R01-equivalent awards.

Previous funding

Applicants who have received external funding for early-stage investigators are eligible for this award. Examples of early-stage investigator funding include but are not limited to the following:

  • NIH small grants including NIH R03 or R21 awards.
  • NIH Research Career Development Awards, such as K01, K08, K23, KL2 or K12.
  • Similar small grants or research career development awards from other federal agencies or foundations.

Extenuating circumstance

In certain cases, established investigators who do not meet the standard mid-career criteria may still be considered for the award. Applicants should emphasize how the award would assist them in pursuing a substantial change in the research career direction. The required career development plan must include a description of how the proposed research represents a change in direction and how the funding will support the success of this change. A mentor's letter is required, and these circumstances will be considered in the peer-review process.