MOSAIC Program

Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers Awards

The MOSAIC program, part of NIH’s efforts to enhance diversity within the academic biomedical research workforce, is designed to facilitate the transition of promising postdoctoral researchers from diverse backgrounds, including individuals from groups underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce at the faculty level, into independent faculty careers in research-intensive institutions.

The program has two components:

• The MOSAIC Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00) for individuals in mentored, postdoctoral training positions funded by a participating NIH Institute or Center. NIH accepts applications for the MOSAIC K99/R00 award three times per year. Please note, the MOSAIC K99/R00 award is limited to U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents.
• The MOSAIC Institutionally-Focused Research Education Award to Promote Diversity (UE5), a cooperative agreement for scientific societies which provide courses for skills development and mentoring activities to the K99/R00 awardees.

The MOSAIC K99/R00 awards, which are administered by the participating Institutes, provide scholars with up to five years of mentored career development and research support.

• PAR-21-271 - MOSAIC Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• PAR-21-272 - MOSAIC Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Required)
• PAR-21-273 - MOSAIC Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 - Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required (BESH))

MOSAIC scholars propose rigorous research and career development activities in the K99 phase of the applications. Along with mentors, they include a tailored career development plan. These early career scientists demonstrate compelling commitments and contributions to enhancing diversity, as well as substantive plans to continue these activities as part of their independent research careers.

Scholars must have no more than four years of postdoctoral research experience at the time of the application. Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply no later than the third year of their postdoctoral training to ensure awardees receive maximum benefit from both the K99 phase of the award, and to facilitate a timely transition to independence.

The K99/R00 award is intended for individuals who require at least 12 months of mentored research training and career development (K99 phase) before transitioning to the R00 award phase of the program. Consequently, the strongest applicants will require and propose a well-conceived plan for one to two years of substantive mentored research training and career development that will help them become competitive candidates for tenure-track faculty positions and prepare them to launch robust, independent research programs.

Additionally, each scholar becomes part of a cohort-based career development program selected by the applicant to expand their professional networks and gain additional skills and mentoring through programs administered by MOSAIC UE5 awardees, currently the:

• American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
• American Society for Cell Biology.
• Association of American Medical Colleges.

NIH’s participating Institutes and Centers review, select, and administer applications received for the MOSAIC K99/R00, and the National Institute on General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) coordinates their affiliation with the UE5 grants.

Learn about NIMHD’s postdoctoral scholars in its Extramural Research Program who have received the MOSAIC K99/R00 award.

Page updated June 1, 2022