Extensions for Early Career Scientists Whose Career Trajectories have been Significantly Impacted by COVID-19
NIH has issued Guide Notice No. NOT-OD-21-052, to support early-career scientists whose career trajectories may have been significantly affected by the pandemic. NIH is providing an opportunity for recipients in their last year of NIH Fellowship (“F”) and NIH Career Development (“K”) awards who have been impacted by COVID-19 to request extensions.
- No-cost Extensions – For Fellowships and some career development awards (e.g., K99), the first no-cost extension may be submitted by the Authorized Organizational Official (AOR) as a prior approval request to the funding IC(s). Recipients may also submit prior approval requests for second no-cost extensions. These requests must include a justification outlining the impact of COVID-19 on the recipient’s training and career development activities and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Funded Extensions – Recipients, via the AOR, may request a funded extension for F and K awards by contacting the Grants Management and Program Official listed in the Notice of Award. These requests will be considered by each IC on a case-by-case basis using the following considerations:
- Availability of funds
- Justification that the training or career development activities have been significantly hindered over and above lost research productivity that most individuals experienced because of COVID-19 related shutdowns.
- The Guide Notice includes complete details on what must be included in funded extension requests.
NIH hopes these opportunities will provide help for some of their researchers whose careers have been adversely affected by the effects of the pandemic and encourages those in the last year of an F or K award to consider whether an extension would be helpful
Please contact your Sponsored Programs Research Administrator with questions and to submit a prior approval request to NIH.