Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 21 271

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 271

The Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity is an NIH grant program that uses the K99/R00 career transition mechanism to help outstanding postdoctoral researchers move more quickly and successfully into independent, tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty positions at research-intensive institutions. The core idea is to provide a structured, well-supported bridge from mentored postdoctoral training to running an independent research program, while also building a national cohort of scholars from diverse backgrounds working across NIH mission areas. The long-term workforce goal is straightforward: increase diversity in the basic biomedical sciences by helping talented scientists who have historically been underrepresented or disadvantaged in biomedical research careers establish themselves as independent investigators.

This opportunity is specifically a K99/R00 “Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed” funding announcement (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-21-271). In practical terms, it supports research and career development during two linked phases. The K99 phase is the mentored postdoctoral period, where the awardee continues to train under the guidance of experienced mentors while producing strong research outputs and building the skills, publications, preliminary data, and professional profile needed to compete for faculty roles. The R00 phase is the independent phase that activates once the scholar secures an eligible independent faculty position; at that point, NIH support continues to help the new investigator launch an independent research program, build a lab, and establish funding momentum. Because this particular announcement does not allow independent clinical trials, applicants need to ensure their proposed work fits within the non-clinical-trial scope defined by NIH for this mechanism.

A distinctive feature of MOSAIC, compared with the standard K99/R00, is the cohort-based infrastructure. MOSAIC scholars are expected to participate in organized mentoring, networking, and professional development activities coordinated by MOSAIC Institutionally-Focused Research Education Award to Promote Diversity (UE5) grantees. That means the program is not only funding individuals; it is also intentionally building a community and support system that can address common barriers to academic advancement, such as limited access to mentorship networks, sponsorship, grantwriting guidance, and cross-institutional peer support. The cohort expectation is a key part of how MOSAIC aims to improve career outcomes over the long term, not just during the award period.

The opportunity is administered by the National Institutes of Health and is categorized as a discretionary grant. It spans many NIH-related assistance listings (multiple CFDA numbers are associated, reflecting the many NIH Institutes and Centers that can participate). The original closing date listed in the source data is 2024-07-23, and the funding opportunity was created on 2021-08-17. An award ceiling is not specified in the provided listing, and the expected number of awards is not stated in the excerpt, so applicants typically need to consult the full NIH notice and participating Institute/Center guidance for budget structure, allowable costs, and any institute-specific expectations.

Eligibility, as presented in the source, includes a wide range of applicant organization types across the U.S. landscape, including state and local governments, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with and without 501(c)(3) status), certain for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses, as well as tribal governments and tribal organizations. The announcement also highlights “other eligible applicants” such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, along with faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, the foreign eligibility rules are clear: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, “foreign components” are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which generally means a U.S.-based applicant may include certain well-justified project elements conducted outside the U.S. if NIH policy requirements are met.

Taken together, MOSAIC K99/R00 is best understood as a targeted NIH investment in people and pathways: it funds high-potential postdocs from diverse backgrounds, supports their transition into independent faculty roles, and wraps that funding in a cohort model that emphasizes mentorship, networking, and professional development. The intended outcome is not only to help individual awardees become competitive, independent scientists, but also to shift the broader composition of the biomedical research workforce by improving retention and success in the crucial postdoc-to-faculty transition stage.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.307, 93.313, 93.361, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.847, 93.853, 93.855, 93.859, 93.866, 93.867, 93.879.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-08-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-23. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

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