Program Eligibility
Early-career academics including junior faculty and postdoctoral scholars transitioning into a faculty position who have yet to receive an independent NIH research award (R01 type) or similar award are eligible to apply. All applicants must complete the pre-application form to determine eligibility.
To be eligible to participate, you must:
- Be a full-time research-oriented junior-level faculty member holding a doctoral degree, such as a PhD, MD, DO, DVM or a post-doctoral scholar transitioning* into a faculty position
- Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
- Have a research focus that is centered on heart, lung, blood, or sleep disorders; health disparities relevant to heart, lung, blood, or sleep disorders; or relevant research methodologies and approaches specific to these areas
- Participate in career tracking for up to ten years after training is completed
- Have not attended a previous NHLBI program cohort
- Have not received an independent NIH research award (R01 type) or a similar award
*Transitioning means that you have or will have received a formal faculty appointment by the time the Summer Institute Program convenes in July 2026.
In addition to applicants from national pools, we especially encourage applications from within the University of California President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (PPFP), UC San Diego Chancellor's Fellowship Program (CPFP), the Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) program, and the national network of the Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA) program.
Interested in the FOCUS program?
Submit an interest form to be added to our contact list.