Program Eligibility
To participate in RAPID, you must:
- Be a research-oriented junior faculty member holding a doctoral degree, such as a PhD, MD, DO, DVM, or post-doctoral scholar transitioning to a faculty position*
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States
- Have a research focus that is centered on infectious diseases or relevant research methodologies and approaches specific to this area
- Have not yet received an independent NIH research award (R01 type or equivalent**)
*Transitioning to a faculty position means that you have or will have received a formal faculty appointment by the time the Summer Institute convenes in July 2026.
**R01-equivalent grants are defined as activity codes DP1, DP2, DP5, R37, R56, RF1, RL1, U01 and R35 from select NIGMS and NHGRI program announcements. (Source: https://report.nih.gov/nihdatabook/category/3)
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.
Apply for the RAPID 2026-27 Cohort!
Submit your application form for the RAPID program 2026-27 cohort by Sunday, March 1, 2026.