Academic Career Excellence (ACE) Award (K32 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Can you apply?
This grant is for early-stage postdoctoral scholars seeking mentored research and career development support. Applicants must be within one year before starting postdoctoral training or up to two years after training begins. U.S. organizations are eligible; foreign organizations cannot apply. Research must align with participating NIH Institutes and Centers missions.
Program description
The purpose of the Academic Career Excellence (ACE) Award (K32) is to support rigorous, mentored scientific research and career development for up to three years for early-stage postdoctoral scholars. Candidates must submit their application up to one year prior to beginning their postdoctoral position or no more than two years after their postdoctoral training begins (resubmissions included). The ACE K32 will foster early, goal-directed planning and encourage innovative applications with the potential for a significant impact on scientific research and career development. Inclusion of preliminary data are not required as the ACE K32 emphasizes innovative research ideas and thoughtful plans for training and mentorship that will facilitate the development of the postdoctoral scholars who have the potential to become productive, independent investigators in research fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- NIH Standard SF-424 Form
- Project Narrative
- Biographical Sketch (Mentor and Applicant)
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Letters of Support from Mentors
- Institutional Endorsement Letter
- Protection of Human Subjects forms (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 ncik32@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.855 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$438,527,853
-
$246,626,852
-
$204,359,786
-
$201,437,825
-
$200,221,259
-
$185,816,804
-
$180,737,624
-
$136,265,880
-
$116,817,868
-
$99,478,296
Top States by Funding
- CA 10 awards $818.8M
- WA 3 awards $684.0M
- MA 6 awards $602.8M
- NC 3 awards $446.4M
- NY 7 awards $375.8M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.855). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $4,073,812,529 | |
| 2025 | $4,378,235,639 | |
| 2026 est. | $4,299,426,996 |
FAQ
Who can apply for the ACE K32 Award?
Early-stage postdoctoral scholars must apply within one year before starting their postdoctoral position or within two years after training begins. Foreign organizations are not eligible.
What is the funding duration?
Awards support up to three years of mentored research and career development. The project timeline aligns with typical postdoctoral training periods.
Do I need preliminary data?
No preliminary data is required. The award emphasizes innovative research ideas and thoughtful mentorship plans over preliminary findings.
What should my research focus on?
Research must align with the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers. Innovative ideas with potential for significant research impact are preferred.
Can I reapply if rejected?
Yes, resubmissions are allowed under this program.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize your innovative research idea and mentorship plan, not preliminary data. Strong conceptual frameworks matter most.
- Choose a mentor and institution aligned with NIH priorities. Clear mentoring structure strengthens applications significantly.
- Demonstrate your research will develop you into an independent investigator. Connect your project to long-term career goals.
- Provide realistic timelines for three-year training and research milestones. Show how mentorship supports your growth as a researcher.
- Verify your career stage fits the postdoctoral timeline. Submit within the one-year-before to two-years-after window.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications lacking a clear mentorship plan or failing to specify mentor qualifications often get rejected. Proposals without explicit connection to NIH Institute/Center missions miss the mark. Applicants outside the eligible career stage window (not within one year before or two years after postdoctoral start) are ineligible.
Similar grants
- OPEN Rural Community Health Integration2026 — New York State Department of Health
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Rangeland Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN Infertility Training Center — Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health