We’re excited to announce a new opportunity for neuroscience graduate students interested in an independent research career: the ACTION Potential Award, administered through the Parent F99/K00 funding opportunity. It is supported by the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research and the BRAIN Initiative.
You can learn more about this opportunity below and at our upcoming webinar on NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research and BRAIN Initiative training opportunities on Thursday, July 16, 2026 at 2pm – 3pm EDT (Register here).
About the Award
The two-phase Academic Career Transition Initiative for Opportunities in Neuroscience (ACTION) Potential award supports you through the end of your PhD and into a postdoctoral position:
- F99 (PhD phase): 1-2 years of funding and structured support to help you finish your dissertation
- K00 (Postdoc phase): 3 years of continued funding and mentorship as you start your postdoc
The program is designed to make the PhD-to-postdoc transition less daunting. You’ll get a formal training plan, a vetted mentor or mentor team, annual meetings with a cross-institutional neuroscience community, and career development programming — all aimed at setting you up for an independent research career.
Supported Research
The award is open to graduate students from a wide range of fields within neuroscience. You don’t need to stay within a single institute’s mission across PhD and postdoctoral training. The program is supported by the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research and the BRAIN Initiative, which are funded by multiple NIH Institutes who pool their resources to support the field as a whole. Your research must fit within the neuroscience mission of one of the participating institutes or offices: NCCIH, NEI, NIA, NIAAA, NIBIB, NICHD, NIDA, NIDCD, NIDCR, NIEHS, NIMH, NINDS, OBSSR.
How to Apply
Apply through the Parent F99/K00 funding opportunity (PA-27-037). Help us identify your interest in this program by referencing the “Neuroscience Blueprint” in section A. Overall Training Goals, under Goals, Preparedness, and Potential in the Candidate Section. Note that final determination of mission fit is done by NIH staff.
Please reach out in advance of applying: email your questions and specific aims to BPF99K00@nih.gov