FAST TRACK TO FACULTY -

UAB CFAR PILOT FUNDING FOR SENIOR POSTDOCS

The mission of CFAR is to catalyze new and nurture ongoing HIV research across numerous scientific domains – and to do this in partnership with the communities we serve. We support HIV research across all domains–from basic and clinical work to implementation and community science. Ensuring services to these pillars of scientific research unifies our purpose and aligns our goals with those of the National AIDS Strategy and the HIV scientific community.

The UAB CFAR has allocated funds to support research conducted by promising senior-level postdoctoral fellows that can be used to jump-start their academic research goals and increase their competitiveness for faculty positions. We aim to cultivate a highly integrative HIV research environment and successful research teams, essential components of continued research success in the current funding landscape. Per NIH guidance, clinical trials are not supported through this mechanism. 

Proposals describing any type of science are welcome, especially those from investigators in the basic, clinical, and implementation sciences.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Have an MD or PhD or equivalent terminal degree
• Any type of HIV research is applicable; basic science methodologies preferred
• Have not had an NIH career development award or equivalent grant; T32 grantees are encouraged to apply. 
• Have an appointment as a postdoctoral fellow in a UAB Department or Division and be in an advanced stage of the postdoctoral fellowship, with a vision for attain a faculty position on the horizon. This will differ for each candidate depending on their discipline. Examples of people who are in an advanced stage of a postdoc may include a holder of a PhD in microbiology that is beginning their 3rd or 4th year in a lab or a holder of a PhD in a public health discipline that is beginning their 2nd year and planning to write an NIH K grant. 

Principal investigators are encouraged to engage investigators at different levels, community stakeholders, public health representatives, and those with lived experience and varying backgrounds in support of their study. A strong mentorship plan is also encouraged.

MPIs are not allowed.

Timeline:

• RFA Release: December 1^st, 2025
• Deadline for Full Applications February 2^nd, 2026
• Notification of Award: April 1^st, 2025

Submission Instructions:

Full Proposals should be submitted to Emily Knighton-Akins eknighton@uabmc.edu and Mary Thielen mthielen@uabmc.edu in one Adobe PDF file. Please copy all mentors on the submission email. The full proposal will be submitted using the PHS 398 forms  (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398_rev06-2009/phs398.html), following a modified NIH investigator initiated grant application (R01) format. Complete instructions can be found in the Guidelines below. 

Download Guidelines for 2026 Fast Track to Faculty Pilots