Rising Investigator Supplement Grant

The Rising Investigator Supplement Grant is offered by the AASM Foundation, an organization dedicated to advancing sleep and circadian science while cultivating the next generation of researchers in this field. The foundation supports scientific discovery, workforce development, and career advancement in sleep medicine and circadian biology. This specific funding opportunity is designed as a supplemental mechanism to existing research grants, enabling established investigators to mentor emerging researchers who may otherwise lack access to meaningful research experiences. The purpose of the grant is to provide funding to principal investigators who already maintain an active sleep and circadian science research grant from a United States federal agency or a U.S.-based nonprofit organization. Through this supplemental funding, investigators can support mentored research training opportunities for individuals at various stages of their academic or clinical careers. The program prioritizes candidates who have encountered barriers to accessing research opportunities or professional development resources, thereby promoting inclusivity and diversity within the research workforce. Funding is structured as a supplement to an existing parent grant, with awards providing up to 20 percent of the parent grant’s value, capped at 50,000 dollars. The period of performance ranges from 8 weeks to 3 years, depending on the duration of the parent grant. Funds are specifically intended for salary support for the mentored candidate and must align with the goals of the parent research project. Indirect costs are not permitted, and all expenditures must directly support the candidate’s research training and participation. The funded project must provide meaningful experience in sleep or circadian science research and contribute to the candidate’s long-term career development. Eligibility for applicants is limited to principal investigators who hold an active qualifying research grant and possess the necessary expertise and resources to mentor a candidate. Supported candidates must fall into defined categories, including undergraduate or graduate students, post-baccalaureate trainees, individuals in gap years within one year of degree completion, and clinical residents or fellows. Candidates must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or lawful permanent residents. International investigators and individuals affiliated with sanctioned countries are not eligible, and certain governance restrictions apply to members of the AASM Foundation Board. The application process requires submission through the AASM Foundation’s online portal. Applicants must complete registration and submit a comprehensive application package that includes project information, a research plan and goals, a mentoring and training plan, a candidate statement, personnel details, and a budget with justification. Page limits are specified for major narrative components. Resubmissions are permitted once within a 12-month window if the original application was not funded, and must include responses to reviewer feedback. Applications are evaluated by a grant review committee based on criteria such as the quality and feasibility of the research plan, the strength of the mentoring and training approach, and the candidate’s potential for career development. Final funding decisions are made by the AASM Foundation Executive Committee. Successful applicants are expected to produce measurable outcomes, including research publications and conference presentations, and must adhere to reporting requirements, which vary based on the project duration. The timeline for the grant includes an issue date of May 18, 2026, with applications due by June 29, 2026. Funding decisions are expected by October 30, 2026. The program does not explicitly state recurrence, but as part of a structured grant cycle, it may be offered periodically. Applicants are encouraged to contact the foundation with questions and should allow sufficient time for responses, particularly for eligibility inquiries that may require committee review.

Ensure research plan aligns with candidate career level; emphasize mentorship quality and measurable career development outcomes; clearly differentiate candidate work from parent grant aims