Mentored Career Development Awards (MCDA)
Mentored Career Development Awards (MCDA) support early career scientists through mentored, NIH-funded biomedical research to build research skills and strengthen Kentucky’s biomedical workforce.
Funder: Kentucky IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence
Due Dates: Rolling (New applications) | March 1, 2027 (Renewal proposals)
Funding Amounts: Up to $30,000–$40,000 in direct costs for one year, based on trainee degree; F&A additional
Summary: Supports early career scientists through full-time, mentored biomedical research experiences with NIH-funded faculty at Kentucky institutions.
Key Information: Faculty sponsors at the University of Louisville and University of Kentucky are excluded.
Description
Kentucky INBRE’s Mentored Career Development Awards provide individualized research experiences for promising early career scientists with baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degrees. The program supports trainees seeking additional experience before applying for graduate programs, faculty appointments, or other biomedical research positions. Trainees work with faculty sponsors on NIH-funded projects, participating in hands-on research execution, analysis, and reporting.
The awards combine partial salary support with structured, stage-appropriate career mentoring to develop trainees’ research capabilities, knowledge, and skills. They also aim to enhance faculty research productivity and competitiveness for continued NIH support. Together, these goals strengthen Kentucky’s biomedical research workforce by advancing both early-stage scientists and experienced research faculty.
