- How does NIH describe an Early Stage Investigator (ESI)?
- What are the advantages of early stage investigator (ESI) status?
How does NIH describe an Early Stage Investigator (ESI)?
An ESI, or Early Stage Investigator, is a Program Director / Principal Investigator (PD/PI) who has completed their terminal research degree or end of post-graduate clinical training, whichever date is later, within the past 10 years and who has not previously competed successfully as PD/PI for a substantial NIH independent research award. A list of NIH grants that a PD/PI can hold and still be considered an ESI can be found on the NIH grants.gov Web site. ESIs are encouraged to enter the date of their terminal research degree or the end date of their post-graduate clinical training in their eRA Commons profile to ensure their correct identification.
What are the advantages of early stage investigator (ESI) status?
ESI applications with meritorious scores will be prioritized for funding by the institute or center receiving the application.
