Delay, delay, delay

I’m not in favor of policies that extend the training intervals. Pub requirements for grad students is a prime example. The “need” to do two 3-5 year postdocs to be competitive. These are mostly problems made by the Professortariat directly.

But NIH has slipped into this game. Postdocs “have” to get evidence of funding, with F32 NRSAs and above all else the K99 featuring as top plums.

Unsurprisingly the competition has become fierce for these awards. And as with R-mechs this turns into the traffic pattern queue of revision rounds. Eighteen months from first submission to award if you are lucky.

Then we have the occasional NIH Institute which adds additional delaying tactics. “Well, we might fund your training award next round, kid. Give it another six months of fingernail biting.”

We had a recent case on the twttrs where a hugely promising young researcher gave up on this waiting game, took a job in home country only to get notice that the K99 would fund. Too late! We (MAGA) lost them.

I want NIH to adopt a “one and done” policy for all training mechanisms. If you get out-competed for one, move along to the next stage.

This will decrease the inhumane waiting game. It will hopefully open up other opportunities (transition to quasi-faculty positions that allow R-mech or foundation applications) faster. And overall speed progress through the stages, yes even to the realization that an alternate path is the right path.