The ATS definition of early-career investigator has been revised as of 2025. Read the information below carefully before starting a letter of intent or application.

Questions? View our FAQs.

Eligibility - All Grants

The following eligibility requirements apply to all grants unless otherwise specified.

Applicants must:

• be an ATS member at the time of application OR have at least one key personnel who is an ATS member to submit a letter of intent
• be an ATS member when the grant is awarded
• have completed their primary research training (PhD or sub-specialty fellowship) by January 1, 2025
• have a firm commitment from their home institution for a faculty position by the time the grant is awarded (January 2026)
• have not received two ATS Research Program grants or be a current ATS Research Program grantee

Eligibility - Early-Career Investigators

Applicants must be early-career investigators for all ATS Research Program grants unless otherwise stated.

ATS defines early-career investigators as:

• Within 0-10 years of terminal degree (e.g. MD, PhD) or completing postdoctoral training, if applicable. For the current grant cycle, this means that you must have received your terminal degree or completed postdoctoral training no earlier than 2015.
  

  • For MDs, postdoctoral training includes clinical sub-specialty training, but not research training. For example, if you are an MD in a fellowship or residency, the eligibility window opens when you have completed the clinical training portion. The eligibility window is not inclusive of research training. To be eligible, you must be 0-10 years from your terminal degree or the end of your clinical sub-specialty training.

  • For PhDs, this definition is inclusive of postdoctoral training.

• never having received a non-mentored grant ≥ $100,000 per year for at least 2 years.
  • For example, researchers are generally no longer considered early career if they have secured an independent, non-mentored research grant (e.g. R01).

ATS considers exceptions to the early-stage investigator requirement for extenuating circumstances such as parental or military leave. Note that sub-specialty training is not considered an extenuating circumstance.

If you have extenuating circumstances not related to sub-specialty training contact us at researchprogram@thoracic.org before beginning a letter of intent or application.

International Applicants

The ATS defines international applicants as individuals not working at a US-based institution OR someone who does not reside or work in the United States.

ATS accepts submissions from international researchers unless otherwise specified. Review partner grant requirements, which may differ from ATS unrestricted and diversity grants.

ATS Policy on Grant Funding from Other Sources

Simultaneous submission of grants with scientific overlap to other funding agencies is allowed.

However, if multiple grants are funded, then the applicant must notify the Research Program within one month of formal award notification. A Scientific Grant Review Committee subcommittee will assess the degree of overlap. In the case of significant scientific overlap, the applicant will have to choose between the ATS research grant and the other grant.

Budgetary overlap is not allowed. 

Applicants holding active career development grants (e.g. K award) are eligible to receive ATS funding, but the projects must be scientifically distinct. 

Applicants with K99/R00 awards are eligible only if they are within the K99 phase of the award and the project is scientifically distinct.