RAPID’s Scholar Awards provide up to $15,000 in funding for a one-year project in one of the categories noted below.

In addition to the award, RAPID Scholars:

• Are paired with a national mentor who is an accomplished senior investigator and seasoned mentor
• Participate in monthly Zoom meetings, alternating between directors to provide advice for acculturation to and advancement in an academic career, and peer scholars to provide peer support, mentoring, networking, a venue for presenting research progress, and opportunities for potential research collaborations
• Attend RAPID’s Annual Mentoring and Career Development Conference
• Receive in-person mentoring and networking during the annual Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Meeting

Interested applicants must select one of the following funding paths for their application:

• Nutrition, obesity, sickle cell disease, and other NIDDK research priority areas, as well as general pediatrics (supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases [NIDDK])
• Pediatric infectious diseases research (supported by the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society [PIDS])
• Pediatric basic, clinical, translational, or health services research in any pediatric subspecialty (supported by the American Pediatric Society [APS])
• Behavioral/mental health and pediatric basic, clinical, translational, or health services research in any pediatric subspeciality (supported by the American Board of Pediatrics [ABP] Foundation)
• Neonatal nutrition (supported by Reckitt/Mead Johnson)

LOI Deadline: October 1, 2026