One ongoing resource the UF+FSU CTSA K12 Program provides to all scholars is a K Mock Study Section. This is a practice grant review session that simulates an official National Institutes of Health (NIH) study section for K awards, or career development grants. These sessions provide researchers with detailed feedback on their grant applications from experienced faculty before the official submission, helping them identify weaknesses and improve their chances of funding. Key features include a formal review by faculty, written feedback, and a discussion of the grant application’s strengths and weaknesses. 

How do the sessions work?

• Grant Submission: Researchers submit a nearly complete grant application to a mock study section for review.
• Review Process: Faculty reviewers, often with experience in NIH study sections, evaluate the application and provide a score and written critique.
• Simulated Study Section: The mock study section meeting simulates a real review, where reviewers discuss the application’s strengths and weaknesses based on NIH guidelines.
• Feedback and Revision: The applicant receives the written feedback and a recording of the discussion, which allows them to improve their application before submitting it to the actual NIH.  

What's covered during the review?

• Grant Components: The feedback covers all aspects of the application, including the research plan, career development plan, mentoring plan, and overall strategy.
• Common Mistakes: Participants learn about common mistakes to avoid in grant proposals.
• Reviewer Perspective: Applicants gain insight into how reviewers think and what makes a grant proposal stand out.
• Resubmission Strategy: The process can help applicants perfect their resubmission strategy for future applications.  

Who is it for?

Early-Stage Investigators: These sessions are particularly beneficial for trainees, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty who are applying for a K award or are preparing for a future NIH grant submission.

K Mock Review for October Due Date

The program is currently offering a K Mock Review for Fall 2026. Scholars who plan to submit a K award grant to the NIH by the October 2026 deadline are encouraged to apply. To participate, interested applicants must email the title and topic of their K application to Andrea Johnson by August 24th.

Afterwards, they will receive application instructions. The full application is due August 31, 2026, by 11:59PM.

Scholars are encouraged to submit as much information as possible that they want reviewed. At the minimum, they should submit their career development plan, research plan (project abstract, specific aims, research strategy, etc.), their biosketch, and their primary mentor’s biosketch.

K-Mock Study Section Application Instructions

If you have any questions, contact the FSU K12 Program team:

Andrea Johnson, MPH, Program Coordinator for Health Research Training

Henna Budhwani, PhD, MPH, Director, FSU K2R Scholar Program