The NIH Research Software Engineer (RSE) Award (R50 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) offers funding for exceptional Research Software Engineers contributing to the development, dissemination, and training related to biomedical, behavioral, and health research software. This award supports RSEs working on NIH-funded projects, aiming to enhance their career stability and recognition while encouraging best practices in software development. The award provides salary support for up to three years, allowing RSEs to work with some autonomy without being solely dependent on grants held by others. The funding focuses on projects that develop scalable, reusable, and sustainable software tools that enhance NIH research.

Applicants must be full-time, non-tenure track software engineers at academic institutions who have worked at their institution for at least a year. They must demonstrate strong research software development skills and collaborate with an NIH-funded project. Applications must include a letter of support from the NIH-funded project principal investigator (PI) and two additional recommendation letters. The RSE must serve as the principal investigator (PI) on the application, and budgets can request salary and travel expenses up to $2,500 annually.

NIH anticipates awarding up to $6 million to fund 18-20 RSE awards, with each award allowing up to $300,000 in direct costs over three years. Applications must align with NIH's strategic data science goals, focusing on open science and robust software foundations. Eligible applicants include higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations, with an emphasis on diverse applicants from underrepresented groups. Applications are due starting December 4, 2024, with further deadlines through December 2026. All submissions must adhere to NIH’s detailed application guidelines.