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Thank you for your interest in the 2026 CAFE Mentorship Program. This program is designed to support early-career researchers who are interested in developing NIH or similarly structured grant applications focused on extreme weather and health. Participants will receive guidance on research development, grant strategy, specific aims, and proposal preparation from experienced mentors and guest speakers.

The program is not structured as a traditional one-on-one mentorship experience. Instead, mentees will participate in four virtual sessions throughout the program. Each session will feature a guest speaker presenting on a grant-writing topic, followed by small group breakout discussions where mentees can ask questions, receive feedback, and discuss the progress of their grant development efforts with assigned mentors.

This program is ideal for early stage investigators planning to submit a grant application in 2027 and are prepared to actively engage in the program. Mentees are expected to come to sessions with specific research ideas, draft materials, and focused questions for discussion. The goal of the program is to help participants make meaningful progress toward a competitive grant submission.

Mentees are encouraged to engage actively throughout the program and may reach out to their assigned mentor outside of scheduled sessions for additional feedback and guidance. While mentors are not required to provide support beyond the program sessions, many may be available to offer reasonable feedback on grant-related questions and materials.

The program is expected to run from September 2026 through February 2027.

Applications will close on Friday, August 21, 2026.

Disclaimer: Applicants must hold PI rights/eligibility for (non-fellowship) sponsored awards through their institution; thus, student and postdoctoral researchers are not eligible for this program.