Predoctoral Fellowships FAQs

No. Resubmissions are not allowed after the April 8, 2024 deadline. We encourage applicants to visit the ARC website and to contact Dr. Jeremy McIntyre or Dr. Joyce Stamm for technical assistance.

We encourage applicants to visit the ARC website and to contact Dr. Laurie Stepanek or Dr. Lameese Akacem for technical assistance.

Other NIH Institutes, Centers and offices (ICOs) participate in the Diversity F31 NOFO, see PA-23-271.

There is not an expectation that the fellowship application contains the candidate's original ideas, although the wording of the research training plan must be the candidates. Doctoral students typically begin graduate research under close supervision and direction while working on a project that is part of the research program of the sponsor. During the training, the candidate will acquire skills and knowledge and often will propose next steps in the research with increasing self-direction. Occasionally, the research training project will propose aims, collaborators, technical approaches new to the sponsor's research program. In these cases, the fellowship application should describe how the fellow will achieve them given the research training environment and resources.

NIGMS supports basic biomedical research areas that might also be of interest to the National Science Foundation, various foundations, and other funders. It is important to demonstrate that the sponsor's research training environment has sufficient funds to support the proposed research.

NIGMS will not fund a predoctoral applicant who currently holds another fellowship award that essentially duplicates the support that would be received under the NRSA application.

In accordance with ongoing efforts to support family-friendly work environments for the NIH-supported workforce, NRSA fellowship awardees are now eligible to request additional funds for costs for childcare provided by a licensed provider. Requests may be made at the time of the competing application, as a "just in time" submission prior to receiving the award notice, in the annual progress report, or mid-budget period as an administrative supplement (see NOT-OD-21-070 and the associated notices, including NOT-OD-21-075). Eligible fellows are encouraged to consult the FAQs and the Grants Management Specialist on the Notice of Award.

Yes. Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research is an integral component of any training program. Successful completion of such instruction is required during Year 01 of a fellowship award. Instructional details must be reported in the Year 02 Progress Report. Full details about this policy requirement can be found in the NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-10-019. This requirement is fulfilled if the fellow provides documentation that acceptable instruction has been completed within the last four years and during the current career stage.