NIGMS Postdoctoral Research Associate Training (PRAT) Program

Program  

The NIGMS PRAT Program is a competitive three-year postdoctoral fellowship program that provides high quality research training in the basic biomedical sciences in NIH intramural research laboratories. The program prepares trainees for leadership positions in biomedical careers through mentored laboratory research, networking, and intensive career and leadership development activities.

The program places special emphasis on training fellows in all areas that are within the NIGMS mission, including but not limited to biological chemistry, biophysics, bioinformatics, cellular and molecular biology, computational biosciences, developmental biology, genetics, immunology, neuroscience, pharmacology, physiology, and technology development. The PRAT program includes professional development activities tailored to the PRAT fellows, such as a monthly seminar series featuring presentations by current PRAT fellows and outside speakers whom the fellows have invited, and training sessions focused on grant-writing, career planning, communications skills, and leadership skills.

PRAT fellows receive three years of stipend support (at competitive levels commensurate with experience and recognition of program selection), benefits and a travel allowance, and will participate in PRAT Program activities.

Eligibility

  To be eligible applicants must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Have a doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D., M.D. or other relevant biomedical professional degree) and no more than five years of postdoctoral research experience by the time the PRAT fellowship would begin.
    • Individuals currently in Ph.D. or other doctoral degree-granting programs may apply as long as they anticipate completing the degree requirements before starting the PRAT Program.
    • Individuals already in the intramural program may apply as long as they will begin the PRAT Program within the first 24 months of their postdoctoral appointment at NIH.

The PRAT program is especially interested in ensuring the applicant pool reflects the diversity of the biomedical Ph.D. talent pool, and strongly encourages applications from scientists from groups underrepresented in the biomedical sciences

Preceptors

Fellows pursue independent, mentored research under the guidance of one or more tenured or tenure-track NIH investigators. Applicants must identify and communicate with a potential preceptor before applying to PRAT to develop a research proposal as part of the fellowship application. Eligible preceptors and descriptions of their research can be found at the NIH Intramural Research Program website. Preceptors also can be found by searching the NIH Intramural Database either by keywords or by name of a specific investigator. Note: Each preceptor may be the primary sponsor on only one PRAT application in the same review cycle but may co-sponsor additional applications.

Specific Dates for Next Application Cycle

September 3, 2018

PRAT application submission period begins

October 3, 2018

Applications and letters of reference must be received by 5:00 p.m. ET

February-March 2019

Scientific review of applications

April-May 2019

Summary statements available, and finalists notified

Late summer/early fall 2019

Earliest start date for new PRAT fellows (typically, September 1)

Suggested Timeline for Application to the PRAT Program

Applicants to the NIGMS PRAT program must apply through the NIH Fi2 funding mechanism -http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-16-130.html. The NIH Fi2 application is similar to the application for the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F32) individual postdoctoral fellowship.

For more information about PRAT, including eligibility requirements, see the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, March 11, 2016 (PAR-16-130), or contact Dr. Kenneth Gibbs at 301-594-3901.

PRAT Program Overview and Application Process Webinar  and  Slides [PDF, 1.2MB], June 20, 2018​

PRAT Answers to Frequently Asked Questions