Purpose
Fellowship support for the research training of predoctoral students from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce.
Program Announcement
PA-23-271
Due Dates for all Applications
April 8, August 8, December 8
Intended PD/PI
U.S. citizens or permanent residents; research doctoral programs; individuals from diverse backgrounds
Institution Eligibility
U.S. domestic institutions; foreign institutions
NRSA Stipends, Tuition/Fees and Other Budgetary Levels
Please see the F31 award information from NIH for the latest funding levels.
Additional Information
NINDS provides National Research Service Award (NRSA) training fellowships to outstanding predoctoral candidates from diverse backgrounds, including those from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. The intent of this program is to increase the number of scientists from diverse backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups in biomedical research.
NINDS will provide fellowship support to PhD students who are within the first 6 years of graduate school. Support beyond the 6th year may be made in rare and unusual circumstances. Award recipients will receive up to five years of research training leading to a PhD or equivalent research degree, a combined MD-PhD degree, or another formally combined professional and research doctoral degree in biomedical, behavioral, health services, or clinical sciences. Support is NOT available for individuals enrolled in medical or other professional schools UNLESS they are enrolled in a combined professional doctorate/PhD degree program in biomedical or behavioral research at an MSTP Institution.
Dual-Degree Applicants: Students matriculated in a dual-degree program (e.g., MD/PhD, DO/PhD, DDS/PhD, DVM/PhD) may request support for both research and clinical training. However, NINDS will only provide fellowship support within the first 6 years from the start of the PhD program. A minimum of 50% of funding must support the research training leading to the research doctorate (during this time, 100% of full time effort to research training is expected, with a maximum of ½ day per week allowed for clinical training experiences).
Applicants for diversity-related fellowship programs will be expected to attach a Description of Candidate’s Contribution to Program Goals, explaining how the candidate’s participation would further the goals of the program to promote diversity in health-related research (see Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity NOT-OD-20-031).
NINDS will not support fellowship applications if the specific aims, questions being asked or approach to answering a specific question are fundamentally identical to those already proposed in the mentor’s grants. Whereas it is expected that the applicant will work with the mentor to develop the application, the applicant should write an original research plan consistent with the mentor’s funded research. Applicants should not simply be working towards fulfillment of specific aims already devised by the mentor. Please see NINDS policy on project overlap and fellowship applications(pdf, 131 KB) for more information.
Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Health Program Specialist Dr. Anahid Ebrahimi for additional information.
Relevant Policy Notices
Change to Standard Due Dates for Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Predoctoral Fellowships to Promote Diversity in Health Related Research (F31 - Diversity) (NOT-OD-17-029)
Contact
Marguerite Matthews, Ph.D. | Section Chief - Career Preparation, Office of Programs to Enhance the Neuroscience Workforce
NINDSDiversityTraining@mail.nih.gov
Anahid Ebrahimi, Ph.D.| Health Program Specialist, Office of Programs to Enhance the Neuroscience Workforce
anahid.ebrahimi@nih.gov
Resources
Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity
F31 Award Information from NIH (including current Stipend levels)
Webinars
- *Upcoming Event* Diversity F31 OPEN House (May 13, 2024)
- Diversity F31 OPEN House (May 9, 2023)
- F31 Applicant Assistance Webinar (June 18, 2019)
Preparing your application
- How to Apply
- Suggestions for a Good Career Development Plan
- NINDS’s podcast, Building Up the Nerve - Season 1 provides an introduction to the grant cycle from NINDS staff, Season 2 provides advice and resources for writing your fellowship application
General resources