The National Institutes of Health (NIH) offers a series of “fellowship” awards. These awards are part of the NIH National Research Service Award program. F-series awards are specifically designed to support training and career development. Many CAIRIBU Community investigators have benefited from various F grants over time. Grant opportunities within the F-series are announced in “parent announcements.” More information about NIH parent announcements is here: https://grants.nih.gov/funding/nih-guide-for-grants-and-contracts/parent-announcements. Note that not every institute within the NIH participates in every parent announcement, so when applying, check to see that the institute to which you are applying will accept your application.
While the diversity sub-opportunity under the NIH F31 award series was recently expired,* below are F-series awards still available (information is from the NIH website page here: https://www.niaid.nih.gov/grants-contracts/fellowship-grants). Remember that not every institute within NIH participates in all of these award series.
- F30: For individuals intending careers as clinician-scientists and enrolled in predoctoral dual degree training programs, such as MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, and DDS/PhD
- F31: For dissertation-stage predoctoral students enrolled in a PhD or equivalent research degree program
- F99: For transition from predoctoral to postdoc, i.e., for late-stage graduate students transitioning to postdoctoral positions
- F32: For postdoctoral fellows seeking advanced research training under a sponsor or mentor
There is also a Medical Scientist Partnership Program Fellowship award (FM1) for post-baccalaureate candidates wishing to obtain both a clinical and research doctoral degree. It provides support for up to 4 years to obtain a clinical doctoral degree (MD, DVM, DNP) and a PhD within the NIH Intramural Research Program.
F-series grants provide stipends, tuition and other education-associated fees, and an institutional allowance to offset research costs and fringe benefits, such as health insurance. Applicants must work very closely with a sponsor or mentor and their institutions in preparing applications. This is because evidence of the institution’s commitment and rigor of the research and education plan is required.
There are 3 “key due dates” for F-series grant applications – April 8, August 8, and December 8. These dates follow the NIH “standard application due dates.” See table below.
* In January 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services announced the expiration of the F31 Diversity Award; more information is available here: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-23-272.html
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