Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31) | PA 23 272

FAQs: Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31) - PA-23-272

What is the NRSA Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31)?

The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31) is an NIH fellowship program designed to support promising PhD or equivalent predoctoral students. It funds mentored dissertation research and a structured, individualized training plan intended to accelerate the fellow's development into a productive, independent research scientist.

What is the main goal of this fellowship?

The central goal is to give an individual trainee the opportunity to complete a strong dissertation research project while receiving close mentorship from an accomplished faculty sponsor, along with tailored research training activities and an environment that supports career development in scientific and health-related research areas aligned with participating NIH Institutes and Centers.

What does "Parent F31" mean in this context?

"Parent F31" refers to NIH's standard (parent) funding opportunity for an individual predoctoral fellowship mechanism (F31). It is a broad, widely used pathway for mentored predoctoral research training and dissertation work, with the expectation that the proposed project and training plan fit the mission of a participating NIH Institute or Center.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number provided is PA-23-272.

Who offers this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What type of funding is this categorized as?

It is described as a discretionary grant with an education and training focus. The Funding Activity Category includes education and health, among others.

What kind of applicant is the fellowship really designed to support: the organization or the individual?

While an organization submits the application, the fellowship is fundamentally centered on the individual trainee. A competitive application is expected to focus on the trainee's potential, the dissertation research, the mentorship and training plan, and the strength of the research environment.

What does NIH expect beyond a strong research question?

NIH expects the application to make a clear case that the mentoring plan, training activities, and research environment will meaningfully accelerate the applicant's development. In other words, the application should show how the sponsor's mentorship and the proposed training are intentionally designed to build the fellow into an independent research scientist, not only how the research aims are compelling.

Is this fellowship meant for dissertation research?

Yes. The program is framed around supporting mentored dissertation research carried out by a predoctoral student under close mentorship.

How important is the match between the dissertation project, the mentor, and NIH priorities?

The match is described as a major driver of competitiveness. The proposed dissertation research should align with the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers, and the mentor's expertise should be well suited to guide the specific research and training plan.

Does this Parent F31 allow the fellow to lead a clinical trial?

No. This particular Parent F31 NOFO is set up for research training that does not involve the fellow leading an independent clinical trial.

Does this Parent F31 allow the fellow to lead a clinical trial feasibility study?

No. It excludes the fellow leading a clinical trial feasibility study.

Does this Parent F31 allow the fellow to be the lead on an ancillary clinical trial?

No. It excludes serving as the lead for an ancillary clinical trial.

Can clinically related research still be part of the training under this opportunity?

Yes. The opportunity leaves room for clinically related research experience. The fellow may propose to gain experience on a clinical trial, as long as that trial is led by the sponsor or co-sponsor rather than the fellow.

If a clinical trial is involved, who must lead it?

If the training includes experience on a clinical trial, the clinical trial must be led by the sponsor or co-sponsor, not the fellow.

What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad at the organizational level. Examples listed include public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (including small businesses and for-profits other than small businesses); and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, and special districts), including certain tribal governments and tribal organizations.

Are minority-serving institutions explicitly included as eligible applicants?

Yes. The announcement explicitly highlights eligibility for categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).

Are faith-based or community-based organizations mentioned as eligible?

Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly noted among the eligible applicant organization categories in this program context.

Are U.S. territories or possessions mentioned as eligible?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included among eligible applicant organization categories.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) entities mentioned as eligible applicant organizations?

Yes. The announcement notes that non-U.S. (foreign) entities may be eligible as applicant organizations in this program context.

Are federal agencies included as eligible applicants?

Yes. The eligible applicant categories include eligible federal agencies.

What are the CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?

Multiple CFDA numbers are associated with the announcement, reflecting that more than one NIH Institute or Center may participate and fund awards according to their authorities and missions. Examples listed include 93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, and others.

Why are there multiple CFDA numbers for one opportunity?

The listing of multiple CFDA numbers indicates that more than one NIH Institute or Center may participate in funding awards under this announcement, with each Institute or Center supporting projects aligned to its mission and statutory authority.

When was this opportunity created?

The announcement record shows a creation date of 2023-08-16.

What is the closing date listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity lists an original closing date of 2025-09-07.

Does the provided summary include an award ceiling?

No. The public summary provided does not specify an award ceiling.

Does the provided summary state the expected number of awards?

No. The public summary provided does not include the expected number of awards.

Where would applicants typically confirm stipend levels, tuition/fees coverage, and allowable costs?

Based on the information provided, those details would typically be confirmed by checking the full NOFO and any relevant guidance from the NIH Institute or Center that would potentially fund the award (including information on budgets, stipend levels, tuition/fees, and allowable costs).

What is the overall "best fit" use case for this Parent F31?

This Parent F31 is best understood as NIH's standard predoctoral individual fellowship route for students seeking dedicated support for mentored dissertation research and structured training, while staying within NIH rules that prevent the fellow from being the person responsible for conducting an independent clinical trial.