F31: Individual Fellowships for PhD Students Award from NIA
NIA supports three F31 awards, one open to all PhD Students conducting aging research (PA-23-272), one open to students from underrepresented backgrounds conducting aging research (PA-23-271), and one specifically for students from underrepresented backgrounds conducting research on Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (PAR-21-218). All F31 recipients must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents at the time of award. View other NIA fellowships available to graduate students.
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NIA F31 at a Glance
- Eligibility: PhD student. Research lab chosen.
- Maximum Award Duration: 5 years
- Yearly Due Dates: April 8, August 8, December 8
- Award Budget: $27,144 Stipend, $16,000 Tuition
Questions about F31 awards for aging or dementia research? Contact NIATraining@mail.nih.gov.
| Number | Name | Career Stage | Discipline | Notice of Funding Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F31 | Individual Predoctoral Fellowship | PhD students at the dissertation stage (by time of award) | All aging research | PA-23-272 |
| F31 - Diversity | Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research | PhD students who have chosen a research lab and are members of an underrepresented population. | All aging research | PA-23-271 |
| F31 - Diversity (AD/ADRD) | NIA Predoctoral Fellowship Award to Promote Diversity in Translational Research for AD/ADRD | PhD students at the dissertation stage by time of award, who are members of an underrepresented population. | Drug discovery or data science research in Alzheimer's disease and AD-related dementias. | PAR-21-218 |
Important Dates
NIH NRSA fellowships are awarded in three cycles every year, as described below.
| Receipt Cycle | Application or Resubmission Due Date | Initial Review Date | Earliest Possible Award Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 8 | June/July | December |
| 2 | August 8 | October/November | April |
| 3 | December 8 | February/March | July |
Award Duration
The F31 awards supported by NIA can support up to five years of predoctoral research training for PhD students. This includes any time spent on an institutional T32 training grant. Speak to your graduate program director to determine whether you have been funded on a T32. Since the F31 (PA-23-272) and the F31 – Diversity (AD/ADRD) (PA-21-218) require students to be at the dissertation phase of their PhD, they typically only fund 2-3 years.
How to Apply
To choose a study section to indicate on your Assignment Request Form, consult the list of NIH Fellowship study sections.
NIA F31 Stipend and Funding Levels
Yearly award budgets are composed of stipends, tuition and fees, and institutional allowance, as described below. Updated information on budget levels can be found in NOT-OD-23-076.
| Stipend | Maximum Tuition | Institutional Allowance |
|---|---|---|
| $27,144 | $16,000 | $4,550 |
Tuition and fees paid can be 60% of total institutional tuition, or $16,000, whichever is less.
Institutional Allowance may be used to cover expenses such as health insurance, research supplies, equipment, books, and travel to scientific meetings.
Childcare Costs
Additionally, each fellow may request $2,500 per year to defray childcare costs from a licensed provider. Learn more in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Childcare Costs.
Components of an Individual Fellowship Application
Each fellowship application requires many parts; you should begin preparing your application well before the deadline. Below find the major components of an application and their length limits:
| Application Component | Length Limit |
|---|---|
| Abstract | 30 lines of text |
| Project Narrative | 3 sentences |
| Applicant Biosketch* | 5 pages |
| Sponsor Biosketch | 5 pages |
| Applicant Background and Goals for Fellowship Training | 6 pages |
| Specific Aims | 1 page |
| Research Strategy | 6 pages |
| Sponsor Statement | 6 pages |
| Description of Institutional Environment and Commitment to Training | 2 pages |
| 3-5 Reference Letters | 2 pages each |
*A Biosketch is a document containing a curriculum vitae (CV), personal statement, and description of past research experience.
Detailed instructions for each application part can be found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Sample F31 applications are available from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.