F32 Individual Fellowships for Postdoctoral Researchers
NIA supports two fellowships for postdoctoral researchers. The F32 (PA-21-048) is available to all postdocs doing research in the aging field. The F32 – Diversity AD/ADRD (PA-21-217) is available to postdocs from underrepresented backgrounds doing research on drug discovery or data science in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. All F32 recipients must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents at the time of award. Postdocs may also be eligible for NIA career development awards, or for the REDI entrepreneurial development awards.
| Number | Name | Career Stage | Discipline | Notice of Funding Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F32 | Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship | Postdoctoral researchers | All aging research | PA-21-048 |
| F32 - Diversity (AD/ADRD) | NIA Postdoctoral Fellowship Award to Promote Diversity in Translational Research for AD/ADRD | Postdoctoral researchers who are members of an underrepresented population | Drug discovery or data science research in Alzheimer's disease and AD-related dementias | PA-21-217 |
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 | Council Review Date | Earliest Possible Award Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 8 | June/July | September/October | December |
| 2 | August 8 | October/November | January/February | April |
| 3 | December 8 | February/March | May/June | July |
The F32 BRAIN does not follow the standard due dates above, its upcoming due date is: December 9, 2022.
Award Duration
Postdocs may receive up to 3 years of postdoctoral research support from the National Research Service Award (NRSA) program, including the F32 individual fellowship and the T32 institutional training grant. Postdocs who have not been supported by a postdoctoral T32 may request the full 3 years of F32 funding. Those who have been supported by a postdoctoral T32 should subtract their years of T32 support and request 1 or 2 years of F32 funding accordingly. Speak to your program director to determine whether you have been funded on a T32.
How to Apply
To choose a study section to indicate on your Assignment Request Form, consult the list of NIH Fellowship study sections.
F32 Stipend and Funding Levels
Yearly award budgets are composed of stipends, tuition and fees, and institutional allowance, as described below. F32 stipends are dependent on the number of years of postdoctoral experience. Updated information on budget levels can be found in NOT-OD-22-132. Institutional Allowance may be used to cover expenses such as health insurance, research supplies, equipment, books, and travel to scientific meetings. In addition to the standard institutional allowance, F32 BRAIN applicants may request up to $5,000 annually to defray the cost of participation in meetings including annual BRAIN Initiative meetings.
| Years Postdoctoral Experience | Stipend | Maximum Tuition & Fees | Institutional Allowance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $56,484 | $4,500 | $12,200 |
| 1 | $56,880 | $4,500 | $12,200 |
| 2 | $57,300 | $4,500 | $12,200 |
| 3 | $59,592 | $4,500 | $12,200 |
| 4 | $61,572 | $4,500 | $12,200 |
| 5 | $63,852 | $4,500 | $12,200 |
| 6 | $66,228 | $4,500 | $12,200 |
| 7+ | $68,604 | $4,500 | $12,200 |
Tuition and fees paid can be 60% of total institutional tuition, or $4,500, whichever is less. Except for postdocs enrolled in a degree-granting program, in which case tuition and fees paid can be 60% of the 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 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.
For postdoctoral grant applications, a reference letter from your predoctoral thesis advisor is not required.
Payback Requirements
NRSA postdoctoral fellows incur a payback obligation that could affect F32 recipients who complete less than 2 years of their award. Read FAQs about the payback obligation.