F33 Individual Fellowships for Senior Researchers
NIA supports the F33 Fellowship for senior researchers wishing to pursue training in the aging field (PA-21-047). Often applicants are professors planning a sabbatical. All F33 recipients must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents at the time of award.
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 |
Award Duration
The F33 can support up to 2 years of research and training for senior fellows.
How to Apply
F33 Stipend and Funding Levels (2021)
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-22-132.
| Stipend | Maximum Tuition | Institutional Allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Commensurate with home institution salary, up to $66,600 | $4,500 | $11,950 |
Tuition and fees paid can be 60% of total institutional tuition, or $4,500, 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 senior fellows incur a payback obligation that could affect F33 recipients who complete less than two years of their award. Read FAQs about the payback obligation.