Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31) | PA 21 051

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 21 051

The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31) is an NIH fellowship opportunity designed to support promising predoctoral students who are working toward a research doctorate and are ready to carry out dissertation research under close mentorship. The central idea is to provide individualized, structured research training that is tightly aligned with the applicant's dissertation project and that measurably strengthens the applicant's trajectory toward becoming a productive, independent research scientist. In practice, the fellowship is meant to do more than simply fund a project; it is meant to fund a mentored training plan led by an experienced faculty sponsor (and potentially co-sponsor) in scientific, health-related fields that match the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers.

A key feature of this specific Parent F31 announcement (Funding Opportunity Number PA-21-051) is its focus on research training that does not involve the fellow leading an independent clinical trial. Applicants should not propose to serve as the responsible leader of a clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial. However, the opportunity does allow the fellow to gain research experience in a clinical trial as long as the trial itself is led by the sponsor or co-sponsor. This distinction matters because it shapes what kinds of dissertation projects and training activities are appropriate for this FOA and signals that the fellowship is structured around mentored development rather than independent clinical trial leadership.

The NIH is the sponsoring agency, and the funding instrument is a discretionary grant, categorized under broad activity areas that include education and health (among others such as environment, food and nutrition, and social services). The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (now often referred to as Assistance Listing numbers), reflecting participation across a range of NIH Institutes and Centers and the wide scope of health-related research areas that could fit under the program. While the listing includes an "OriginalClosingDate" of 2023-10-10 and a "CreationDate" of 2020-10-21, applicants typically need to confirm the currently active due dates and cycles directly through NIH and the specific FOA page, since NIH fellowship announcements often have recurring receipt dates and updates.

Eligibility is broad at the organizational level and includes many types of U.S. institutions and organizations that may serve as the applicant's sponsoring institution. Eligible applicants listed include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, state, county, city, township, and special district governments, independent school districts, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. The eligibility list also includes nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, as well as an "Others" category. In addition, the FOA explicitly calls out other eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, eligible federal agencies, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). Because this is an individual fellowship mechanism, the practical takeaway is that the applicant applies as an individual, but the application is submitted through and hosted by an eligible sponsoring organization that will provide the environment, oversight, and mentorship described in the training plan.

Overall, the Parent F31 aims to identify strong predoctoral candidates and pair them with outstanding mentors and training environments so the candidate can conduct dissertation research while building the skills, record of accomplishment, and professional development foundation needed for a research career. The program emphasizes the added value of the mentored training experience, expecting applicants to clearly show how the proposed training and dissertation work will accelerate their development into an independent scientist working in areas relevant to NIH priorities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.351, 93.361, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.847, 93.853, 93.855, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867, 93.879.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-10-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-10-10. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PA 21 051

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: