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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31)?

The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31) is an NIH fellowship opportunity intended to support promising predoctoral students who are working toward a research doctorate and are ready to carry out dissertation research under close mentorship. It is designed to provide individualized, structured research training that is tightly aligned with the applicant's dissertation project and that strengthens the applicant's trajectory toward becoming a productive, independent research scientist.

What is the main purpose of the Parent F31 fellowship?

The central purpose is to fund a mentored training experience, not just a research project. The fellowship supports a structured training plan led by an experienced faculty sponsor (and potentially a co-sponsor) and is intended to measurably advance the fellow's development toward independence as a scientist in areas relevant to participating NIH Institutes and Centers.

What does "Parent F31" mean in this context?

"Parent F31" refers to the NIH parent announcement for the NRSA individual predoctoral fellowship mechanism. In this opportunity, the fellowship is framed as a broadly applicable, NIH-wide training mechanism that can support many health-related dissertation research areas, as long as they align with the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number provided is PA-21-051.

Who is the sponsoring agency for this fellowship?

The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What type of funding instrument is used for this opportunity?

The opportunity uses a discretionary grant funding instrument.

Is this fellowship meant to fund only the dissertation research project?

No. The fellowship is specifically described as doing more than simply funding a project. It is intended to fund a mentored, individualized training plan that is closely aligned with the dissertation research and that strengthens the candidate's long-term research career trajectory.

What level of student is this fellowship intended for?

This fellowship is intended for predoctoral students working toward a research doctorate who are ready to carry out dissertation research under close mentorship.

What kind of mentorship is expected under the Parent F31?

The fellowship is structured around close mentorship. The training plan is led by an experienced faculty sponsor and may also include a co-sponsor. The sponsor (and co-sponsor, if applicable) is expected to provide mentorship, oversight, and a strong training environment aligned with the fellow's dissertation work and professional development.

Are clinical trials allowed under this specific Parent F31 announcement?

This Parent F31 announcement focuses 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.

Can an F31 fellow participate in a clinical trial in any way?

Yes. The opportunity allows the fellow to gain research experience in a clinical trial as long as the clinical trial itself is led by the sponsor or co-sponsor. The key distinction is that the fellow should not be the responsible leader of the trial.

What does "not leading an independent clinical trial" mean for proposed research?

It means the applicant should not propose to be the responsible leader of a clinical trial, a feasibility study for a clinical trial, or an ancillary clinical trial. The fellowship is positioned as a mentored training mechanism, and clinical trial leadership (as the responsible party) is not considered appropriate for this specific FOA.

What scientific areas are eligible for Parent F31 support?

The fellowship supports scientific and health-related fields that match the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers. The program is broadly scoped across health-related research areas, as reflected by participation across multiple NIH components and multiple Assistance Listing (CFDA) numbers.

What broad activity areas are associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is categorized under broad activity areas that include education and health. The listing also references other areas such as environment, food and nutrition, and social services.

Why are multiple CFDA (Assistance Listing) numbers associated with this opportunity?

Multiple CFDA/Assistance Listing numbers are associated with this opportunity because multiple NIH Institutes and Centers participate and because the fellowship can support a wide range of health-related research and training areas across NIH missions.

What are the key dates mentioned for this opportunity?

The information provided includes an OriginalClosingDate of 2023-10-10 and a CreationDate of 2020-10-21.

Are the listed due dates guaranteed to be the currently active submission dates?

No. The information notes that applicants typically need to confirm currently active due dates and cycles directly through NIH and the specific FOA page, because NIH fellowship announcements often have recurring receipt dates and updates.

Who is eligible to apply for the Parent F31 fellowship?

This is an individual fellowship mechanism intended for predoctoral students. Practically, the applicant applies as an individual, but the application is submitted through a sponsoring institution/organization that is eligible and that will provide the research environment, oversight, and mentorship described in the training plan.

What types of organizations can serve as the sponsoring institution?

Eligible sponsoring organizations 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; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and an "Others" category.

Are minority-serving institutions and similar organizations included in eligibility?

Yes. The FOA explicitly calls out eligibility for organizations 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); and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).

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

Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes faith-based or community-based organizations among eligible applicant types.

Are U.S. territories or possessions included as eligible applicant types?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly included in the list of eligible applicant types.

Are federal agencies eligible to participate as applicant organizations?

Yes. Eligible federal agencies are explicitly included in the eligibility description.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to serve as the applicant organization?

Yes. The eligibility description explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).

Does broad organizational eligibility mean an individual can apply without an institution?

No. Even though the fellowship is for an individual, the application is submitted through and hosted by an eligible sponsoring organization that provides the training environment, oversight, and mentorship described in the proposal.

What is the "practical takeaway" about how applications are submitted?

The practical takeaway is that the applicant is an individual predoctoral candidate, but the fellowship application is submitted through a sponsoring organization that meets eligibility requirements and agrees to provide the mentorship and institutional environment described in the training plan.

What does NIH expect applicants to emphasize in their application?

The program emphasizes the added value of the mentored training experience. Applicants are expected 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.

What distinguishes this fellowship from other types of research funding?

Based on the information provided, a distinguishing feature is that the fellowship is explicitly focused on mentored, structured training aligned with the dissertation and is not intended for a fellow to lead an independent clinical trial. The emphasis is on development, mentorship, and measurable progress toward independence.

What role do NIH Institutes and Centers play in determining fit?

The proposed scientific and health-related field should match the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers. This implies that applicants should ensure their dissertation research and training plan align with NIH priorities as represented by the participating components.

What does it mean that the training plan should be "measurably" strengthening the applicant's trajectory?

It means the fellowship is intended to provide structured training with clear value to the applicant's development toward becoming an independent research scientist, rather than being a loosely defined set of activities. The focus is on training that demonstrably accelerates progress toward independence.