Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31) | PA 25 422

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, often called the Parent F31, is an NIH fellowship program intended to support promising PhD or other research-doctorate students while they complete their dissertation research. It is designed to provide protected, fellowship-backed time for a well-defined dissertation project alongside structured mentorship and training from an experienced faculty sponsor (and, when appropriate, a co-sponsor).

What is the main purpose of this fellowship?

The central goal is to invest in the predoctoral trainee by supporting both the dissertation research and an individualized, high-quality training experience. NIH expects the training plan to be tightly aligned with the dissertation work and to clearly build the applicant's skills and trajectory toward becoming a productive, independent research scientist in an area that fits the mission of one or more participating NIH Institutes and Centers.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (NOFO) for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is PA-25-422.

What kind of funding mechanism is the Parent F31?

It is a discretionary grant mechanism administered as a fellowship-style award through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is categorized under education and health-related funding activities.

Who is this fellowship intended to support?

It is intended to support predoctoral trainees (PhD or other research-doctorate students) who are conducting dissertation research and who will benefit from structured mentorship and training to strengthen their path toward research independence.

What does NIH mean by an "individualized" fellowship application?

Reviewers expect a training plan that goes beyond listing experiments. A strong plan explains how mentoring, coursework (if relevant), technical skill development, professional development, and research experiences will work together to strengthen the candidate's long-term scientific independence.

What are reviewers generally looking for in a strong Parent F31 application?

Based on the provided description, a strong application typically communicates four things clearly: (1) the scientific merit and feasibility of the dissertation research; (2) the quality of the sponsor(s) and the mentoring plan; (3) the training activities that will measurably increase the applicant's capabilities as an independent scientist; and (4) the fit between the proposed work and the mission priorities of the NIH Institute or Center to which the application is assigned.

How important is mentorship in the Parent F31?

Mentorship is a core feature of the program. The fellowship emphasizes structured, high-quality mentorship and training from an experienced faculty sponsor, and in some cases a co-sponsor, with appropriate oversight and guidance aligned to the dissertation work.

Can a co-sponsor be included?

Yes. The program describes mentorship from an experienced faculty sponsor and, when appropriate, a co-sponsor.

Are clinical trials allowed under this Parent F31 opportunity?

There is a specific limitation: applicants are not allowed to propose leading an independent clinical trial as part of the fellowship.

Can the fellowship include gaining experience in a clinical trial environment?

Yes. The program allows a candidate to gain research experience in a clinical trial as long as the trial is led by the sponsor or co-sponsor. In practice, a predoctoral fellow can work on trial-related research questions, analyses, or sub-studies under the direction of an established investigator, but cannot be positioned as the responsible leader of the clinical trial itself.

Why does the clinical trial leadership restriction matter?

The distinction reflects NIH's emphasis on mentored training and appropriate oversight, especially in complex regulatory and ethical environments such as clinical trials. The fellowship is structured around training under supervision rather than independent trial leadership by the predoctoral applicant.

Which organizations are eligible to apply as the sponsoring institution?

Eligibility is broad and includes: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.

Are federal government agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. The notice specifies that eligible federal government agencies are included among eligible applicants.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The notice indicates that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities may be eligible in certain circumstances, as described in NIH policy and the detailed NOFO.

Who is considered the "applicant" for this fellowship: the student or the institution?

The sponsoring institution is the applicant organization that submits on behalf of the fellow, while the fellowship is centered on the individual trainee and their mentored research and training environment.

What research areas can this fellowship support?

The supported research areas can span a broad range of biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and health-related sciences, reflecting the participation of many NIH Institutes and Centers.

What are the CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is connected to multiple CFDA numbers, including: 93.113, 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.307, 93.310, 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, and 93.879.

How long is this Parent F31 opportunity expected to remain open?

The timeline information provided lists an original closing date of 2028-05-07, suggesting the parent announcement is expected to remain active over multiple cycles until that date (subject to NIH updates).

Is an award ceiling provided in the information above?

No. The provided excerpt does not specify an award ceiling.

Does the information above list the expected number of awards?

No. The excerpt does not provide the expected number of awards, which is described as common for NIH parent announcements where budgets and award counts can vary by institute, fiscal year, and application volume.

When was this opportunity created in the source data?

The opportunity was created in the source data on 2025-06-12.

How should an applicant think about "fit" with NIH when preparing an application?

The provided description emphasizes that NIH is looking for applications where the training plan and dissertation work align with the mission of one or more participating NIH Institutes and Centers. A strong application clearly explains how the proposed work and training support the scientific priorities of the NIH Institute or Center likely to fund the fellowship.

Is this program more focused on the research project or the person?

The program is described as investing in the person as much as the project. It uses a mentored dissertation research experience to build a foundation for a long-term research career, emphasizing training, mentorship, and development toward research independence.