Predoctoral Training Opportunities and Resources
Contents
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards - Institutional
Research Training Grants (T32)
NIBIB supports predoctoral, postdoctoral, or combined predoctoral/postdoctoral research
training in its scientific mission areas (http://www.nibib.nih.gov/Research/ProgramAreas).
Postdoctoral training programs may support either Ph.D. or M.D. degree holders,
the former programs typically focusing on basic research and the latter programs
focusing on clinical and translational research. NIBIB will accept applications
proposing focused or broad-based training programs in bioimaging and bioengineering,
including multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary training programs integrating
the physical, engineering, and biological sciences. Research training programs for
medical residents and clinical fellows may appoint trainees for only 1 year, with
the knowledge that these trainees will be subject to NRSA payback if they do not
carry out subsequent research-related activities for an additional year.
NRSA policy allows predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees to be supported for a maximum
of 5 years and 3 years, respectively. However, NIBIB normally expects its training
programs to support predoctoral and postdoctoral institutional trainees (with the
exception of medical residents and clinical fellows) for a period of 2 years, after
which they should transition to research support. If NIBIB Training Program Directors
feel that additional support of an individual trainee is warranted, they should
justify the need for this additional training to the Director of the Division of
Interdisciplinary Training before reappointing these trainees to their training
program.
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards Short-Term
Institutional Training Grants (T35)
NIBIB uses the T35 mechanism to provide intensive clinical or translational research
experiences for predoctoral bioengineering students or short-term training in focused,
emerging scientific areas relevant to NIBIB’s scientific mission. NIBIB discourages
current T32 awardees from submitting T35 applications; if applicants choose to apply,
they must clearly indicate how the proposed T35 activities differ from the activities
supported by their T32 award.
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual
Predoctoral Fellowships (F31) to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research
The NIBIB uses the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual
Predoctoral Fellows (F31) to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research to provide
support for research training leading to the Ph.D. or equivalent research degree.
Individuals in combined M.D./Ph.D. or other formally combined professional degree
and research doctoral degree programs will be supported only during the research
component of their program. The overall goal of this program is to increase the
number of scientists from diverse population groups who are prepared to pursue careers
in interdisciplinary research at the interface between the biomedical and the mathematical,
physical, or engineering sciences. Eligible candidates include individuals from
underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals
from disadvantaged backgrounds. Successful applicants will be supported for up to
2 years, typically after they have finished their required coursework and passed
their qualifying exams.
HHMI-NIBIB Interfaces Initiative for Interdisciplinary Graduate
Research Training
HHMI and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering have formed
a partnership to develop and sustain graduate interdisciplinary research training
programs (see
HHMI Science Education Grants for Institutions
).
These predoctoral programs (see
NIBIB Funded Training Programs), by developing innovative coursework and
community-building activities, are facilitating institutional change that supports
interdisciplinary research and increasing the number of interdisciplinary biomedical
researchers.
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T32/T35 Training Programs Shift to Steady-State Level and Switch
to Single Receipt Date
The NIBIB has implemented a large expansion of its institutional (T32/T35) training
portfolio over the last three years, including the addition of new training awards
in many of our program areas and the transition to the NIBIB-funded phase of the
NIBIB-HHMI Interfaces program. This portfolio growth phase is now complete, and
going forward we will maintain the T32 program in a steady state consistent with
our strategic plan. Consequently, applications for new T32/T35 programs will only
be funded if, and as, they successfully compete with renewal (competing continuation)
applications of currently supported T32/T35 programs.
Given this policy, applicants considering a new application or a renewal application
for a T32/T35 grant are strongly encouraged to consider alternative mechanisms to
support research training. In particular, the NIBIB will place increasing emphasis
on the F32 mechanism, as well as support of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows
on research grants.
Additionally, effective May 25, 2010, the NIBIB will accept Ruth L. Kirschstein
National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training (T32) and
Short-term Institutional Research Training (T35) applications (new, renewal, resubmission,
and revision) for only one receipt date per year – May 25 for January Council.
Read the full notice at:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-EB-09-002.html.
If you have questions about these or other aspects of training, please contact Richard Baird, Ph.D., Director of the
NIBIB Interdisciplinary Training Division.
Related Resources
Last Updated On 12/06/2011