The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has reissued its National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32) program (NOFO number: PA-22-251). This program supports postdoctoral researchers in health services research who aim to develop into independent investigators. The fellowship is designed to provide mentored training that enhances the fellow’s research abilities, focusing on issues critical to healthcare delivery in the United States.

The fellowship provides up to three years of support, offering stipends, tuition, and institutional allowances to cover living expenses, coursework, and research-related costs. It does not fund independent clinical trials, but applicants may gain experience in a clinical trial under a sponsor’s supervision. Applicants must demonstrate how their research aligns with AHRQ’s mission to improve healthcare quality, accessibility, and equity. Research must address health services in the U.S., with an emphasis on practical applications that can inform healthcare providers, policymakers, and consumers.

Eligible applicants must hold a research doctorate (e.g., PhD, MD, DO) and be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Sponsoring institutions must have adequate resources and staff to provide a robust training environment. The program strongly encourages applications from underrepresented groups and those focusing on reducing healthcare disparities in priority populations, such as low-income individuals, racial minorities, and rural communities.

Applications must include a detailed training plan, research strategy, and commitment from a qualified sponsor. The training plan should enhance the applicant’s research skills, especially in research design, methods, and analysis, with a clear timeline for completing training objectives. The sponsor’s role is to provide ongoing mentorship and guidance to ensure the fellow’s successful transition to independence.

Applications are accepted three times annually, on April 8, August 8, and December 8, with awards typically made five to eight months after peer review. Applications are submitted electronically through the NIH ASSIST system or Grants.gov.