The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Senior Fellowship (Parent F33) to support experienced scientists seeking to broaden their research expertise or change the focus of their careers. This funding opportunity is designed to enable senior-level researchers—typically associate or full professors with at least seven years of experience beyond their doctorate—to enhance their scientific capabilities and undergo advanced research training. The fellowship primarily supports sabbatical experiences, allowing independent investigators to gain training in rigorous research design, experimental methods, quantitative approaches, and data analysis in scientific disciplines relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers. The award does not permit applicants to lead independent clinical trials but does allow them to gain research experience in trials conducted by sponsors or co-sponsors.

The funding opportunity is available through multiple NIH Institutes, including the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). Applicants are encouraged to review the specific requirements of each participating institute before submitting their proposals. The NIH advises that applications must strictly adhere to the Fellowship (F) instructions in the NIH Application Guide, and deviations may result in application rejection.

The grant provides funding in the form of stipends, tuition, fees, and an institutional allowance to support fellowship-related expenses such as health insurance, research supplies, equipment, books, and travel to scientific meetings. The amount awarded is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the availability of sufficient meritorious applications. Stipends are determined based on the fellow’s base salary or remuneration at their permanent institution and must not exceed the current NRSA stipend limit set by NIH. Indirect costs are not provided separately but are covered under the institutional allowance.

Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with and without IRS 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, for-profit organizations, and foreign institutions. Foreign training may be supported if a strong scientific rationale justifies the necessity of conducting research outside the U.S. Applicants must identify a sponsoring institution capable of providing a suitable training environment and must have an established independent research career. Furthermore, applicants must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or permanent residents at the time of award. Before submission, candidates must secure a primary sponsor with a successful track record of mentorship and adequate research funds to support the proposed training.

Applications for this opportunity follow the NIH standard due dates, with the next upcoming deadlines being April 8, 2024, August 8, 2024, December 8, 2024, April 8, 2025, and August 8, 2025. Scientific merit reviews take place approximately four months after submission, followed by advisory council reviews two months later, and the earliest possible start date occurring within the following two months. The expiration date for this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is May 7, 2025. Applications must be submitted electronically through the NIH ASSIST system, an institutional system-to-system (S2S) solution, or Grants.gov Workspace.

Proposals will be evaluated on several criteria, including the quality of the applicant’s academic and research record, the scientific merit of the research training plan, the qualifications and mentoring record of the sponsor, the institutional commitment to training, and the potential impact of the fellowship on the applicant’s career. The NIH peer review process will determine funding decisions based on the scientific merit of applications, availability of funds, and alignment with program priorities. Compliance with federal civil rights laws and NIH policies on ethical research conduct is required for award recipients.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult the Table of IC-Specific Information and Requirements before submission. Further inquiries can be directed to the NIH eRA Service Desk for technical assistance, the NIH GrantsInfo email for general grant-related questions, or the Grants.gov Customer Support for registration and application submission issues. Additional contact details are available in the NOFO.