The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32) is a funding opportunity provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support postdoctoral research training in biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research. The grant aims to support highly promising postdoctoral candidates with the potential to become independent researchers. The program is managed by multiple NIH institutes and centers, including the National Eye Institute (NEI), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and others. The award is specifically designed for candidates proposing research that does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, though it allows research experience within a clinical trial led by a sponsor or co-sponsor.

The purpose of this fellowship is to provide mentored research training that enhances the candidate’s ability to develop into a productive, independent researcher. Training under this program is expected to provide a solid foundation in research design, experimental methods, data analysis, and professional development. The research experience should enhance the candidate’s conceptual thinking, scientific writing, and ability to conduct research with increasing independence. The program also emphasizes the importance of mentorship and requires applicants to identify a sponsor or a team of sponsors with experience in the relevant field of study.

Applicants must have a doctoral degree, such as a PhD, MD, or equivalent, and must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or permanent residents. Eligible organizations include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, small businesses, for-profit organizations, and foreign institutions. The training should take place in a high-quality research environment with appropriate facilities and resources. In most cases, postdoctoral training should be conducted at an institution other than the one where the candidate received their doctoral degree unless significant new training opportunities are provided.

The award provides up to three years of research training support, including stipends, tuition and fees, and an institutional allowance for health insurance, research supplies, and travel. The number of awards granted depends on the availability of NIH appropriations and the number of meritorious applications received. The program follows NIH’s standard due dates for application submission, with deadlines occurring in December, April, and August each year. The earliest possible start date for funding is approximately seven months after the application submission.

Applications are evaluated based on the candidate’s academic record, potential for a research career, quality of the training plan, qualifications of the sponsor(s), and the institutional environment. NIH’s peer review process assesses the overall impact of the fellowship, considering scientific merit, feasibility, and relevance to the NIH’s mission. Applications must be submitted electronically through NIH’s ASSIST system, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system (S2S) platform.

Applicants must adhere to NIH’s grants policies, including those related to responsible conduct of research, data sharing, human subjects research protections, and inclusion of women and minorities in research. Award recipients are required to submit progress reports annually, and the fellowship carries a payback obligation for the first 12 months of postdoctoral support. For more details on eligibility, submission requirements, and funding policies, applicants are encouraged to consult the NIH Research Training and Career Development website or contact the appropriate NIH program staff.