1. F32 Individual Fellowships, Early Independence Award
NIH Grants:
F32 Individual Fellowships,
F99 / K00
Early Independence Award
January 27, 2017

3. NIH Research Funding Support by Career Stage
Postdoc 3

4. NIH Nomenclature
FOA means Funding Opportunity Announcement. FOA is the generic “umbrella” term for all types of funding mechanisms offered by the NIH.
RFA means Request for Applications. The F99/K00 is an RFA. This means it has special terms – like having a Letter of Intent and only having one annual submission date.
NRSA refers to National Research Service Awards – these are the congressionally-mandated fellowships offered by NIH – the F30 is for MD/PhDs, F31 is for graduate students, and F32 is for postdocs.

5. F32: Competing applications, awards, and success rates
Data and chart description for this slide can be located at
FY 2015: 25% Success Rate 5

6. NINDS F32: Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award
The purpose of this award is to support outstanding scientific training of highly promising postdoctoral candidates with outstanding mentors…Based on the early timeframe of eligibility, and the discouragement of inclusion of preliminary data, this NINDS F32 seeks to foster early, goal-directed planning and to encourage applications for bold and/or innovative projects by the candidate that have the potential for significant impact…
Due Dates: April 8, August 8, December 8
Eligibility: Permanent Resident or Citizen of the US; 12 month before starting postdoc or within 12 months of starting
Only applies to NINDS
Duration: Limited to 3 years. Awardees incur 2 years of payback. Repay year 1 by staying in research a 2nd year.

7. F32: Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award
The purpose of the Kirschstein-NRSA postdoctoral fellowship is to enhance the research training of promising postdoctoral candidates who have the potential to become productive, independent investigators in scientific health-related research fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
Due Dates: April 8, August 8, December 8
Eligibility: Permanent Resident or Citizen of the US
Participating NIH institutes and centers: NCI, NEI, NHLBI, NHGRI, NIA, NIAAA, NIAID, NIAMS, NIBIB, NICHD, NIDCD, NIDCR, NIDDK, NIDA, NIEHS, NIGMS, NIMH, NINR, NIMHD, NCCIH
(Check for details on institute participation and mission.)
Duration: typically for 3 years. Awardees incur 2 years of payback. Repay year 1 by staying in research a 2nd year.

8. NIH Research Funding Support by Career Stage
Postdoc
F99 / K00 is a pilot program 8

10. NINDS F99/K00 - NIH Blueprint Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award
The purpose of the D-SPAN Award is to support a defined pathway across career stages for outstanding graduate students who are from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in neuroscience research….For the F99/K00 award, individuals may receive up to 6 years combined support for both phases, which includes up to 2 years in the F99 fellowship phase and up to 4 years in the K00 career development phase.
Due Dates: April 8, (Letter of Intent due 1 month before)
Eligibility: Permanent Resident or Citizen of the US; months before starting postdoc Participating NIH institutes and centers: NINDS, NEI, NIA, NIAAA, NIBIB, NICHD, NIDCR, NIDA, NIEHS, NIMH, NINR, NCCIH, OBSSR
Duration: may receive up to 6 years combined support for both phases, which includes up to 2 years in the F99 fellowship phase and up to 4 years in the K00 career development phase.

11. NCI F99/K00 - Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award
The purpose is to encourage and retain outstanding graduate students who have demonstrated potential and interest in pursuing careers as independent cancer researchers. The award will facilitate the transition of talented graduate students into successful cancer research postdoctoral appointments, and provide opportunities for career development activities relevant to their long-term career goals of becoming independent cancer researchers.
Due Dates: Feb 17, 2017 (Deadline passed, Letter of Intent due one month before)
Eligibility: No Citizenship Requirement; 3rd / 4th year PhD students (within 24 months of defending), On nomination per institution (internal university nomination process)
Participating NIH institutes and centers: NCI Only
Duration: may receive up to 6 years combined support for both phases, which includes up to 2 years in the F99 fellowship phase and up to 4 years in the K00 career development phase.
Has a separate application and review process, webinar slides available at:

12. NIH Director’s Early Independence
Award Program
The program supports exceptional investigators who wish to pursue independent research directly after completion of their terminal doctoral/research degree or clinical residency, thereby forgoing the traditional post-doctoral training period and accelerating their entry into an independent research career. 
Due Dates: Most likely Sept 2017 (Letter of Intent due 1 month before)
Eligibility: No Citizenship Requirement; 12 months before or after terminal degree; Two applicants per institution (internal university nomination process)
Duration: 5 years
Requirements: 3-5 letters of reference, institutional support
Two phases of review

13. Successful Application
F32 Application Ingredients
Successful Application
Science
Mentor & Training Plan
Trainee

14. More than Research  incorporate Training Goals
Main Application Components
Referees: 3 letters of reference are submitted by the writer on eRA Commons
Letters of Support: from collaborators, co-mentors
Mentor Statement
Biosketch: yours and mentors. Includes grades and courses.
Specific Aims - 1 page
Research Strategy – 6 pages
Responsible Conduct of Research – 1 page
Goals – 1 page
Activities planned – 1 page
More than Research  incorporate Training Goals

15. Review Process
Center for Scientific Review (CSR) – Rosters are posted online with meeting dates
3 reviewers assigned from a study section (not familiar with details of your work, busy, overworked)
Scientific Review Administrator
Scores 1-9 are averaged to give an impact score
Study section meets: best scored grants discussed first, final scores after discussion are given as a percentile
Summary Statement of scores
Institute Review
Funding decision

16. Review Criteria Main Review Criteria 1. Overall Impact
Assessment of the likelihood that the proposed training will
enhance the candidate’s potential for a productive, independent
scientific career.
2. Five Core Review Criteria
Applicant
Mentor(s), sponsors, collaborators
Research Training Plan
Training Potential
Institutional Environment and Commitment to Training
Additional Criteria – Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research

17. Five Core Review Criteria
Fellowship Applicant
Scholastic performance
Productivity commensurate with career stage
Aptitude and enthusiasm
Clarity of stated career goals
Letters of reference
Mentoring committee for pre-docs is a plus
2. Sponsors, Collaborators, and Consultants
Documented mentoring successes
Expertise in the field
Present productivity
Funds available to cover research expenses
Co-mentor to cover weaknesses
Clearly defined roles for mentors and collaborators
3. Research Training Plan
Significance & impact of the proposed research
Logical hypothesis
Clarity, feasibility and alternative strategies
Stats, vertebrate animals, human subjects
Sophisticated technologies and approaches
Likelihood training will lead to publications and degree
Appropriate for the applicant fellow’s stage of research development
4. Training Potential
Is there individualized training that addresses weaknesses and career development needs?
Will participants learn new technical skills, new design approaches?
Do training activities match career goals?
Will training confer an advantage to competitive?
Will the applicant fellow receive requisite individualized and supervised experiences?
5. Institutional Environment and Commitment to Training
Scientific environment
Opportunities for collaborations within and outside institution if needed
Resources available

18. What Reviewers Look for in Fellowship Applications
Impact
Exciting ideas
Clarity of the research and training plans
Realistic aims and timelines– Don’t be overly ambitious
Brevity with things that everybody knows
Noted limitations of the study
A clean, well-written application

19. Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research
Reviewers are asked to state whether the proposed training is “Acceptable” or “Not Acceptable”
Is there formal and face-to-face training?
Are all ethical topics clearly depicted?
Are faculty participating in the training?
Will the total hours of training be at least 8 contact hours?
Are future opportunities/refreshers for continued training listed?
Does retraining occur every 4 years or at every career stage?

20. NIH Grant Writing Resources
NIAID Grant Resources
Postdoc’s Guide to Gaining Independence
NIMH Grant Application Process

21. Policies
NIH:
Stipend – follows NIH NRSA Levels FY 2017: $47,484 minimum
Institutional Allowance - $7,850 includes health insurance
Travel Allowance - $1,000 per year
Payback
BSD:
Stipend supplement of $1,800
Switch from Postdoctoral Scholar to Fellow

22. Updates from the NIH Biosketch format - NOT-OD-16-080
Restructured application instructions - NOT-OD
How to Apply Application Guide -
NRSA Stipend Levels for FY17