Policy-Related
Application Process/Review-Related
Policy/Post-Award

Policy-Related

1. Can an NRSA F32 awardee receive concurrent supplemental salary/stipend support for the same research from an NIH research grant?
   No. Public Health Service funds may NOT be used to supplement an NRSA stipend.

2. Can an NRSA F32 awardee receive compensation from an NIH grant for additional work?
   Yes. An NRSA awardee may receive separate salary from an NIH grant when employed for services rendered that are not part of the training program, such as laboratory assistant. However, since NRSA awardees are expected to devote a 100% full-time effort (full-time being 40 hours per week) to the NRSA-supported program, employment must be on a limited, part-time basis, and must not interfere, detract or prolong the awardee's training program. Part-time effort is considered by NCI to be up to 20 hours per week.

3. How is the initial stipend level determined on an individual NRSA award?
   The stipend level for the first year of NRSA support is determined by the number of full years of relevant postdoctoral experience at the time the award is issued. Relevant experience may include research, teaching, internship, clinical duties, residency, or other time spent in full-time studies in a health-related field beyond that of the qualifying doctoral degree. The stipend levels are regulated by Congressional legislation and are regularly changed to meet the rise in the cost-of-living.

4. A potential awardee had prior NRSA support from an institutional grant from another agency. Is he/she eligible for an individual NRSA grant?
   Postdoctoral fellows may receive up to 3 years of aggregate NRSA support, including any combination of support from institutional training grants and individual fellowship awards, unless a special waiver is requested by the awardee and approved by NCI. If the prior NRSA support was pre-doctoral, this would have no impact on the amount of postdoctoral support.

5. Is an MD, with no track record of research activity, at a disadvantage applying for an NRSA grant?
   It depends upon the circumstances. For example:

   • Individuals who have no track record of research may be at a disadvantage applying for a NRSA grant. However, NIH recognizes the critical importance of training clinicians to become researchers and encourages them to apply. In fact, clinical researchers serve on the NRSA peer review committee. The applicant should be advised that the reviewers will apply the review criteria listed in the REVIEW CRITERIA section of the F32 Program Announcement. In the absence of evidence for 'research performance,' it may be difficult for the reviewers to evaluate the Candidate's potential to achieve independence in research.
   • On the other hand, the F32 grant mechanism is a good option for M.D.s who are NOT junior faculty, who have experience in cancer research, and who wish to dedicate themselves to a career in cancer research.
   • For junior faculty members with some research experience and publications, there are better funding options available through the mentored career development award (e.g., K07, K07 and K23).

6. Is health insurance required for federal fellows?
   Yes. Federal fellows are required to obtain health insurance either from the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES) or from a private company of their choice. If the fellow elects coverage from FAES, the funds are provided separately from the Institutional Allowance in the "Other Expenses" category. If the fellow elects coverage through a private company, the allowable premium is provided in addition to the stipend in the stipend category.

7. Can an individual apply for an NRSA grant before he/she completed all requirements for a doctorate?
   Yes. Several awardees have timed the awarding of the NRSA award to their completion of the doctorate thereby beginning a postdoctoral program immediately. If there is a delay in completion of all academic requirements, the award can be made to the candidate but the implementation must wait until all degree requirements are completed. An awardee has a window up to 6 months after award to activate the grant.

8. Can one have more than 3 years of NRSA supported postdoctoral training?
   Only under exceptional circumstances is it possible to extend the total number of years of NRSA support beyond the congressionally mandated 3 years (postdoctoral) cap. A request for an extension must be made directly to the NCI Program Director.

9. Can an applicant submit an individual NRSA application if he/she applied for a "green card" but has not received it yet?
   Yes. Citizenship requirements for fellowships must be satisfied at the time of award. An individual must possess a currently valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or other legal verification of permanent residence status. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible for an NRSA award.

10. Can an NRSA applicant apply for and then be supported from another award simultaneously?
    No. Individuals supported by F32s are required to pursue their research training full-time, devoting at least 40 hours per week to the approved program.

Application Process/Review Related

11. Should the sponsor assist the candidate in preparing the F32 grant application?
    Yes. The sponsor should provide advice on grantsmanship as part of the training process, but the candidate is expected to write the application. This often helps eliminate the common flaws in an application resulting from lack of experience that often reduce the potential for funding. It is important that the sponsor provides sufficient detail about the sources of funds that will be used to support the candidate's research and how the project supported by these funds relates to the candidate's research proposal.

12. Can an NRSA fellow have more than one sponsor?
    Yes. A second sponsor is advisable if the project requires special expertise or is being conducted in more than one location. Clinicians doing translational research projects may find it useful to have a clinical and basic science sponsor.

13. Can a person submit an individual NRSA grant application to train at a private for-profit biotech firm?
    Yes. The application will be reviewed as any other application from a university or public institution. The applicant's sponsor should be an active investigator in the area of the proposed research who will directly supervise the candidate's research. The sponsor must document the availability of staff, research support, and facilities for high-quality research training. However, PHS policy states that the results and accomplishments funded from PHS support must be made available to the public in a timely manner. There should be no restrictions on the publication of results.

14. Is the training record of the sponsor taken into consideration in the evaluation of a fellowship application by the CSR initial review group?
    Yes. This is a critical component in determining the quality of the applicant's training environment. Applications with sponsors lacking a substantive track record in training postdoctoral individuals, who continue in biomedical research after completion of their training, will generally not be assigned a favorable priority score by the CSR initial review group. These applications are generally not competitive for funding.

15. What should my application contain if it deals with human subjects, clinical trials or vertebrate animals?
    Links to the instructions for Human Subjects, Clinical Trails and Vertebrate Animals are found in the Table of Contents of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Fellowship Application Form PHS 416-1.

Policy/Post Award

16. Is it possible to change sponsoring institutions while on an NRSA F32 Postdoctoral Fellowship?
    Yes. However, this requires prior approval by NCI Program staff. The awardee should first contact NCI Program staff prior to the change and discuss the reason for the change. NCI program staff will then request a letter from the awardee, cosigned by an appropriate business official at the sponsoring institution, describing the reason(s) for the change, and stating the proposed new sponsor and institution. The awardee must also describe in this letter the relationship between the peer-reviewed research program and the research training/program that is to be conducted at the new sponsoring institution, and explain how the proposed new sponsor will contribute the appropriate expertise to ensure achievement of the research/training objectives of the fellowship award. A letter of support from the proposed new sponsor, cosigned from a business official from the new sponsoring institution, should accompany the awardee's letter. If NCI Program staff approve the change, a transfer application will be mailed to the awardee by the NCI Grants Administration Branch for completion and return to the NCI.

    Often in a change of institution there is also a change in the research project. Depending upon any extenuating circumstances and on whether the new project is within the scope of the originally peer-reviewed project or not, NCI Program staff need to approve of this change. This is looked at very carefully since the research project contributed significantly to the success of the original application in peer review. Program staff does not always approve of this change.

17. Can an awardee change sponsor during the course of the fellowship award?
    Yes. However, the past sponsor was a critical element in the success of the application in peer review. Anytime there is either a new research project or a new sponsor, the nature of the training experience changes significantly; prior approval from NCI staff is required. A request for change of sponsor should be signed by an Institutional Business Official, and should be accompanied by a copy of the curriculum vitae (C.V.) of the proposed sponsor.

18. Can an awardee change the project during the course of a fellowship award?
    As with a change in sponsor, prior approval from NCI staff is required.

19. Can a grantee terminate his/her grant early?
    Yes. When the decision is made to terminate early, the trainee should contact the NCI Program Director for guidance. A Termination Notice (Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Fellowship Termination Notice: PHS 416-7) should be sent to the NCI Training Branch. It may be necessary to contact the NCI Training Branch to confirm the actual costs incurred during the training period and how much money still remains in the grant. The NCI Grants Specialist will revise the award.

20. What occurs when a foreign or Federal fellow terminates a grant early?
    If a direct pay fellow (e.g., those working at Federal labs or a foreign site) terminates a grant early, they should immediately notify the NCI Training Branch, in writing, that they are doing so. The NCI will then revise the Notice of Research Fellowship Award to reflect the early termination once it receives the Termination Notice from the awardee.

21. Are there special issues concerning the Termination Notice for foreign and Federal fellows?
    Yes. Because Federal fellows are paid directly, no institutional business official signature is required. Foreign fellows who are training at a foreign site must have the Termination Notice signed by the Business Official. The Institutional allowance is awarded directly to the foreign site. Direct pay fellows are required to report to the IRS all funds paid directly to them by Government check. Foreign fellows must also include any travel funds awarded. The NIH Fellowship Payment Office will provide annually an IRS Form 1099-G "Statement of Miscellaneous Income."

22. Are payback agreements required annually for foreign and federal fellows?
    A payback agreement is required only for the initial 12 months of postdoctoral NRSA support regardless of where the NRSA training takes place.

23. Should grantees on fellowships in a foreign country have their stipend and travel checks sent to a foreign or a domestic bank account?
    Fellows in a foreign country are strongly encouraged to open a domestic bank account especially for this fellowship. This will avoid considerable delays when using foreign mail delivery. The fellow should investigate the electronic transfer of funds directly to their domestic bank account. NIH is not able to transfer funds electronically to foreign banks.

24. Is the procedure different when making an award to a foreign fellow compared to an award to a domestic institution?
    Yes. Two awards are issued to foreign fellows. A personal award for stipend and any travel funds is issued directly to the fellow. An institutional award is issued to the foreign institution for only the Institutional Allowance.

25. Is it possible to apply for a leave-of-absence from the grant?
    Yes. Contact your NCI Program Director for guidance. These are usually unique situations that require prior approval of NCI. Extended leave from the grant is unpaid leave.

26. What is the difference between supplementation and compensation?
    Supplementation refers to additional money provided without the requirement for additional work. Compensation refers to money earned in return for additional work. An NRSA grant can be supplemented with non-PHS funds. An NRSA fellow can be compensated for additional work. However, the additional work must not prevent the fellow from completing the objectives of the NRSA award. The NCI recommends that fellows not spend more than 20 hours per week on compensated activities. See the Program Announcement (PA-07-107), and refer to the section titled SUPPLEMENTATION OF STIPENDS, COMPENSATION, AND OTHER INCOME.

27. If I have a F32 award and I would like to ask for post award changes, how do I go about this?
    You must contact the NCI Grants Administration official to determine the appropriate procedures to use in making a request for post-award changes in your grant. In general, you will have to make a request that is signed by you and a business official of your institution. After receiving the request for post-award changes, the Grants Administration official will consult with the NCI scientific program staff as necessary to determine whether the request can be approved.

28. Is a payback agreement required for all NRSA postdoctoral trainees?
    Yes. A payback agreement is required for postdoctoral trainees who are newly appointed to an NCI F32 grant. This includes individuals who were previously appointed to a F32 grants supported by other Institutes.

29. Does an awardee have to pay taxes on stipends?
    There is some modest tax guidance provided in the NRSA guidelines. For information about taxes, access the F32 Program Announcement, go to the section titled STIPEND SUPPLEMENTATION, COMPENSATION AND OTHER INCOME, then scroll down to the section titled TAX LIABILITY. This section of the Program Announcement explains the requirements for all candidates.

30. Must each foreign and federal fellow submit an Activation Notice (Form PHS 416-5) every year?
    Yes. An Activation Notice (Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Fellowship Activation Notice: PHS 416-5) is mailed annually by the NCI Training Branch. The fellow must complete the Activation Notice and return it immediately to the NCI Training Branch where it will be processed and sent to the NIH Fellowship Payment Office. This document authorizes payments to the fellow from the US Treasury.

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