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

The following are commonly asked questions related to the T32 mechanism. For additional questions and answers regarding the NIH T32 grant mechanism, see NIH Research Training Opportunities: Frequently Asked Questions - NRSA Training Grants.

Policy-Related

1. Can an individual be appointed to a post-doctoral training position if he/she has completed all requirements of the doctorate, but has not formally received a diploma?
   Yes, however, the NCI requires official documentation that the individual has met all requirements for the doctoral degree. The appointment date on the T32 must be on or after the date citing that all doctoral requirements have been completed.

2. Can a trainee be appointed to a T32 grant if he/she has applied for, but has not yet received, a 'Green Card'?
   No. Citizenship requirements must be met at the time of activation of a training grant appointment.

3. How is the stipend level determined for the T32 trainee?
   Stipends are approved by Congress and can change each fiscal year. There is one stipend level for predoctorals and an escalating scale of stipends for postdoctoral, depending upon whether they have 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or more years of relevant experience after receiving the doctoral degree. Relevant experience may include research (including research in industry), teaching, residency, or clinical duties or other time spent full-time in a health-related field. Consult the NCI Staff Contacts or see the NRSA stipends notices. Also, for your convenience, the NCI has provided correct stipend levels to the year, month and day for the Fiscal Years currently in effect:

   FY2006 Stipend Levels (Excel Spreadsheet) (PDF File)
   FY2005 Stipend Levels (Excel Spreadsheet) (PDF File)
   FY2004 Stipend Levels (Excel Spreadsheet) (PDF File)
   FY2003 Stipend Levels (Excel Spreadsheet) (PDF File)
   

4. Can a trainee be supported on an NIH research grant at the same time he/she is receiving a stipend from a T32 grant?
   No. Public Health Service funds may not be used to supplement an NRSA stipend. Trainees are required to devote full-time effort to the training program. While trainees may receive a separate salary from an NIH grant when employed for services such as laboratory assistant, this must be on a limited part-time basis (maximum of 20 hours per week) and may not interfere with, detract from, or prolong the trainee's approved NRSA training program.

5. Can a competitive continuing application, with an inadequate minority recruitment plan, be funded?
   Yes, but only for one year. In order to receive full funding, the Principal Investigator must resubmit a revised minority recruitment plan to the NCI, and a Peer Review Committee must approve it. If, upon review, the minority recruitment plan is found to be inadequate, the Principal Investigator is urged to contact the NCI Program staff for guidance.

6. Can a T32 grant be awarded for less than five years?
   Yes. While it is customary for the T32 to be awarded for five years, the Peer Review Committee may recommend that the time of the award be reduced because of inadequacies in the application.

7. Can the cost of recruiting trainees be charged to the T32 grant?
   Yes. See the PHS Grants Policy Statement for details.

Application Process/Review Related

8. How can I ensure that my grant application will be sent to the NCI?
   To ensure that your grant application is sent to the NCI, attach a letter to the face page of the application with that request. If it is cancer-related, the Program Director will accept it for review. If it is not accepted at the NCI it will be sent to a more appropriate Institute.

9. Are there instructions and guidance that can help PIs administer their grants?
   See Manual for Administering Institiutional T32 National Research Service Award.

10. To what Study Section do I send my T32 application?
    Instructions for sending an application can be found in the T32 Program Announcement. All applications are sent directly to the Center for Scientific Review (CSR). CSR distributes applications to the appropriate Institutes (I) and Centers (C). Each I/C has a special Study Section that reviews the T32s. A peer-review group convened by the NCI Division of Extramural Activities will review the T32 applications sent to the NCI.

11. What is the NCI policy for T32s on Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research?
    Every T32 application must include a section on the Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research that is assessed for adequacy by the Peer Review Committee. It is mandatory that every trainee complete this training.

12. Do T32 grants have pre-award cost authority?
    Yes, but with restrictions. The PHS Grants Policy Statement governs expenditure of funds for the T32 grant for all costs. However, stipends and tuition costs may not be charged to the grant before the trainee's appointment is made.

13. The NCI, along with other institutes at the NIH, uses a formula to calculate the allowable costs for tuition/fees/self-only health insurance for each grantee. Should the applicant use this formula to request a budget?
    No. The applicant should request full costs in the application. The NCI's Grants Management Branch will apply the formula at the time of the award. However, remember that if the T32 budget exceeds $500,000 in direct costs for any year, the applicant must receive prior approval from the NCI Program Director.

Policy/Post Award

14. How does one go about requesting changes to the T32 grant once it is awarded?
    The Principal Investigator should contact the NCI Grants Administration official to determine the appropriate procedures to request post-award changes. This also applies to any needs that require prior approval from the NCI. In general, the PI should send a request that is signed by the PI and a business official at the grantee institution. After receiving the request, the Grants Administration official will consult with the NCI scientific program staff as necessary to determine whether the request can be approved.

15. Can there be a change of distribution of pre- and post-doctoral trainees after an award is made?
    Yes. The change of trainees from one category to the other can occur with the prior approval of the NCI Program Director. The Principal Investigator should submit the request in writing and it should be co-signed by the Institutional Business Official. The request should be sent to the NCI Program Director.

16. In a no-cost extension situation can a new trainee be appointed during this period?
    No. NCI policy prohibits such an appointment; however, a re-appointment of a current trainee to the full extent of the remaining budget is possible. It is NCI policy that pre-doctorals have a higher priority than post-doctorals if the budget is limited during the no-cost extension phase because post-doctorals have more flexibility to move elsewhere.

17. Does the T32 grant operate under Expanded Authority?
    In NOT-OD-01-070 Revised Terms and Conditions for NIH Awards (released September 28, 2001, effective October 1, 2001) the authorities currently known as Expanded Authorities will become standard terms and conditions for all NIH grant awards.

18. Must a trainee be appointed at the beginning of a budget period?
    No. Trainees can be appointed for an entire 12-month training period at any time during the budget period.

19. Does a trainee have to pay taxes for stipends received?
    For information about taxes, see the Tax Liability information in the STIPEND SUPPLEMENTATION, COMPENSATION AND OTHER INCOME section of the T32 Program Announcement. This section of the Program Announcement explains the requirements for all candidates.

20. Is a new Appointment Form required each year for each trainee supported by the T32 grant?
    Yes. A new Appointment Form (PHS 2271) is required each year for each trainee. Each appointment begins a new 12-month period.

21. When is a Termination Form required?
    A Termination Form (PHS 416-7) is required immediately upon termination from the T32 grant. Information on the Appointment and Termination forms must coincide. If a trainee leaves prior to the originally planned appointment period, then an amended appointment form must be submitted so the termination date matches the end of the abbreviated appointment period, and the stipend must be pro-rated. If a trainee takes a leave of absence, a Termination Form (PHS 416-7) must be submitted. All forms must be sent to the NCI Training Branch.

22. Is a payback agreement required for all newly appointed postdoctoral trainees?
    Yes. A Payback Agreement (PHS 6031) is required for postdoctoral trainees who are newly appointed to an NRSA T32 grant. A payback agreement is NOT required for reappointment.

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