General Fellowship Awards Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Pre-Application
What types of research does NCI fund with its Ruth Kirschstein-NRSA fellowship awards?
NCI supports all areas of cancer research for NRSA fellowship awards. NCI fellowship applications must be cancer focused. You can learn about the types of projects supported through NCI fellowship grants by perusing the Funding for Cancer Training web pages. For a searchable list of current NCI grants use RePORTER: https://report.nih.gov/.
When is the best time to apply if I want to start my fellowship during a specific month?
The time between receipt of an application and funding is approximately 6-9 months. For example, if you require funding in June or July, you should plan to apply 6-7 months in advance or no later than December. Once you accept an award, you have 6 months to activate the fellowship.
The guidelines listed below may help you plan.
- Applications Submitted: April 8; August 8; December 8
- Applications Reviewed: June/July; October/November; February/March
- Applications Funded: January/February; April/May; July/August
Who can I contact about fellowship applications at NCI?
If you have specific questions about your fellowship application, please contact the NCI Program Officer listed in the funding opportunity.
Can foreign institutions sponsor Ruth Kirschstein-NRSA fellowships?
Yes, it is possible to conduct your NRSA Fellowship at a foreign institution. Reviewers will determine if the research proposed to be performed abroad offers a clear, scientific advantage that would not be available in the United States.
Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to apply for the NRSA fellowship awards?
No, you do not have to be a U.S. citizen to apply for a for NRSA fellowship award. However, by the time of award, you must be a citizen or a non-citizen national of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., possess a currently valid Permanent Resident Card USCIS Form I-551, or other legal verification of such status).
Can I view a sample NRSA fellowship application?
NCI does not provide samples of fellowship award applications. Titles and abstracts of recent successful NRSA fellowship applications may be found in NIH RePORTER.
How many years of NRSA support can one receive?
Individuals may receive up to 6 years (72 months) of aggregate NRSA support at the predoctoral level, including any combination of support from institutional training grants (e.g., T32) and an individual fellowship award (i.e., predoc T32 + predoc F30, F31 cannot be more than 72 months in total). An individual can receive up to 3 years (36 months) of aggregate NRSA support at the postdoctoral level, including any combination of support from T32 and F32.
The first two aims of my project detail an R01 which my sponsor submitted recently. Will this disqualify me?
Yes. NCI expects the NRSA fellowship award candidate to make significant intellectual contributions to the project and write the Research Training Plan. There should be no text duplication or substantial duplication of the scientific aims, and the candidate’s application should propose a scientific research question or approach that is distinct from the specific aims of the sponsor’s pending or active research grants. Although the proposed project can be within the overall scope of the active sponsor’s research awards, NCI will not support both a fellowship award and an active or pending research grant that propose substantially the same research.
Post-Submission/Pending Review
Will my sponsor’s currently funding situation influence my chances of receiving an NRSA fellowship award?
It is difficult to determine how a sponsor’s funding will affect the outcome of a fellowship award application. The fellowship award covers the cost of tuition and a stipend but does not include funds to cover the cost of doing the research, which is the sponsor’s responsibility. That’s why NCI gives funding priority to applications whose sponsor and/or co-sponsor have active cancer-related R01, or R01-like, peer-reviewed research grants. For the NCI NRSA fellowship award, R01-like research funding includes peer-reviewed research grants from other federal sources and private foundations with a duration of at least 3 years with a minimum of $150,000 direct costs per year. Grants under a no-cost extension do not qualify. It is more of a concern if the sponsor does not have a long history of successful grant funding and is new to mentoring.
Do I need to choose a specific study section to review my fellowship award application?
No, it is not necessary to specify a study section for reviewing an application. However, if a specific study section is preferred, it can be requested. Applications are reviewed by the NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR) fellowship study sections. CSR will assign the fellowship application to one of the study sections based on the science/organ system/disease under examination in the application. Because of the diversity of the NCI research portfolio, fellowship applications assigned to NCI are directed to a variety of different study sections. More information about study sections can be found on the CSR website.
What is the general timeline for fellowship award funding decisions?
After fellowship award applications for each cycle are reviewed, and scores and summary statements are received, the NCI determines which applications will be funded usually using the percentiles as a guide, pending budget considerations and available funding. Funding occurs after the NCI Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB) Council meetings. NCI Council meetings take place in December, February, and June of each year, and funding plans are generally finalized one month after the Council meetings.
How much preliminary data are necessary for a fellowship application?
Providing preliminary data can be helpful; but is not necessarily required for a successful application. Applicants in all stages of their degree program have been successful in obtaining fellowship funding. Applications are reviewed by study sections dedicated to the review of fellowships, considering both the quality of the proposed scientific project and the training potential of the applicant. However, applications with solid preliminary data would probably be more competitive than those without such data.
Is there a specific form to use for when writing a reference letter for a fellowship applicant?
Yes, there is a specific form to fill out for the fellowship reference letters. Please refer to the instruction manual “SF424 (R&R) Individual Fellowship Application Guide for NIH and AHRQ”. Section 5.4 addresses Letters of Reference and includes instructions for the referees. Your letters of reference must be submitted using the Fellowship Reference Form. Failure to submit the required reference in the appropriate format will result in the application being returned to the applicant without review. You can also find the Fellowship Reference Form on the SF424 (R&R) Application and Electronic Submission Information webpage. You will find a file link for the “References for Fellowship Awards” document under the “Additional Format Pages” section. Reference letters are submitted directly through the eRA Commons and not through Grants.gov. Note that the sponsor and any co-sponsors may not submit a letter of reference. Additional guidance is on the NIH grants website.
Can reference forms be submitted prior to the submission of the application?
Yes, reference forms can by submitted as soon as the funding opportunity opens. Reference letters are submitted directly through the eRA Commons. For more information and forms regarding reference letters please see the eRA (with screenshots) and the extramural nexus links.
I am re-applying for fellowship funding. Will I need to get new letters of reference for my resubmission?
Yes, you will need to get new reference letters for your resubmission. You can use the same individuals for references, but updated reference letters must be included in the fellowship resubmission.
Who should I address my cover letter to so that my fellowship application is directed appropriately?
You should address your cover letter to the NIH Division of Receipt and Referral (DRR) in the Center for Scientific Review (CSR). The DRR first assigns each application to a review group that has the expertise to evaluate the scientific and technical merit of the application. They then assign the application to one or more appropriate NIH Institutes/Centers/Offices.
Is the number of publications per applicant is a strict criterion for a successful application?
There is no requirement for an applicant to have any publications before applying for the fellowship. However, reviewers will look at an applicant’s publication record to determine productivity in their current and previous training.
Post Award
What do I need to do if there is a significant change in the scope of my award, in my mentorship team, etc.?
Any change in the scope of your fellowship award, in your mentorship team, etc. requires prior approval from NCI. Please contact your NCI Grants Management Specialist and Program Official for the instructions.
How will my fellowship stipend be determined?
The stipend level for the fellowship is determined by the NIH level for stipend support for NRSA fellowships. Stipend levels may vary or increase from year to year. See NIH Funding Strategies for the latest notice of NRSA stipends, tuition/fees, and other budgetary levels in effect for the current fiscal year.
Does the fellowship include mechanisms for parental or sick leave?
Under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services policy for Family-Friendly Initiatives, the fellowship includes paid Sick Leave, Parental Leave, Vacations and Holidays, as specified in NIH Grants Policy Statement.
What are the restrictions for how the budget for institutional allowance may be used?
The institutional allowance can be used on anything that the fellow needs to complete their research, such as computers, health insurance, travel to conferences, research supplies, books, and equipment. Expenses for which you cannot use the funds include exams and travel for interviews. Allowable and unallowable costs are described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
What are considered acceptable forms of payback service?
There are a wide range of acceptable forms of payback service. NRSA pre- and post-doctoral fellows incur a payback obligation during their first year of support. The second year of training then pays back the first year. Therefore, trainees and fellows who receive two full years of NRSA training will have fulfilled their payback obligations.
Trainees or fellows that complete less than 24 months of NRSA research training can discharge their obligation by engaging in health-related research or teaching or health-related professional activities.
For details, please see NIH Office of Extramural Research NRSA Payback FAQ webpage. Fellows document payback by completing a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Annual Payback Activities Certification.
Who owns computers purchased with institutional allowance funds?
The institutional allowance is under the direct administrative control of the sponsoring institution, which has sole spending authority on behalf of the fellow and in accordance with its policies. The NRSA fellow is not entitled to keep computers purchased with the institutional allowance. However, the fellow may negotiate with the institution if it is desired to keep a piece of equipment. NIH is not involved in those decisions.
I will be terminating my fellowship early. Will my institution be required to refund part of my stipend?
If an NRSA fellowship is terminated early, the stipend must be prorated according to the amount of time spent in training. The balance of any institutional allowance (at least one-half) must be refunded if the training has been for 6 months or less.
Where do I find information on preparing my yearly progress report?
The NIH website provides instructions for the NRSA fellowship research performance progress report (RPPR).
What is the procedure for requesting an unpaid leave of absence?
Leave of absence requires prior approval by the NCI. To request a leave of absence, a written request must be submitted by your Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR). All prior approval actions must be either submitted via email correspondence by the AOR (also known as Signing Official) or by email request that includes signatures of both the PI and the AOR. These requests should be sent to the NCI Grants Management Specialist assigned to your fellowship award. Find the assigned specialist in your Notice of Award or eRA Commons.
Can a fellowship have a no-cost or with-cost extension?
Although approval of a no-cost extension or “extension with cost” on a fellowship is rare, it can be requested. However, the extension must be justified by a need for additional training and not the fact that there is money remaining in the account. It is subject to programmatic approval and available funding.
The request(s) for extension must be submitted by your Authorized Organization Representative (AOR)/Sponsored Programs Office to the Grants Management Specialist assigned to the fellowship award. Find the assigned specialist in your Notice of Award or eRA Commons.
What form do I need to submit if I am terminating my NRSA fellowship early?
To close-out a fellowship, the Termination Notice (PHS 416-7) is required. Your Institution’s Authorized Organization Representative (AOR), Grants and/or Sponsored Programs Representative can guide you through the process. Fellowship termination forms (PHS 416-7) are entered into X-Train – the module found within eRA Commons.
What is the process for changing sponsors?
Transitioning to a new sponsor is a straightforward process so long as the research project stays within the scope of the original, peer-reviewed application. An official request should be emailed by your Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) to the NCI Grants Management Specialist assigned to the fellowship (and the NCI fellowship Program Officer should be copied in the email).
The request should include the change in sponsor, an assurance that the research project will continue to meet the original goals of the peer-reviewed application, and a current biosketch, funding history and mentoring history, and statement of support from the new sponsor.
Can I keep my fellowship award if my sponsor and I are moving to a new institution?
This will require prior NCI approval – please contact the NCI grants management specialist named on your Notice of Award and request instructions for how to proceed. Your new sponsoring institution may be required to submit a “change of sponsoring institution” application: NRSA Forms and Instructions.