Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 20 242
The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32) is an NIH fellowship program meant to fund intensive, mentored research training for highly promising postdoctoral researchers. The central goal is career development: helping a postdoc build the scientific skills, publication record, professional network, and research independence needed to become a productive, independent investigator in a health-related field that aligns with the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers. In practice, the application is expected to look like a well-structured training plan built around a strong research project, with clear evidence that the candidate is on a trajectory toward independence and that the proposed environment and mentors are well suited to get them there.
A major emphasis of this opportunity is exceptional mentorship. The FOA signals that NIH expects a thoughtful, well-supported mentoring arrangement, not just a host lab and a project idea. Competitive proposals typically show that the sponsor (and any co-sponsors) will provide hands-on scientific guidance, structured professional development, and a training environment that covers technical development, responsible conduct of research, and career preparation. The fellowship is therefore as much about the training plan and mentoring setup as it is about the specific research aims, and applicants are expected to articulate how the mentorship and training activities will fill gaps in their background and accelerate their transition to independence.
This particular Parent F32 announcement is intended for candidates whose proposed work does not include leading an independent clinical trial. It also excludes leading a clinical trial feasibility study or an ancillary clinical trial. However, it does allow the fellow to gain research experience within a clinical trial as long as the trial is led by a sponsor or co-sponsor (in other words, the fellow can participate in a clinical trial setting for training purposes, but is not positioned as the independent trial leader). This distinction is important because NIH has separate fellowship and career development tracks for applicants proposing to lead clinical trials, and this FOA is tailored to non-trial-leading postdoctoral training plans.
The program sits in the federal assistance category of discretionary funding and uses the grant mechanism. It is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (now commonly referred to under Assistance Listing numbers) that correspond to different NIH Institutes and Centers and their training-related authorities. The opportunity is broad in scope across health-related scientific areas, meaning applicants need to ensure their research and training plans clearly map to the mission priorities of the specific NIH Institute or Center they are targeting.
Eligibility is expansive and includes a wide range of organization types that may serve as the applicant institution or training site, depending on NIH’s specific requirements and how the fellowship is structured. The eligible applicant categories listed include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special district governments, and independent school districts), as well as public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. It also includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments). In addition, the FOA highlights other eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, eligible federal agencies, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility list reflects NIH’s intent to support strong training environments across many institution types and geographies, as long as the proposed mentoring and research training plan meets NIH standards.
From the source details provided, the funding opportunity title is Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32), with Funding Opportunity Number PA-20-242. The agency is NIH, the opportunity category is discretionary, and the funding instrument type is a grant. The record shows an original closing date of 2020-10-26 and a creation date of 2020-06-23. No award ceiling or expected awards figure is specified in the provided listing, which is common in high-level summaries where budget and award counts can vary by Institute, fiscal year, and the pool of meritorious applications.
Overall, this FOA is best understood as a structured, mentored postdoctoral training fellowship: it funds a candidate with strong potential, places heavy weight on mentorship and the training environment, and supports research experiences that build toward independence, while specifically avoiding proposals where the fellow would be the lead for an independent clinical trial or related trial leadership activities.Apply for PA 20 242
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.307, 93.361, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.847, 93.855, 93.859, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-06-23.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-10-26. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32)?
The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32) is an NIH fellowship program that supports intensive, mentored research training for highly promising postdoctoral researchers. It is designed to help postdocs build the skills, track record, professional network, and research independence needed to become productive, independent investigators in health-related fields aligned with the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
What is the main goal of this fellowship?
The central goal is career development. The fellowship supports a structured training experience intended to accelerate a postdoc's transition toward research independence by strengthening scientific skills, supporting publication progress, expanding professional networks, and providing targeted mentoring and professional development.
What does a competitive application generally look like under this FOA?
Based on the description provided, the application is expected to resemble a well-structured training plan built around a strong research project. It should also include clear evidence that the candidate is on a trajectory toward independence and that the proposed mentors and research environment are well suited to support that progression.
How important is mentorship in this Parent F32 opportunity?
Exceptional mentorship is a major emphasis. The opportunity signals that NIH expects a thoughtful, well-supported mentoring arrangement, not simply access to a host lab and a project idea. Competitive proposals typically describe hands-on scientific guidance, structured professional development, and a training environment that supports technical growth, responsible conduct of research, and career preparation.
Is the fellowship more about the research project or the training plan?
The fellowship is described as being as much about the training plan and mentoring setup as it is about the specific research aims. Applicants are expected to explain how planned mentorship and training activities will address gaps in their background and speed their development toward independence.
Can an applicant propose to lead an independent clinical trial under this FOA?
No. This specific Parent F32 announcement is intended for candidates whose proposed work does not include leading an independent clinical trial.
Are clinical trial feasibility studies or ancillary clinical trials allowed if led by the fellow?
No. The description states that this FOA excludes leading a clinical trial feasibility study or leading an ancillary clinical trial.
Can the fellow get clinical trial experience at all under this FOA?
Yes. The fellow may gain research experience within a clinical trial as long as the clinical trial is led by the sponsor or a co-sponsor. In other words, the fellow can participate in a clinical trial setting for training purposes but is not positioned as the independent trial leader.
Why does the FOA draw a line around clinical trial leadership?
The distinction matters because NIH has separate fellowship and career development tracks for applicants proposing to lead clinical trials. This FOA is specifically tailored to postdoctoral training plans where the fellow is not leading an independent clinical trial (or related trial leadership activities such as feasibility or ancillary trials).
Who administers this funding opportunity?
The program is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this Parent F32?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PA-20-242.
What is the official title of the opportunity?
The title is Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32).
What is the opportunity category and funding instrument type?
The opportunity category is discretionary funding, and the funding instrument type is a grant.
Is the opportunity limited to a specific scientific area?
The opportunity is described as broad in scope across health-related scientific areas. Applicants are expected to ensure their research and training plans clearly map to the mission priorities of the specific NIH Institute or Center they are targeting.
What are the CFDA/Assistance Listing numbers for this program?
The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (now often referred to as Assistance Listing numbers) corresponding to different NIH Institutes and Centers and their training-related authorities.
Which organizations are eligible to apply or serve as the training site?
Eligibility is described as expansive and includes many organization types that may serve as the applicant institution or training site (subject to NIH requirements and fellowship structure). The listed eligible categories include:
- Public institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
- Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
- Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
- Hispanic-serving Institutions
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
- Faith-based or community-based organizations
- Regional organizations
- U.S. territories or possessions
- Eligible federal agencies
- Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations)
Does the FOA allow non-U.S. organizations to be involved?
Yes. The eligible applicants list explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).
Does the FOA provide an award ceiling or a set number of expected awards?
No award ceiling or expected awards figure is specified in the provided listing. The description notes that this can be common in high-level summaries because budgets and award counts may vary by NIH Institute, fiscal year, and the pool of meritorious applications.
What are the key dates provided for this opportunity?
The source details provided list a creation date of 2020-06-23 and an original closing date of 2020-10-26.
What is the core idea NIH wants to see in the training plan?
The description emphasizes that the training plan should be structured and intentional, showing how mentoring and training activities will fill gaps in the candidate's background and accelerate the candidate's transition to research independence.
What role do sponsors and co-sponsors play in this fellowship (based on the description)?
The sponsor (and any co-sponsors) are expected to provide hands-on scientific guidance and structured professional development and to offer a training environment that supports technical development, responsible conduct of research, and career preparation. The sponsor or co-sponsor may also lead a clinical trial in which the fellow participates for training purposes.
In one sentence, how should this FOA be understood?
It is a structured, mentored postdoctoral training fellowship that supports strong candidates and emphasizes mentorship and the training environment while excluding proposals where the fellow would lead an independent clinical trial (including feasibility or ancillary clinical trials).
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31) Apply for PA 20 246 Funding Number: PA 20 246 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions Without NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30) Apply for PA 20 245 Funding Number: PA 20 245 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions with NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30) Apply for PA 20 248 Funding Number: PA 20 248 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Parent F31-Diversity) Apply for PA 20 251 Funding Number: PA 20 251 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| PHS 2020-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 20 261 Funding Number: PA 20 261 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| PHS 2020-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC, and FDA for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 20 262 Funding Number: PA 20 262 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| PHS 2020-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC and FDA for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 20 260 Funding Number: PA 20 260 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| PHS 2020-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 20 265 Funding Number: PA 20 265 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Successor-in-Interest (Type 6 Parent Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 20 275 Funding Number: PA 20 275 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31) Apply for PA 21 051 Funding Number: PA 21 051 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions Without NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30) Apply for PA 21 050 Funding Number: PA 21 050 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Parent F31-Diversity) Apply for PA 21 052 Funding Number: PA 21 052 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions with NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30) Apply for PA 21 049 Funding Number: PA 21 049 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32) Apply for PA 21 048 Funding Number: PA 21 048 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 21 038 Funding Number: PAR 21 038 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 21 071 Funding Number: PA 21 071 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Short Courses on Innovative Methodologies and Approaches in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R25 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA OD 21 005 Funding Number: RFA OD 21 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Support for Research Excellence (SuRE) Award (R16 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 21 169 Funding Number: PAR 21 169 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Support for Research Excellence First Independent Research (SuRE-First) Award (R16 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 21 173 Funding Number: PAR 21 173 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $125,000 |
| Understanding and Addressing the Impact of Structural Racism and Discrimination on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA MD 21 004 Funding Number: RFA MD 21 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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