Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32)

PA-23-048

The overall goal of the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) program is to help ensure that a diverse pool of highly trained scientists is available in appropriate scientific disciplines to address the Nation's biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs. In order to accomplish this goal, NRSA training programs are designed to train individuals to conduct research and to prepare for research careers. More information about NRSA programs may be found at the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) website.

The NRSA program has been the primary means of supporting predoctoral and postdoctoral research training programs since enactment of the NRSA legislation in 1974.  Institutional NRSA programs allow the Training Program Director/Principal Investigator (Training PD/PI) to select trainees and develop an enhanced program of coursework, mentored research experiences, and technical and professional skills development appropriate for the appointed trainees that provides added value to already existing programs.

The grant offsets the cost of stipends, tuition and fees, and training related expenses, including health insurance, for the appointed trainees in accordance with the approved NIH support levels.

Purpose

The purpose of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (T32) program is to develop and/or enhance research training opportunities for individuals interested in careers in biomedical, behavioral or social sciences, and clinical research, in health services research, or in any other research discipline related to the NIH mission.

Each proposed program should provide high-quality research training, and mentored research experiences, and are expected to help trainees develop:

• A strong foundation in scientific reasoning, rigorous and reproducible research design, experimental methods, analytic techniques, including quantitative/computational approaches, and data gathering, storing, analysis, interpretation and sharing appropriate for the proposed research area.
• Their individual development plans to identify areas of strengths and areas of career and personal growth with the ability to identify and engage mentors.
• Skills in engaging in their chosen area of science including networking, presentation and publication skills and opportunities to interact with members of the broader scientific community at appropriate scientific meetings and workshops.
• The competencies needed to advance to independent careers in their chosen field.
• The ability to think critically, independently, and to develop important research questions to initiate and conduct research and approaches that push forward their areas of study.
• An understanding of the relationship of their research training to health, diseases, and disorders.
• A commitment to approaching and conducting research responsibly and with integrity.
• The competencies to work effectively with colleagues from a variety of backgrounds and scientific disciplines to contribute to inclusive and supportive scientific research environments.;
• The knowledge, professional skills, and experiences required to identify and transition into careers that sustain biomedical research in areas that are relevant to the NIH mission.

The proposed institutional research training program may complement other ongoing research training and career development programs at the applicant institution but must be clearly distinct from related programs currently receiving Federal support.

Application budgets are not limited, but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.

Not required

January 25, 2023; May 25, 2023; September 25, 2023

See:Table of IC-Specific Information, Requireme nts and Staff Contacts