Diversity NRSA Fellowship F31 - NIH Predoctoral Fellowship Awards to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research What is it? --NRSA (2-3 years of funding) for underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/students.htm#f30 (overview of each) http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-209.html (diversity F31 in particular) --For up to 3 years, not to exceed 5 years of NIH support total (e.g. if you were on a institutional training grant before joining your lab) --Available from many more institutes and centers than the traditional NRSA (22 as opposed to 8, including NCI) How to apply See the website for instructions (Note the recent switch to electronic submission) Read the instructions and follow them (font size, borders, sections)… “there is no enemy greater than the irritated reviewer” Generally, the process is the same as for the NRSA but with different deadlines (April13, Aug13, Dec13) Additional Things to Consider --The actual reviewing committee may be from a wide variety of backgrounds e.g. departments may range from biochemistry, cardiology, neuroscience, pharmacology, immunology etc. --look up the program officers from the division of the institutes that best suit your work…and actually contact them: Tell them an overview of your proposed work and ask if this is something they are interested in. These contact people are part of the meetings where it’s decided “what type of research do we want to emphasize and fund”…so they are your first line of info about what that institute is willing to fund. If your work lies outside of their area of emphasis, think of ways to tailor your proposal to their interest or also consider that your work may be better suited for another division or another institute.
Once you receive a summary statement: You may have an opportunity to reply to the summary statement (…if the program director contact gives you the opportunity to do so, it could mean they are fighting for you despite a troublesome reviewer) Once you receive the grant: Congrats!! Contact the NIH contact person with questions you may have (they are here to help and want to engage with investigators). Also, if take advantage of opportunities at meetings etc. to chat with the program officers. It helps them to match a face to your name; networking can work wonders (if you continue in the same field and apply for funding later down the road, these are the same people you’ll come in contact with again and again.)