Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Senior Fellowship (Parent F33)
Can you apply?
This grant is for experienced researchers seeking advanced postdoctoral or research training support from the National Institutes of Health. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents and typically hold a doctorate or medical degree. The fellowship is designed to support individuals at intermediate-to-advanced career stages who wish to pursue mentored research training in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. Awardees conduct research at NIH-approved domestic or foreign institutions under the guidance of an experienced mentor. Research activities span a broad range of health-related fields supported by NIH's various institutes and centers. Recipients are expected to demonstrate commitment to research careers and competitive scholarly records.
Program description
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards senior individual research training fellowships to experienced scientists who wish to make major changes in the direction of their research careers or who wish to broaden their scientific background by acquiring new research capabilities as independent investigators in research fields relevant to the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NIH Form SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance
- Project narrative (research plan) describing the proposed research and training activities
- Detailed budget and budget justification
- Letters of support and commitment from proposed mentor and host institution
- Biographical sketch of applicant (NIH format, 4-5 pages maximum)
- Biographical sketch of mentor (NIH format, 4-5 pages maximum)
- Other support documentation (current/pending research funding)
- Institutional certification of research environment and resources
- Letters of reference (typically 2-3 external reviewers)
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.859 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$73,117,112
-
$61,505,969
-
$60,096,875
-
$59,464,779
-
$58,149,324
-
$57,271,194
-
$56,890,714
-
$56,074,483
-
$54,912,096
-
$54,813,472
Top States by Funding
- NY 6 awards $185.5M
- CA 6 awards $184.0M
- DE 5 awards $183.9M
- OK 5 awards $182.7M
- WV 3 awards $150.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.859). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $3,085,929,426 | |
| 2025 | $3,092,472,727 | |
| 2026 est. | $3,093,422,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for the NRSA Individual Senior Fellowship?
Applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents with a Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., or equivalent research doctorate. The fellowship targets individuals with prior postdoctoral or research experience who are positioned to advance to independent research careers.
What types of research are supported?
The fellowship supports biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and health-related research across NIH-supported disciplines, including basic science, translational research, and applied health research conducted under mentored supervision.
How long is the fellowship period?
Awards typically provide support for 3-5 years of full-time research training, though specific duration depends on the applicant's career development plan and institutional capacity.
What is the typical funding range?
While exact amounts vary, NRSA fellowships typically provide salary support, research allowance, and institutional costs. Specific funding depends on the applicant's experience level, geographic location, and research focus.
What makes an application competitive?
Strong applications demonstrate a clear research plan under qualified mentorship, significant prior research accomplishments, career development potential, and institutional commitment to support the fellow's research and professional growth.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Select a mentor with strong research credentials and demonstrated commitment to trainee development; strong mentor letters are critical to competitiveness
- Clearly articulate how the proposed training period fills gaps in your research expertise and how it positions you for independent research leadership
- Provide compelling evidence of prior research accomplishments and publication record appropriate to your career stage
- Develop a detailed, realistic research plan with specific aims, methods, and timeline that your mentor can actively support
- Demonstrate alignment between your research interests and the broader scientific priorities of the NIH institute or center to which you're applying
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail when mentors have insufficient research funding or unclear commitment to the fellow's success. Weak research plans lacking specificity, compelling innovation, or realistic scope relative to the fellowship period also frequently result in rejection. Additionally, applicants sometimes underestimate the importance of demonstrating how the training fills a genuine gap in their research qualifications and strengthens their pathway to independent research funding.
Similar grants
- OPEN Rural Community Health Integration2026 — New York State Department of Health
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Rangeland Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN Infertility Training Center — Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health