An official website of the United States government
NIA supports the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31), open to Ph.D. Students conducting aging research ( PA-25-422 ). F31 recipients must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents at the time of award. View other fellowships NIA supports for graduate students .
New Application and Review Process
Effective for receipt dates on or after January 25, 2025, fellowship review criteria have been revised. Read about changes to the fellowship review criteria and changes to fellowship applications .
Interested in learning more? Review the official notice NOT-OD-24-107: Implementation of Revisions to the NIH and AHRQ Fellowship Application and Review Process .
F31 at a Glance
- Notice of Funding Opportunity: PA-25-422
- Name: Individual Predoctoral Fellowship
- Eligibility: Ph.D. students who are at the dissertation stage by time of award. Research lab chosen.
- Discipline: All aging research
- Maximum Award Duration: Five years
- Yearly Due Dates: April 8, August 8, December 8
- Award Budget: $28,788 Stipend, $16,000 Tuition
Questions about the F31 award for aging or dementia research? Contact Jamie Lahvic, Ph.D., at NIATraining@mail.nih.gov .
Important Dates
NIH NRSA fellowships are awarded in three cycles every year, as described below.
| Receipt Cycle | Application or Resubmission Due Date | Initial Review Date | Earliest Possible Award Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 8 | June/July | December |
| 2 | August 8 | October/November | April |
| 3 | December 8 | February/March | July |
Award Duration
Graduate students may receive up to 5 years of combined support from the F31 award and any institutional T32 program. Speak to your graduate program director to determine whether you have been funded on a T32.
How to Apply
Find information on applying for F31 Fellowships.
To choose a study section to indicate on your Assignment Request Form, consult the list of NIH Fellowship study sections .
F31 Stipend and Funding Levels
Yearly award budgets are composed of stipends, tuition and fees, and institutional allowance, as described below. Updated information on budget levels can be found in NOT-OD-25-105 .
| Stipend | Maximum Tuition | Institutional Allowance |
|---|---|---|
| $28,788 | $16,000 | $4,750 |
Tuition and fees paid can be 60% of total institutional tuition, or $16,000, whichever is less.
Institutional Allowance may be used to cover expenses such as health insurance, research supplies, equipment, books, and travel to scientific meetings.
Childcare Costs
Additionally, each fellow may request $3,000 per year to defray childcare costs from a licensed provider. Learn more in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Childcare Costs .
Components of an F31 Individual Fellowship Application
A fellowship application requires many parts; you should begin preparing your application well before the deadline. Below find the major components of an application and their length limits:
| Application Component | Length Limit |
|---|---|
| Abstract | 30 lines of text |
| Project Narrative | 3 sentences |
| Candidate Biosketch* | 5 pages |
| Sponsor Biosketch | 5 pages |
| Candidate Goals, Preparedness, and Potential | 3 pages |
| Training Activities and Timelines | 3 pages |
| Research Training Project Specific Aims | 1 page |
| Research Training Project Strategy | 6 pages |
| Sponsor(s) Commitment | 6 pages |
| Letters of Support from Collaborators, Contributors, and Consultants | 6 pages |
| 3-5 Reference Letters | 2 pages each |
*A biosketch is a document containing a curriculum vitae (CV), personal statement, and description of past research experience.
Detailed instructions for each application part can be found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide .
Sample F31 applications are available from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Is my F31 research topic appropriate for the NIA?
Consult the list of currently funded NIA F31s .
If you would like feedback on the appropriateness of your research topic for NIA, please submit a one-page overview of your specific aims to Jamie Lahvic, Ph.D., at NIATraining@mail.nih.gov . A scientific program official from the appropriate division will contact you soon thereafter.