NIH F Applications and You

1. NIH F Applications and You Steps for BGS students applying for individual predoctoral NRSAs* *Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards

2. Reasons to apply • Helps jump start dissertation research • Grant writing experience is valuable • Great award/honor on your CV • ~$2,750 for lab supplies, travel • Benefits mentor: frees up research grant funds for other uses Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

3. 3 types of indiv. predoc. NRSAs • F30: for MD/PhD and other CDs • F31: to promote Diversity • F31: for Dissertation research related to particular institutes of NIH Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

4. F30 MD/PhD, VMD/PhD, etc. • Up to 6 years of support, excluding other NRSA (e.g., MSTP or other TG) support • Ideal time to apply: upon picking thesis lab • Note that not all institutes participate; check the list to see if any are relevant to your research • Deadlines: 4/8, 8/8, 12/8 Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

5. F30 Participating Institutes • National Institute on Aging (NIA), (http://www.nia.nih.gov/)National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), (http://www.niaaa.nih.gov)National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), (http://www.nidcd.nih.gov)National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), (http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), (http://www.niddk.nih.gov)National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), (http://www.nida.nih.gov)National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS/NIH), (http://www.niehs.nih.gov)National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), (http://www.nimh.nih.gov)National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), (http://www.ninds.nih.gov)Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), (http://ods.od.nih.gov) • National Heart Lung Blood Institute (NHLBI) has its own F30 Program Announcement: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-232.html Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

6. F31 Diversity • Up to 5 years of support, excluding other NRSA support (from training grants) • Ideal time to apply: once you have identified your research interests, can be as early as your first year • Virtually all NIH institutes participate • Deadlines: 4/13, 8/13, 12/13 Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

7. F31 Diversity Participating Insts. • National Cancer Institute (NCI), (http://www.nci.nih.gov/)National Eye Institute (NEI), (http://www.nei.nih.gov/)National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov)National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), (http://www.nhgri.nih.gov/)National Institute on Aging (NIA), (http://www.nia.nih.gov/)National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), (http://www.niaaa.nih.gov /)National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/)National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), (http://www.niams.nih.gov/)National Inst. of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), (http://www.nibib.nih.gov/)National Inst. of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), (http://www.nichd.nih.gov/)National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), (http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/)National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), (http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/)National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), (http://www.niddk.nih.gov/)National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), (http://www.nida.nih.gov/)National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), (http://www.niehs.nih.gov)National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), (http://www.nigms.nih.gov)National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/)National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/)National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), (http://www.ninr.nih.gov/)National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), (http://www.nccam.nih.gov/)National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), (http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/)Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), (http://www.ods.od.nih.gov) Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

8. F31 Dissertation • Up to 5 years of support • Ideal time to apply: after starting dissertation research • Note that not all institutes participate; check the list to see if any are relevant to your research (most BGS students with these awards are NGG or PHRM) • Deadlines: 4/8, 8/8, 12/8 Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

9. F31 Dissertation Participating Insts. • National Institute on Aging (NIA), http://www.nia.nih.gov/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), http://www.niaaa.nih.govNational Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA),http://www.nida.nih.gov/National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH),http://www.nimh.nih.govNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), http://www.ninds.nih.govNational Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), http://www.nccam.nih.govOffice of Dietary Supplements (ODS), http://ods.od.nih.gov/ Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

10. Application Info & Resources • F Kiosk: http://grants.nih.gov/training/F_files_nrsa.htm Select appropriate F30 or F31 program announcement here • SF424 (R&R): http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/SF424_RR_Guide_Fellowship.pdf Individual Fellowship Application Guide • Forms: • Marianne (below) will send you a partially pre-populated pdf to complete • For fellowship-specific biosketch and reference form, go to:http://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms • Marianne Williams, Finance Office -- for BGS, MD-PhD, and VMD-PhD students altland@upenn.edu Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

11. General • All done via eRA Commons of Grants.gov • Contact Marianne to set up your account • Marianne will fill out basics of the forms for you, e.g., budget, previous NRSA support, etc. • Although electronic submission began in 2009, successful NRSA applicants from before 2009 are available for general advice; contact the Graduate Student Center or Marianne for student mentors • Your advisor and graduate group chair (and CD director if applicable) are great resources Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

12. Identifying the institute • Determine which institute(s) of NIH is the best fit for your project (discuss this with your PI) • Contact the fellowship program officer at the institute(s) by phone to discuss your proposal and how it might fit with the institute’s scientific goals; see numbers on p. I-3 of the Application Guide • Prepare a cover letter to be submitted with your proposal that refers to the conversation and the program officer by name (part of “Other Attachments”) Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

13. Once you have your partially-completed forms from Marianne • Complete the highlighted sections; ask Marianne if you have any questions • Note that YOU are the PI; enter your name, contact info., and use special fellowship biosketch • Your mentor is the Senior/Key Person 1, aka Sponsor; enter his/her info. and biosketch • If your mentor is a junior faculty member, you might benefit from a Co-Sponsor (a tenured faculty member with relevant research and training experience) Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

14. Research Training Plan • 10 page limit, including figures, charts, tables, and diagrams: combine sections before uploading to monitor length • Pay close attention to instructions on font, headers (none), page numbers (none), etc. • Get early input from advisor & GG chair! • 1. Intro (resubmissions only) • 2. Specific Aims • 3. Background and Significance • 4. Preliminary Studies/Progress Report • 5. Research Design & Methods Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

15. Other Components • Human Subjects (Y/N): From Mentor • Vertebrate Animals (Y/N): From Mentor • Resource Sharing Plan: From Mentor • Respective Contributions: See sample on next page • Selection of Sponsor and Institution: Write a paragraph on each • Responsible Conduct of Research: Finance Office provides latest BGS version Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

16. Respective Contributions - sample • RESPECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS This proposal is an extension of my candidacy exam. I am primarily responsible for the ideas and experiments outlined in this document. Through discussions with my sponsor, Dr. __________, I was able to focus my hypothesis and refine my experimental approach to maximize feasibility. I prepared this document independently but consulted with Dr. ____ for suggestions before finalizing the proposal. Figure 2 is the work of a former undergraduate student, ____ . I will perform the described experiments independently. I will seek guidance from Dr. ____ when interpreting data and troubleshooting experiments. Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

17. Candidate Information • Degree Sought and Field of Training • Current/Prior NRSA Support: Finance Office provides • Applications for Concurrent Support (Y/N) • Goals for Fellowship Training [Attach]: See instructions;up to 2 page; make sure goals relate to institute’s goals • Activities Planned Under Award [Attach]: Brief table, usually indicating 100% research • Doctoral Diss/Research Exper [Attach]: Important to describe previous research experience, including rotations, as well as dissertation info.; see instructions; up to 2 pages Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

18. Other Components • Budget: Finance Office will provide • Appendix: Optional – not clear what if anything needs to be provided here for F applications Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

19. Research & Related • Project/Performance Site Location(s): Use your lab address • Other Project Information: See instructions • Misc. Y/N Questions • Project Summary/Abstract [Attach] • Project Narrative [Attach] • Bibliography & References Cited [Attach] • Other Attachments: See next slide Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

20. Research & Related, Cont. • Other Project Information, Cont. • Other Attachments • Sponsor Page (Details on Next Slide) • Cover letter requesting assignment [Attach] • List of Referees [Attach] • Training Potential [Attach] • Additional Education Info. [Attach]: Any grades or test scores not listed on biosketch Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

21. Sponsor • Sponsor Page of “Other Attachments” • Research Support Available [Attach] • Previous Trainees [Attach] • Training Plan, Environment & Research Facilities [Attach] • # of Trainees Supervised During Fellowship [Attach] • Applicant’s Qualifications and Potential for Research Career [Attach] Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

22. Additional “Other Attachments” • If a Diversity applicant, letter from BGS Director [Attach] • If an F30 applicant, statement on institutional environment and commitment to training (Skip Brass letter available from MD/PhD office) Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

23. Letters of Recommendation (3-5) • NOT mentor/sponsor (since s/he writes statement about your qualifications in the grant) • Usually the graduate group chair, CD head and/or program chair (if applicable), rotation advisor, thesis committee member, or faculty research collaborator • Must use fellowship-specific form and be submitted electronically https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/reference/submitRefereeInformation.jsp Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

24. Steps to Take • ≥30 days prior to deadline: • Contact Finance Office, altland@upenn.edu • Provide sponsor with link and forms; graduate group chair can help with info. about training • Get 3 referees on board; make sure they use the required form • ≥ 10 days prior to deadline: • Complete your forms & attachments • Have your advisor review application • ≥ 3 days prior to deadline: • Everything in final form for Univ. review Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

25. Grant Application Package Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

26. Application Page 1 Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

27. Application Page 2 Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

28. RESEARCH & RELATED: Senior Key Person Profile (Expanded) Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

29. PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

30. PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form, cont. Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

31. PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form, Cont. Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

32. RESEARCH & RELATED: Project/ Performance Site Location(s) Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

33. RESEARCH & RELATED Other Project Information Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania

34. 11. Other Attachments, detail Biomedical Graduate Studies University of Pennsylvania