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Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows (F32)

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions about your NCI application or award for training in cancer research or education? Make the NCI Frequently Asked Questions your first stop to getting answers!

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As of December 10, 2024, NCI is no longer accepting F32 applications. For details, see NOT-CA-25-013.

Please note: F32 applications that were submitted to NCI prior to December 10, 2024 will still be reviewed and considered for funding in fiscal year 2025.

The NCI Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows F32 Award supports promising postdoctoral applicants who have the potential to become productive and successful independent cancer research investigators.

NCI requires a clear cancer focus in the research training plan. Since the fellowship award does not support research costs, NCI gives funding priority to applications clearly indicating funds are available to support the candidate’s research training plan throughout the duration of the award.

Note: The details on this page are for informational purposes only. Please read and follow all requirements and instructions in the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) and the Table of IC-Specific Information linked therein before applying for an award. Application review information is described in the funding opportunity. If you have any questions before submitting your application, please contact the relevant NCI program staff listed at the end of this page.

NCI-specific guidance on overlap between F32 fellowship applications and the sponsor’s pending/active grants: The F32 Research Training Plan should be developed in collaboration between the sponsor and F32 candidate. It is expected that the Research Training Plan be based on the candidate’s original project ideas and/or hypotheses. The F32 project can be within the overall scope of the sponsor’s research awards. However, there should be no text duplication or substantial duplication of the scientific aims, and the candidate’s application should propose a scientific research question or approach that is distinct from the specific aims of the sponsor’s pending or active research grants.

NCI will not support both a fellowship award and an active or pending research grant that propose substantially the same research.

For more complete information, reference the Program Announcement PA-23-262 (F32 Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship) and/or contact the program staff.

Applicant Eligibility

Citizenship

At the time of the award, the candidate must be:

  • a citizen of the United States,
  • or a noncitizen national,
  • or must have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence and possess an Alien Registration Receipt Card (1-151 or 1-551) or some other verification of legal admission as a permanent resident.

Citizenship or green card is not needed to apply. Citizenship or green card is needed at the time of award issuance.
Foreign Nationals with Student Visas Not eligible for this award
Degree/Academic Appointment Postdoctoral and Clinical Fellows
Geographic Location F32 Fellows may request support for training abroad; clear scientific justification is required, including the reasons why the facilities, the sponsor, and/or other aspects of the proposed experience are more appropriate than training in a domestic setting.
Effort Level/ Commitment At least 40 hours per week, full-time effort, to the training program
Duration of the Award Up to 3 years; the F32 Award is not renewable

Budget

Financial Support

# of Years
Postdoctoral
Experience		 Stipend for FY 2024

0

$61,008

1

$61,428

2

$61,884

3

$64,356

4

$66,492

5

$68,964

6

$71,532

7 or more

$74,088

Tuition, Fees, Training-Related Expenses & Health Insurance

Tuition and Fees NCI will pay 60% of the combined amount requested for tuition and fees, up to $4,500 per year.
Tuition and Fees for Each Postdoctoral Trainee in a Formal Degree-Granting Program NCI will pay 60% of the combined amount requested for tuition and fees, up to $16,000 per year.
Training-Related Expenses and Health Insurance

NCI will pay up to $12,400 annually to help defray other research training expenses, such as:
 

  • Health insurance (self-only or family, as applicable)
  • Staff salaries
  • Consultant costs
  • Equipment
  • Research supplies
  • Faculty/staff travel directly related to the research training program

How to Apply

  • Applications must be submitted electronically.
  • Applicants must follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Individual Fellowship Application Guide, as well as the program-specific instructions in Section IV. of the Program Announcement.
  • When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions.
  • Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Application Receipt Dates and Review Schedule

Receipt Cycle Receipt Date: Application, Resubmission Initial Review Date https://service.cancer.gov/ncispCouncil Review Date Earliest Possible Start Date*

1

 April 8 June/July September/October December

2

 August 8 October/November January/February April

3

 December 8 February/March May/June July

* Start dates are determined by the availability of NCI funds and may not occur until well after the earliest possible start date.

Applications are due by 5pm local time.

When a standard submission date falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, the application deadline is automatically extended to the next business day.

Review and Selection Process

The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) review applications for completeness and for conformance to all eligibility requirements and special provisions and requirements. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration.

For review criteria for the F32 grant mechanism, see the Review Criteria section of the Program Announcement.

Reminders for Awardees including Changes in Project and Terminations

1. Changes in the Project: Individual NCI F32 fellowship awards are made for training at a specific institution under the guidance of a particular sponsor.  Prior approval by NCI is required for a transfer of the award to another institution, a change in sponsor, or a significant project change. If the primary sponsor plans to be absent for a continuous period of more than 3 months, an interim sponsor must be named by the institution and approved in writing by NCI.

2. Termination Requirements:

F32 awardees are required to submit a Termination Notice either when:

  • all institutional dual doctoral degree requirements have been completed; or
  • the F32 project end date listed on the Notice of Award (NoA) has arrived (whichever comes first).

F32 awardees are required to submit a Termination Notice within 30 days of the conclusion of award funding.

Resources

NCI Staff Contacts

For additional information regarding policies and/or guidance in preparing an application, contact:

For assistance with xTrain, contact:

For technical issues with xTrain, contact the eRA Service Desk

For information regarding fiscal and/or budget issues, contact:

For information regarding referral and review issues, contact:

  • Referral Officer
    Division of Extramural Activities
    Phone: 240-276-6390
  • Updated:
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