F31 Full Applicaiton Examples

The F31 grant, also known as the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows, is a prestigious award provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support postdoctoral training for individuals in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences. The F31 grant is designed to enhance the research training of promising postdoctoral researchers, providing them with the necessary skills and expertise to become independent investigators. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the F31 grant, including its purpose, eligibility criteria, application process, and review criteria, as well as full application examples.

Introduction to the F31 Grant

The F31 grant is a competitive award that provides funding for postdoctoral researchers to pursue research training in a specific area of interest. The grant is designed to support the development of independent researchers, providing them with the necessary skills, knowledge, and expertise to become leaders in their field. The F31 grant is available to citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States, as well as to individuals who have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the F31 grant, applicants must meet certain criteria, including:

• Being a citizen or non-citizen national of the United States, or having been lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States
• Holding a doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D., M.D., D.V.M.)
• Having less than 2 years of postdoctoral research experience at the time of application
• Being sponsored by a qualified mentor
• Proposing a research project that is relevant to the NIH mission

Application Process

The application process for the F31 grant involves several steps, including:

1. Identifying a sponsor and research project
2. Developing a research proposal
3. Preparing the application components, including the SF424 (R&R) form, the research plan, and the budget
4. Submitting the application through the eRA Commons

Application Components

The F31 grant application consists of several components, including:

• SF424 (R&R) form: This form provides basic information about the applicant and the application
• Research plan: This component outlines the research project, including the background, significance, approach, and expected outcomes
• Budget: This component outlines the costs associated with the research project, including personnel, equipment, and travel
• Biosketch: This component provides information about the applicant’s education, research experience, and publications
• Letters of reference: These letters provide additional information about the applicant’s qualifications and potential

Review Criteria

The F31 grant applications are reviewed based on several criteria, including:

1. Career development potential: The applicant’s potential to become an independent researcher
2. Research training plan: The quality of the research training plan, including the research project and the sponsor
3. Scientific merit: The significance, innovation, and approach of the research project
4. Mentorship: The qualifications and experience of the sponsor
5. Institutional environment: The quality of the institutional environment, including the availability of resources and support

Scoring System

The F31 grant applications are scored based on a 9-point system, with 1 being the highest score and 9 being the lowest score. The scores are based on the review criteria, with the career development potential and research training plan being the most important factors.

Full Application Examples

To illustrate the application process, we provide two full application examples for the F31 grant.

Example 1: Application for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Cancer Biology

This example illustrates an application for a postdoctoral researcher in cancer biology, with a research project focused on the role of epigenetics in cancer development.

• SF424 (R&R) form: The applicant provides basic information about themselves and the application, including their education, research experience, and publications
• Research plan: The applicant outlines the research project, including the background, significance, approach, and expected outcomes
• Budget: The applicant outlines the costs associated with the research project, including personnel, equipment, and travel
• Biosketch: The applicant provides information about their education, research experience, and publications
• Letters of reference: The applicant provides letters of reference from their sponsor and other colleagues, highlighting their qualifications and potential

Example 2: Application for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Neuroscience

This example illustrates an application for a postdoctoral researcher in neuroscience, with a research project focused on the development of new treatments for neurological disorders.

• SF424 (R&R) form: The applicant provides basic information about themselves and the application, including their education, research experience, and publications
• Research plan: The applicant outlines the research project, including the background, significance, approach, and expected outcomes
• Budget: The applicant outlines the costs associated with the research project, including personnel, equipment, and travel
• Biosketch: The applicant provides information about their education, research experience, and publications
• Letters of reference: The applicant provides letters of reference from their sponsor and other colleagues, highlighting their qualifications and potential