Predoctoral Training in Advanced Data Analytics for Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (BSSR) - Institutional Research Training Program [T32] | RFA OD 24 012

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OD 24 012

The Predoctoral Training in Advanced Data Analytics for Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (BSSR) - Institutional Research Training Program (T32) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity (RFA-OD-24-012) that supports the creation of new institutional predoctoral training programs centered on advanced computational and data science methods for behavioral and social sciences health research. The main aim is to build a pipeline of PhD-level trainees who can handle the growing scale and complexity of behavioral and social health-related "big data" and who can apply modern analytic approaches to real-world BSSR questions. In practice, the program is meant to produce a cohort of trainees with specialized, high-level competencies in data analytics that go beyond traditional BSSR methods training, reflecting how rapidly data sources, computing approaches, and analytic expectations are evolving in health-related behavioral and social science.

The emphasis of the training is on innovative computational and/or data science analytic approaches and on embedding those approaches directly into the structure of predoctoral workforce development. Programs supported under this FOA are expected to incorporate advanced analytics into the curriculum and research experiences trainees receive, preparing them to work with complex, high-dimensional, and often heterogeneous datasets that increasingly appear in BSSR contexts. While the FOA description does not list specific required methods, the framing strongly points to training environments that could include modern statistical learning, machine learning, scalable computation, integrated data systems, computational modeling, reproducible workflows, and other contemporary analytics that can be applied to behavioral and social determinants of health, intervention research, health behaviors, and broader population-level outcomes.

The clinical trial policy for trainees is restrictive in a specific way: appointed trainees are not permitted to lead an independent clinical trial. However, trainees may still receive clinical trial research experience when the trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor. This typically signals that the training program can include exposure to clinical trial datasets, trial-related analytic problems, or participation on trial teams, as long as the trainee is not positioned as the independent trial leader. The intent is to keep the training focused on mentored research and skill development rather than independent trial leadership.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants listed in the source include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts, as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. The FOA also allows applications from Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), and a range of nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education when specified). For-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and other categories are also included in the eligible applicant list, indicating a wide set of potential institutional hosts, as long as they can credibly run an NIH-compliant predoctoral training environment.

In addition, the FOA explicitly calls out certain "other eligible applicants" to encourage participation from a diverse range of institutions and community-connected organizations, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible agencies of the federal government, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized. This emphasis aligns with workforce development goals and the broader objective of expanding access to advanced data analytics training in BSSR across different institutional contexts and communities.

At the same time, there are clear geographic restrictions: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign institutions are not eligible. In other words, the applicant organization and the funded training components must be domestic, reinforcing that this is a U.S.-based workforce training investment.

Administrative details from the source indicate this is a discretionary grant using the "Grant" funding instrument type, categorized under education, health, income security and social services. The CFDA numbers listed span multiple NIH-related catalogs (93.233, 93.242, 93.279, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.865, 93.879), reflecting the cross-cutting nature of BSSR and the likelihood of multi-institute interest areas. The original closing date is 2024-09-06, and the opportunity was created on 2024-02-29. The source does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided fields, suggesting applicants would need to consult the full announcement or NIH guidance for budget structure, training slot expectations, and any institute-specific considerations.

Overall, this T32 opportunity is designed for institutions that want to launch or shape a structured predoctoral training program that deliberately integrates advanced data analytics into behavioral and social sciences health research training. The core value proposition is to produce predoctoral researchers who can operate effectively in data-rich BSSR environments, applying cutting-edge analytic methods to health-related behavioral and social questions while training in a mentored research setting that can include, but not be led by them as, clinical trial work.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Predoctoral Training in Advanced Data Analytics for Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (BSSR) - Institutional Research Training Program [T32]" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.233, 93.242, 93.279, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.865, 93.879.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-09-06. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA OD 24 012

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