Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32) | PA 25 423

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 25 423

The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship, commonly referred to as the Parent F32, is an NIH discretionary grant mechanism designed to fund intensive research training for highly promising postdoctoral researchers. Its central aim is career development: helping postdoctoral candidates build the skills, publication record, and professional trajectory needed to become productive, independent investigators in health-related scientific fields. The fellowship is explicitly tied to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers, so a strong application typically aligns the proposed training and research plan with a specific NIH mission area and shows how the award will accelerate the fellow's transition toward research independence.

A defining feature of this opportunity is its emphasis on training and mentorship rather than only project execution. Applications are expected to include exceptional mentorship, meaning the proposal should clearly show a thoughtful training environment, a strong primary sponsor (mentor), and a structured plan for the fellow to gain advanced research competencies. In practice, this usually involves a well-justified training plan with milestones, opportunities to expand technical and conceptual expertise, and a mentoring approach that supports professional growth, productivity, and long-term independence. The fellowship supports the fellow as an individual trainee and is meant to strengthen their development through a mentored postdoctoral experience.

The program is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under Funding Opportunity Number PA-25-423, with the funding instrument listed as a grant. The opportunity is categorized under a broad set of funding activity areas that include education and health, and it maps to multiple CFDA (Assistance Listing) numbers across NIH components, reflecting that many NIH Institutes and Centers participate. The posted opportunity indicates an original closing date of 2028-05-07, suggesting a multi-year window during which applications may be accepted under NIH standard due dates associated with this parent announcement. The listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided source data, which usually means applicants should rely on NIH institute-specific guidance and typical F32 budget structures and constraints when preparing an application.

Eligibility, as provided, is broad on the institutional side. Eligible applicant organizations include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and other types of entities. The opportunity also notes additional eligible applicants that include eligible agencies of the federal government and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). That said, because the F32 is a highly standardized NIH training mechanism, applicants generally need to pay close attention to NIH-wide and institute-specific eligibility rules that govern factors like the fellow's status, training location, citizenship or residency requirements, and other conditions that may apply even when an organization type is listed as eligible.

In short, the Parent F32 is best understood as a mentored postdoctoral training award meant to identify and accelerate the careers of postdocs with strong potential. A competitive application typically makes a clear case that the candidate is on a path to independence, that the research and training plan is coherent and feasible as a training vehicle, and that the mentorship team and institutional environment are outstanding and intentionally structured to help the fellow mature into an independent biomedical, behavioral, or health-related researcher aligned with NIH priorities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.307, 93.310, 93.361, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.847, 93.855, 93.859, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-06-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2028-05-07.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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.

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