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Undergraduate and Postbaccalaureate Education

College and postbaccalaureate students identify their academic strengths and interests, and begin identifying an appropriate career. Students interested in biomedical science may be majoring in a science field, or “pre-med,” or in the liberal arts.

NIH Programs for Undergraduate Students

Become an appointee on Institutional Awards:

T34

Ruth L. Kirschstein Undergraduate NRSA Institutional Research Training Grants

To enhance the undergraduate research training of individuals from groups underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral sciences through Institutional NRSA training grants, in preparation for research doctorate degree programs.

Details No Funding Opportunity Announcement Currently Available

T90/R90

Ruth L. Kirschstein Interdisciplinary Research Training Award (T90) and combined Research Education Grant (R90)

To support comprehensive interdisciplinary research training programs at the undergraduate, predoctoral and/or postdoctoral levels, by capitalizing on the infrastructure of existing multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research programs.

Details No Funding Opportunity Announcement Currently Available

R25

Research Education Program

For support to develop and/or implement a program as it relates to a category in one or more of the areas of education, information, training, technical assistance, coordination, or evaluation.

Details

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Become an appointee on your Supervisor's grant:

SUPP

Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp)

Administrative supplements to currently active NIH research grants to enhance the diversity of the research workforce.

Details

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Funding Opportunity for Research Supplements

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (Kirschstein-NRSA)?

NRSA awards support the training of biomedical, behavioral, and clinical researchers through individual pre- and postdoctoral fellowships, and institutional research training grants.
How do Kirschstein-NRSA awards differ from other NIH awards?

NRSA awards provide training opportunities for individuals at various stages of education and training, beginning at the baccalaureate level and through the postdoctoral phase.
Can fellowship or training grant Kirschstein-NRSA funds be rebudgeted?
Trainee-Related Expenses - Yes. Institute/Center prior approval is not required.
Stipends and Tuition/Fees – Yes, but without Institute/Center prior approval funds may only be moved from one of these categories to the other. If funds are to be rebudgeted from one of these categories into a different category (e.g., into the Trainee-Related Expenses category), prior approval of the Institute/Center is required.
Trainee Travel – Yes. Institute/Center prior approval is not required.
What activity codes are considered Kirschstein-NRSA grants?

The following fellowships fall under NRSA authority: F30, F31, F32, and F33.
The following training awards fall under NRSA authority: T32, T34, T35.
Who was Ruth Kirschstein?

The woman for whom the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) was named, was a well-regarded scientist who was known as a great advocate for research training.
Dr. Ruth Lillian Kirschstein passed away on October 6, 2009. Her many accomplishments include her involvement in polio vaccine development, becoming the first woman director of an NIH Institute, being a champion of research training, and advocating for the inclusion of underrepresented individuals in the biomedical workforce. 
More on Dr. Kirschstein’s life can be found at: http://www.nigms.nih.gov/training/pages/ruthkirschstein.aspx  or in the complimentary e-book, Always There: The Remarkable Life of Ruth Lillian Kirschstein, M.D.