Write Your Way to a Fellowship

Our Fellowship F32 grant initiative is here to empower YOU! These individual fellowship grants offer exceptional research autonomy and are your ticket to a successful transition to research independence.

Work at your own pace, access helpful resources in Canvas that are outlined in an easy-to-follow process, attend virtual Office Hours for realtime assistance, and get 1:1 advice on the submission process to support you every step of the way.  

At your own pace:

• Postdocs register for access to Canvas, where all F32 grant application resources are stored. Work through modules there that map to the F32 grant application at your own pace and in the order that works for you.

Writing support:

• Attend Wednesday morning "F32 Office Hours" from 8:30-9:30am during the academic year.
  • Consult with faculty and peers who have successfully written F32 grant applications. Get advice and have your questions answered!
  • Inquire about resources that are available to help you succeed.
• Meet 1:1 with a grants administrator to learn about the submission process at Pitt to ensure that you are prepared for the final steps 

Write Your Way to a (F32) Fellowship Initiative

Purpose and Eligibility

Whether you are in the process of writing an F32 application or just getting started on your application, this is for you!

The purpose: to help Pitt postdocs write and successfully submit F32 grant applications by providing structured writing support, a collection of helpful F32 grant application resources, and the ability to receive actionable feedback in a supportive online environment. 

• Per NIH, the "purpose of the Kirschstein-NRSA postdoctoral fellowship is to enhance the research training of promising postdoctoral candidates who have the potential to become productive, independent investigators in scientific health-related research fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers".

Eligibility: 

• NIH F32 eligibility requirement: F32 recipients must be US citizens or permanent residents by the time of award with research or clinical doctoral degrees. NIH's F32 eligibility statement can be found here.
• Individual institutes may have additional requirements. 

Why an F32? Testimony

Sarah L. Brown, PhD, shared her experience writing and receiving an F32 as a postdoc at Pitt and how it helped her obtain her current position as an assistant professor at Florida State University:

"Prior to pursuing the F32, I had limited experience in grant writing, and I had never pursued NIH funding. I had a strong record of publications, but I believe obtaining the F32 and the training I received made me a much more competitive candidate for an R1 institution. My F32 gave me an opportunity to develop my grantsmanship skills, a deeper understanding of different grant mechanisms, and ultimately a track record for obtaining NIH funding. I was able to show evidence of an independent program of research that was key to obtaining a job offer and transitioning to a faculty position. In addition, the data I acquired has put me in a position to publish on this work, while I establish new data collections and pursue extramural funding to build on my F32 work. I imagine my experience of entering a new faculty position with ideas already in the works has relieved the immediate pressure of starting from scratch that others might feel.

The mentorship I received while on my F32 was invaluable in terms of grantsmanship and allowed me to continue to develop my domain expertise and expand my research skill set over the course of 3 years. I also developed practical skills of grant management, setting up and coordinating a large data collection, managing budgets, and training students etc. All of this makes me feel more prepared to start projects completely independently and allowed me to show evidence of teaching and mentorship, which was important in making the transition from a psychiatry department to a clinical science psychology department.

My time on the F32 also allowed me to pursue another grant. I chose to pursue a K23 at the time, which would have allowed me to enter into an Assistant professor position in the Department of Psychiatry at Pitt and continue my training. I believe pursuing the next grant and receiving a favorable score was additional evidence of my motivation and ability to obtain extramural funding, which are important factors in R1 institutions.  I would recommend using the time and mentorship provided by the F32 to pursue another grant that is in line with future career goals.

I now have the skills and established collaborative relationships with my mentors and others that will allow me to continue to pursue new ideas that otherwise might not have been possible. I believe the continued expansion and development of my research program during my F32 made me a more desirable candidate and more prepared as an independent investigator."

Thank you to Dr. Brown for sharing her experience!

F32 Funding Opportunities

• NIH F32 Opportunities
  • Check Grants.gov for current NOFOs.
  • Information about NIH F32 Awards

F32 Funding Due Dates

• F32 Application Deadlines
  • For most institutes, the deadlines are April 8, August 8, and December 8, or the following workday if the receipt deadline is a Saturday, Sunday or Federal holiday

Receipt Cycle	Application or Resubmission Due Date	Initial Review Date	Earliest Possible Award Start Date
1	April 8	June/July	December
2	August 8	October/November	April
3	December 8	February/March	July

*Be sure to learn how to successfully submit your application well in advance of the deadline. Learn more in Canvas.