NIH Fellowship Checklist
The NIH Fellowship checklist is designed to assist you in preparing a standard NIH Fellowship application. You must refer to the NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and the complete sponsor's guidelines for more detailed instructions and special requirements.
A signed institutional Routing Form is required with ALL applications prior to submission. Refer to the SR-PD Application Review Requirements for additional and special guidelines or contact your Sponsored Programs Officer.
| Funding Opportunity Announcement | -Identify the FOA you are responding to (either a specific FOA or the parent announcement for your mechanism). -Follow Application Guide SF424 Guidelines. -All F applications submitted on or after May 25, 2016 must use Adobe-Forms-D. -Ensure applicant meets Eligibility Requirements (citizenship, prior NRSA support, etc.) as outlined in the Application Guide SF424 Guidelines. |
| Format Specifications | -Use permitted fonts (type & size) such as Arial 11. See SF424 Guidelines for details. -Observe page limitations and margin specifications. Generally, margins must be at least 0.5 inches. |
| Application Title | -Titles should not contain any special characters (Greek letters, etc.). |
| Commons User Name | -Provide username for the Principal Investigator (fellowship applicant) and Sponsor/Co-Sponsor; contact your OSPA Sponsored Programs Officer to request a new account, if needed. |
| Cover Letter |
Fellowship applications are required to include a cover letter. The cover letter should include any of the following that applies to the application:
-Application title. -Funding Opportunity (PA or RFA) title of the NIH initiative. -List of Referees: All fellowship applicants MUST include a list of Referees in the Cover Letter. The list must include the names, degrees, and affiliations of the referees. |
| Resources |
Describe how the scientific environment in which the research will be done contributes to the probability of success (eg. Institutional support, physical resources, and intellectual rapport).
-Demonstrate adequate resources, facilities, and equipment available to carry out the research. -Refer to shared resources/facilities boilerplates. -Postdocs are encouraged to provide information on postdoctoral resources that are available. See the Mentoring & Training Plans boilerplate for sample text.
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| Other Attachments | -Applications submitted for Individual Predoctoral Fellowships (F31) to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research are required to attach a Certification Letter (titled Diversity_Eligibility_Ltr) from the institution certifying eligibility of the Fellowship applicant for the program. |
| Key Personnel | -Provide a biographical sketch for the PD/PI (Fellowship Applicant). -Follow template for fellowship biosketch (for example, fellowship applicant biosketch must contain Scholastic Performance section). -Add (primary) sponsor with biosketch, followed by any co-sponsors, and then followed by any other key personnel in alphabetical order. -For Project Role, select “Other” and then fill in “sponsor,” “co-sponsor,” etc. as appropriate. DO NOT use the term “mentor.” -Provide biosketch for each key person. |
| Introduction to Application (Resubmission Applications Only) | -Attach for all resubmission applications an Introduction of no more than one page that summarizes the substantial additions, deletions, and changes. The Introduction must also include responses to criticisms and issues raised in the summary statement for the previous application. The Introduction is limited to one page unless specified in the FOA. |
| Specific Aims | -State precisely the goals of the proposed research and summarize the expected outcome(s), including the impact that the results of the proposed research will exert on the research field(s) involved. Specific Aims are limited to one page. |
| Research Strategy | -Start each section with the appropriate section heading—Significance, Innovation (only if specified in FOA), an Approach. Cite published experimental details in the Research Strategy section and provide the full reference in the Bibliography and References Cited section. Limited to six pages. -If an applicant has multiple Specific Aims, then the applicant may address Significance and Approach for each Specific Aim individually, or may address Significance and Approach for all of the Specific Aims collectively. -For new applications, include information on preliminary studies, if any. Discuss the applicant's preliminary studies, data and/or experience pertinent to this application. -See SF424 Guidelines for complete instructions |
| Human Subjects (if applicable) | -Complete all human subjects sections of application (Protection of Human Subjects, Inclusion of Women and Minorities, Targeted/Planned Enrollment Table, Inclusion of Children). -Contact IRB Chair to determine if review/approval is needed. -Refer to Signing Off on Application with Human Subjects for institutional compliance. |
| Vertebrate Animals (if applicable) | -Complete vertebrate animal section of application. -Refer to Signing Off on Application with Research Animals for institutional compliance. |
| rDNA (if applicable) | Consult with Lab Safety regarding any required approvals (e.g. Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee). |
| Select Agent Research (if applicable) | -Contact Lab Safety for any required approvals (CDC/USDA). -Describe any special facilities used for working with biohazards or other potentially dangerous substances. -Refer to HHS and USDA Select Agents and Toxins for listing of Select Agents. |
| Data Sharing (if applicable) | -Data Sharing Plan. Required for all proposals with direct costs of $500,000 or more. See Data Sharing plan for boilerplate. -Model Organism Sharing Plan. Required for research involving development of unique model organisms. See Model Organism Sharing Plan boilerplate. -Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS): Applicants seeking funding for a genome-wide association study are expected to provide a plan for submission of GWAS data to the NIH-designated GWAS data repository, or provide an appropriate explanation why submission to the repository is not possible. |
| Human Embryonic Stem Cells (if applicable) | -Include the registration # of the cell line from the NIH registry. -Obtain ESCRO approval prior to award. |
| Respective Contributions | -Limited to one page. -Describe the collaborative process between you and your sponsor/co-sponsor in the development, review, and editing of this research training plan. |
| Selection of Sponsor and Institution | -Limited to one page. -Describe the rationale/justification for the selection of the sponsor and institution. |
| Responsible Conduct of Research | -Required. Limited to one page. -Every fellow must receive instruction in the responsible conduct of research appropriate to the career stage of the applicant. The section must document prior participation or instruction in responsible conduct of research during the applicant's current career stage (including the date instruction was last completed) and propose a plan to either receive instruction in responsible conduct of research or participate as a course lecturer, etc., depending on the applicant's career stage. -See RCR boilerplate. |
| Fellowship Applicant | -See SF424 Guidelines for info. Sections include: Doctoral Dissertation and Research Experience, Training Goals and Objectives, and Activities Planned Under this Award. |
| Sponsor and Co-Sponsor Information | -Limited to 6 pages. -Research Support available (in table form). -Sponsor's/Co-Sponsor’s Previous Fellows/Trainees. -Training Plan, Environment, Research Facilities. -Number of Fellows/Trainees to be Supervised During the Fellowship. -Applicant's Qualifications and Potential for a Research Career. |
| Letters of Support from Collaborators, Contributors, and Consultants |
- Limited to 6 pages
- Attachments may be provided (if applicable) by collaborators, consultants, advisors, etc. Relevant information applicable to the fellow’s planned research training and future goals may be provided by any contributor or advisor via an attachment.
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| Description of Institutional Environment and Commitment to Training |
-Limited to 2 pages.
-Referring to the resources description, indicate how the necessary facilities and other resources will be made available for career enhancement as well as the research proposed in this application. Describe opportunities for intellectual interactions with other investigators, including courses offered, journal clubs, seminars, and presentations. This information should be coordinated with information provided under Sponsor and Co-Sponsor Statements, Training Plan, Environment, Research Facilities.
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| Budget | -All fellowship applicants should list the estimated costs of tuition and fees, if any. -With the exception of senior fellowship applicants, no additional budget information is required. The final stipend and institutional allowance will be determined at the time of award. -If no tuition and fees are being requested, check the box provided. If tuition and fees are being requested, postdoctoral and senior fellowship applicants should list the costs associated with courses planned that support the research training experience and are identified and described in the attachment for the Research Strategy section of the Research Training Plan. |
| Appendix | -Comply with NIH policy for appendix materials (e.g. most appendix materials not allowed). |
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