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Frequently Asked Questions
Policy Related
Application Process/Review-Related
Policy/Post Award
1. Can an NRSA F33 awardee receive concurrent supplemental salary/stipend
support for the same research from an NIH research grant?
No. Public Health Service funds may NOT be used to supplement an NRSA stipend.
2. Can an NRSA F33 awardee receive compensation from an NIH grant for additional
work?
Yes. An NRSA awardee may receive separate salary from an NIH grant when
employed for services rendered that are not part of the training program, such
as laboratory assistant. However, since NRSA awardees are expected to devote a
100% full-time effort (full-time being 40 hours per week) to the NRSA-supported
program, employment must be on a limited, part-time basis, and must not
interfere, detract or prolong the awardee's training program. Part-time effort
is considered by NCI to be up to 20 hours per week.
3. How is the initial stipend level determined on an individual NRSA award?
The stipend level for senior fellows is determined on an indivicual basis at
the time of award. The amount of the award is based on the salary or
remuneration from their home institution on the date of award.
4. What other training costs, other than tuition and fees, can be provided?
Additional funds can be requested when training involves travel to field sites
remote from the sponsoring institution. Also, accommodations for fellows who
are disabled are provided, as defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Requests for additional funds must be fully justified and explained by the
sponsoring institution.
5. Can an NRSA applicant apply for and then be supported from another award
simultaneously?
No. An F33 may not be held concurrently with another Federally sponsored
fellowship or similar Federal award.
6. Is an institution permitted to provide funds to a fellow in addition to the
stipend paid by NIH?
Yes. Additional funds may be in the form of compensation for services or
supplementation. Under no circumstances may the conditions of stipend
supplementation or services provided for compensation interfere with, detract
from or prolong the fellow's approved NRSA training program. The minimum effort
of 40 hours per week to the training program must be fulfilled.
7. Can an applicant submit an individual NRSA application if he/she applied for
a "green card" but has not received it yet?
Yes. Citizenship requirements for fellowships must be satisfied at the time of
award. An individual must possess a currently valid Alien Registration Receipt
Card I-551, or other legal verification of permanent residence status.
Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible for an NRSA award.
8. Are there any provisions for vacation, sick leave or any other necessary
absence?
Fellows may continue to receive stipends during periods of vacation and
holidays as is available to individuals in comparable training positions at the
sponsoring institution. Fellows also may continue to receive stipends for up to
15 calendar days of sick leave per year for medical conditions related to
pregnancy and childbirth, and up to 30 calendar days per year of parental leave
for birth of a child or adoption as approved by the sponsor and sponsoring
institution. Fellows requiring extended periods of time away from their
research training must obtain approval from the NIH awarding component for an
unpaid leave of absence.
9. What is the difference between supplementation and compensation?
Supplementation refers to additional money provided without the requirement for
additional work. Compensation refers to money earned in return for additional
work. An NRSA grant can be supplemented with non-PHS funds. An NRSA fellow can
be compensated for additional work. However, the additional work must not
prevent the fellow from completing the objectives of the NRSA award. The NCI
recommends that fellows not spend more than 20 hours per week on compensated
activities.
See the
F33 Program Announcement (PA-07-172), and refer to the section titled SUPPLEMENTATION OF STIPENDS, COMPENSATION, AND OTHER INCOME.
10. Can a person submit an individual NRSA grant application to train at a
foreign institution?
Yes. They must show in the application that the foreign institution and sponsor
offer unique opportunities that are not currently available in the United
States.
11. What should my application contain if it deals with human subjects, clinical
trials or vertebrate animals?
Links to the instructions for Human Subjects, Clinical Trails and Vertebrate
Animals are found in the Table of Contents of the
Ruth L.
Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Fellowship Application
Form PHS 416-1.
12. Is it possible to change sponsoring institutions while on an NRSA F32
Postdoctoral Fellowship?
Yes. However, this requires prior approval by NCI Program staff. The awardee
should first contact NCI Program staff prior to the change and discuss the
reason for the change. NCI program staff will then request a letter from the
awardee, cosigned by an appropriate business official at the sponsoring
institution, describing the reason(s) for the change, and stating the proposed
new sponsor and institution. The awardee must also describe in this letter the
relationship between the peer-reviewed research program and the research
training/program that is to be conducted at the new sponsoring institution, and
explain how the proposed new sponsor will contribute the appropriate expertise
to ensure achievement of the research/training objectives of the fellowship
award. A letter of support from the proposed new sponsor, cosigned from a
business official from the new sponsoring institution, should accompany the
awardee's letter. If NCI Program staff approve the change, a transfer
application will be mailed to the awardee by the NCI Grants Administration
Branch for completion and return to the NCI.
Often in a change of institution
there is also a change in the research project. Depending upon any extenuating
circumstances and on whether the new project is within the scope of the
originally peer-reviewed project or not, NCI Program staff need to approve of
this change. This is looked at very carefully since the research project
contributed significantly to the success of the original application in peer
review. Program staff does not always approve of this change.
13. If I have a F32 award and I would like to ask for post award changes, how do
I go about this?
You must contact the NCI Grants Administration official to determine the
appropriate procedures to use in making a request for post-award changes in
your grant. In general, you will have to make a request that is signed by you
and a business official of your institution. After receiving the request for
post-award changes, the Grants Administration official will consult with the
NCI scientific program staff as necessary to determine whether the request can
be approved.
14. Can a grantee terminate his/her grant early?
Yes. When the decision is made to terminate early, the trainee should contact
the NCI Program Director for guidance. A Termination Notice (Ruth L.
Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Fellowship Application
Form PHS 416-1) should be sent to the NCI Training Branch. It may be
necessary to contact the NCI Training Branch to confirm the actual costs
incurred during the training period and how much money still remains in the
grant. The NCI Grants Specialist will revise the award.
15 What occurs when a foreign or Federal fellow terminates a grant early?
If a direct pay fellow (e.g., those working at Federal labs or a foreign site)
terminates a grant early, they should immediately notify the NCI Training
Branch, in writing, that they are doing so. The NCI will then revise the Notice
of Research Fellowship Award to reflect the early termination once it receives
the Termination Notice from the awardee.
16. Are there special issues concerning the Termination Notice for foreign and
Federal fellows?
Yes. Because Federal fellows are paid directly, no institutional business
official signature is required. Foreign fellows who are training at a foreign
site must have the Termination Notice signed by the Business Official. The
Institutional allowance is awarded directly to the foreign site. Direct pay
fellows are required to report to the IRS all funds paid directly to them by
Government check. Foreign fellows must also include any travel funds awarded.
The NIH Fellowship Payment Office will provide annually an IRS Form 1099-G
"Statement of Miscellaneous Income."
17. Are payback agreements required annually for foreign and federal fellows?
A payback agreement is required only for the initial 12 months of postdoctoral NRSA support regardless of where the NRSA training takes place. For additional information, see the PAYBACK section of the
F33 Program Announcement.
18. Should grantees on fellowships in a foreign country have their stipend and
travel checks sent to a foreign or a domestic bank account?
Fellows in a foreign country are strongly encouraged to open a domestic bank
account especially for this fellowship. This will avoid considerable delays
when using foreign mail delivery. The fellow should investigate the electronic
transfer of funds directly to their domestic bank account. NIH is not able to
transfer funds electronically to foreign banks.
19. Is the procedure different when making an award to a foreign fellow compared
to an award to a domestic institution?
Yes. Two awards are issued to foreign fellows. A personal award for stipend and
any travel funds is issued directly to the fellow. An institutional award is
issued to the foreign institution for only the Institutional Allowance.
20. Does an awardee have to pay taxes on stipends?
There is some modest tax guidance provided in the NRSA guidelines. For
information about taxes, access the
F33 Program Announcement, go to the section
titled STIPEND SUPPLEMENTATION, COMPENSATION AND OTHER INCOME, then scroll down
to the section titled TAX LIABILITY. This section of the Program Announcement
explains the requirements for all candidates.
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