International Students: T32 Training Grant Eligibility

can international students be on t32 training grant

The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) is a T32 institutional research training grant that provides funding to institutions to develop or enhance research training opportunities for pre and postdoctoral fellows in specified areas of biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research. The T32 grant supports predoctoral, postdoctoral, or combined predoctoral and postdoctoral training. Trainees receive stipends to help with living expenses, and funds can also be used to cover costs associated with the trainee and program, including health insurance and travel costs. However, eligibility for T32 grants is restricted to U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents of the U.S., and noncitizen nationals, while those on temporary or student visas are not eligible. So, can international students be on a T32 training grant?

Characteristics Values
Purpose To develop or enhance research training opportunities for pre and postdoctoral fellows to be trained in cancer research
Who can apply? Domestic, nonprofit, and private or public graduate-level academic institutions
Who can be appointed? U.S. citizens, noncitizen nationals, or permanent residents with a valid Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551). People on temporary or student visas are not eligible.
Duration At least 3 years with a minimum of $150,000 direct costs per year
Stipend Paid twice a month in accordance with standard UW payroll transactions
Trainee slots A new and a competing renewal T32 program may request up to 6 trainee slots in any budget year
Appointment duration Full-time 12-month continuous periods per budget year

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Eligibility requirements for T32 grants

The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) (T32) provides grants to institutions to develop or enhance research training opportunities for pre and postdoctoral fellows to be trained in cancer research. The T32 grant components are organized into three categories: Trainee Costs, Trainee-Related Costs, and Trainee Travel. Trainees receive a stipend as a subsistence allowance to help with living expenses during their appointment. It is not a condition of employment.

T32 grants are awarded for 5 years, with the possibility of renewal. The individual award duration must be for at least 3 years, with a minimum of $150,000 in direct costs per year. Trainees may be appointed at any time within the budget period for a 12-month appointment, even if the 12 months extend beyond the end date of the budget period or competitive segment end. New trainees are generally appointed for full-time 12-month continuous periods per budget year. A new trainee appointment with a minimum of 9 months per budget year may be considered with justification and prior approval.

T32 grants may support predoctoral only, postdoctoral only, or a combination of predoctoral and postdoctoral training. Trainees must be US citizens, noncitizen nationals, or permanent residents with a valid Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551). People on temporary or student visas are not eligible. Postdoctoral trainees are expected to commit to their research program for at least 2 years to meet payback obligations. They can pay off this debt by continuing to work on the project for which they were funded.

T32 applicants requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year are not required to contact NCI staff for permission to submit the application. A new and competing renewal T32 program may request up to 6 trainee slots in any budget year. The current program with more than 9 current trainee slots may request a stepwise reduction of a minimum of 3 slots per renewal to reach the limit of 6 trainee slots within 2 renewals. At the time of competitive renewal, T32 applicants may request changes in types of trainee slots (i.e., convert postdoctoral slots to predoctoral slots and vice versa).

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Stipend and payment details

T32 training grants provide funds for trainee-related expenses, including stipends, tuition and fees, and travel costs. Stipends are provided as a subsistence allowance to help trainees with living expenses during their appointment. The annual stipend should be prorated for appointments less than 12 months. Stipends may be taxable, and trainees are responsible for paying any necessary income taxes. Stipends may be supplemented by non-Federal funds, provided there is no additional obligation to the trainee. Supplementation policies must be applied consistently to all individuals in a similar status, regardless of the funding source.

At the University of Washington, postdoctoral trainees can receive up to $4,500 per year, which is 60% of the level requested by UW. If the program supports postdoctoral individuals in formal degree-granting training, the amount provided can be up to $16,000 per year. Trainees are generally required to pursue their research training on a full-time basis, defined as devoting at least 40 hours per week to the program.

Trainees appointed under T32 grants are expected to commit to their research program for a minimum period. For example, NIAID T32 trainees can remain in a program for a maximum of 5 years for predoctoral trainees and 3 years for postdoctoral trainees. Postdoctoral trainees are expected to commit to their research program for at least 2 years to meet payback obligations.

Trainees who are not U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or permanent residents are not eligible for T32 grants. Trainees with these statuses must have a valid Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551) and submit a notarized statement verifying permanent residency status with the PHS-2271 form. Anyone on a temporary or student visa is not eligible for T32 grants.

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Training focus areas

The T32 training grant supports predoctoral and postdoctoral training in various biomedical and behavioural research areas. The broad purpose of the grant is to ensure that a diverse group of highly trained researchers is available to perform biomedical and biobehavioural research.

The specific research areas supported by the grant are diverse and cover a wide range of disciplines. Some of the key areas include:

  • Basic and applied research in the behavioural and social sciences, including areas such as health promotion, disease prevention, and understanding the behavioural aspects of health and illness.
  • Research in the biomedical sciences, encompassing a broad range of disciplines such as biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, immunology, and neuroscience.
  • Translational research, which focuses on translating scientific discoveries into practical applications to improve human health. This includes areas such as drug discovery and development, gene therapy, and personalized medicine.
  • Clinical research, involving the study of diseases and conditions in humans to develop new treatments and improve patient care. This covers a wide range of medical specialties, such as oncology, cardiology, neurology, and psychiatry.
  • Epidemiology and public health research, which involves studying disease patterns and risk factors in populations to inform public health policies and practices.
  • Health services research, which focuses on improving the quality, accessibility, and organisation of healthcare services, including outcomes research, health technology assessment, and health policy analysis.

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Application process

The T32 Training Grant is a competitive award with specific requirements and an extensive application process. Here is a detailed outline of the key steps and considerations for applicants:

  • Eligibility: T32 Training Grants are open to both predoctoral and postdoctoral candidates. However, it's important to note that applicants must be US citizens, noncitizen nationals, or permanent residents with a valid Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551). People on temporary or student visas, including international students, are not eligible for this grant.
  • Institutional Focus: T32 grants are awarded to institutions, so applicants should be affiliated with a domestic, nonprofit, or private/public graduate-level academic institution. Senior investigators heading research or training programs at these institutions typically apply for the grants.
  • Program Design: The application should demonstrate a well-designed training program with clear objectives. This includes specifying the features of the program, any special seminar series, and postdoc rotations. The program should showcase its commitment to faculty development, courses, and high-quality facilities and resources.
  • Trainee Pool: The institution must have a strong trainee pool with the academic credentials and potential to become distinguished researchers. The application should describe the selection criteria for trainees and highlight the accomplishments of former trainees, such as grants awarded, fellowships, publications, or patents received.
  • Budget and Funding: T32 grants provide funding for trainee stipends, subsistence allowances, tuition fees, trainee travel, and other training-related expenses. The grant duration is typically for at least 3 years, with a minimum of $150,000 in direct costs per year. Applicants should carefully outline their budget considerations and ensure that the funds are used in accordance with the guidelines.
  • Application Timing: T32 applications are accepted twice annually: January 25 and September 25 for non-AIDS-related applications, and January 7 and May 7 for AIDS-related applications. Applicants should plan their submissions accordingly and ensure they meet all deadlines.
  • Required Documents: The application process requires a range of supporting documents. These typically include a letter of intent, a summary of the applicant's current research projects, a statement of eligibility, details of any other federal grants or fellowships received, and evidence of completion of relevant training or workshops.
  • Review Process: Reviewers will assess the quality of the training program and the potential impact of the grant. They will consider the program's design, objectives, and the institution's ability to support and develop trainees. The review process may also involve assessing the institution's track record in producing successful researchers.
  • Notification and Renewal: Applicants can expect to receive notifications regarding the status of their applications after the review process. Successful applicants should also be aware of renewal processes and requirements. T32 grants are typically awarded for 5 years, with the possibility of renewal for subsequent years based on performance and funding availability.

It is important to carefully review the specific guidelines and requirements provided by the funding organization, as there may be additional considerations or variations in the application process.

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Renewal and reappointment

T32 grants are awarded for 5 years, with the chance to renew. Renewal applications are accepted twice annually: January 25 and September 25 for new, resubmission, and renewal applications. Renewal applications must include a letter on institutional letterhead detailing the institutional commitment to ensuring that proper policies, procedures, and oversight are in place to prevent discriminatory harassment and other discriminatory practices.

Trainees are generally appointed for full-time 12-month continuous periods per budget year, though appointments of 9 months may be considered with justification and prior approval. Trainees receive a stipend to help defray living expenses during their appointment, which is paid twice a month. Stipend amounts may be adjusted only at the time of appointment or reappointment. Reappointments do not require prior approval.

At the time of competitive renewal, T32 applicants may request changes in types of trainee slots (i.e., convert postdoctoral slots to predoctoral slots and vice versa). A new and a competing renewal T32 program may request up to 6 trainee slots in any budget year. The current program with more than 9 current trainee slots may request a stepwise reduction of a minimum of 3 slots per renewal to reach the limit of 6 trainee slots within 2 renewals.

Frequently asked questions

Only U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, and permanent U.S. residents are eligible for T32 training grants. People on temporary or student visas are not eligible.

T32 training grants provide funding for training predoctoral and postdoctoral candidates.

Senior investigators who head research or training programs at an institution generally apply for these grants. Trainee-level investigators should contact their institution about training opportunities.

Trainees must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or permanent residents with a valid Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551). Postdoctoral trainees must repay the government for their grant support through continued work on the project.

A T32 training grant usually lasts for 1 year, with a minimum duration of 9 months. A trainee can remain in the program for a maximum of 5 years for predoctoral trainees and 3 years for postdoctoral trainees.

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