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Proposed Reviewer Guidance and Application Instructions

Below is a draft of the guidance reviewers would receive, under the proposed changes to review of NRSA fellowship applications. Additionally, details related to proposed changes to sections of the NRSA application form (PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form) are provided. Comments related to the language below may be submitted under the Request for Information by DATE.

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Proposed changes to sections of the NRSA application form (PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form)


Proposed Review Criteria and Reviewer Guidance


Overall impact score:  Score the overall scientific and educational merit of the proposal. Use the three review criteria defined below to judge howmuch the fellowship will enhance the biomedical research capabilities of the applicant and increase the likelihood they will become a productive research scientist. 

  1. Scientific potential, fellowship goals, and preparedness of the applicant
    • Evaluate the breadth and depth of scientific understanding the applicant conveys in their statements. To what extent does the candidate articulate the importance of their science and demonstrate an ability to study that problem in a rigorous scientific manner.
    • Evaluate the preparedness of the applicant to undertake the proposed training and their capacity to benefit from the fellowship. Evaluate their accomplishments in the context of their stage of training and the scientific opportunities they have had.
    • Evaluate the applicant’s scientific potential. Consider their trajectory in the context of their opportunities. Also consider other factors that bear on their potential to succeed, such as determination, persistence, and creativity.
       
  2. Science and scientific resources
    • Evaluate the quality of the proposed science. Assess the depth of understanding of the scientific background and the scientific rigor and feasibility of the approach. 
    • Evaluate the extent to which needed technical, scientific, and clinical resources are specified and are realistically available to the applicant.
    • Assess whether the scientific expertise of the mentorship team is appropriate for the proposed science and whether the role of each mentor is clearly defined.
    • Evaluate how well the proposed scientific project serves the applicant’s training goals.
       
  3. Training plan and training resources
    • Evaluate whether the applicant clearly defines their career goals and whether the training plan is linked to them.
    • Evaluate whether the applicant has clearly defined areas of needed growth and/or weakness.  These could include specific scientific skills and knowledge and other professional needs such as communication, teaching, and mentorship skills. 
    • Evaluate the training environment for this applicant. Assess whether the necessary institutional training resources are well-specified and available, specifically the practical availability of resources.
    • Evaluate whether the trainee articulated a coherent and cohesive plan for interacting with sponsors and mentors.
    • Assess whether the sponsor presents a strong pedagogical plan appropriate to the needs and goals of the applicant. Please include an evaluation of the training philosophy of the sponsor, their approach to training, time commitments and their accessibility.
    • Evaluate and comment on what impact completion of the training plan will make in meeting the scientific development needs of the applicant and aid them in achieving their career goals.


The Additional Review Criteria (e.g., Protections for Human Subjects; Inclusion of Women, Minorities and Individuals Across the Lifespan; etc.) would not change. 


The Additional Review Considerations (e.g., Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research, Resource Sharing Plans, Budget, etc.) would not change. 


Revisions to the Fellowship Supplemental Section of the PHS 424

Review outcomes are determined both by the judgements reviewers are asked to make—the criteria—and the information they are given—the application. Thus, review criteria and the application content should be aligned. Most of the information pertinent to fellowship review is contained in the PHS supplemental form.

The Fellowship Supplement includes the following sections:

  • Fellowship Applicant
  • Research Training Plan
  • Sponsor(s) Collaborator(s) and Consultant(s)
  • Institutional Environment and Commitment to Training

Changes are proposed to the Fellowship Applicant and Sponsor/Collaborator/Consultant(s) sections.


Recommended 424 Fellowship Supplement- Applicant Statements

Applicants would be asked to submit 5 statements addressing their professional and fellowship goals, qualifications, self-assessment, their scientific perspective, and a description of activities planned during the training period. 

  1. Statement of professional and fellowship goals (250 words)
    1. What are your career goals?
    2. What knowledge, skills, and experience do you hope to acquire through this fellowship?
    3. How do your fellowship goals relate to your professional aspirations?
       
  2. Fellowship Qualifications (500 words)
    1. Describe your educational and scientific qualifications for the proposed fellowship. Schools attended and degrees attained should be listed in the biosketch and not repeated in this section. Include a list of courses taken; grades are not allowed and should not be included. Please describe additional qualifications and attributes, including lab rotations, conferences, internships, employment, and life experiences that contributed to your professional development. Explain how these experiences shaped you as a scientist. If you have scientific publications, annotate them indicating your scientific and intellectual contributions to the work. You may include outreach and science engagement/advocacy work you have done and anything else that demonstrates your passion and commitment to a scientific career.
       
  3. Self-assessment (800 words)
    1. Describe 2-4 personal characteristics (e.g. skills, abilities, traits, attitudes) that will contribute most significantly to your success as a scientist. Drawing on your previous/current education, research, work, or outreach experiences, provide examples of how you demonstrated, developed or strengthened each characteristic.
    2. Identify 2-4 specific areas of needed growth for yourself as a scientist. Explain how you will improve in these areas and what resources you will utilize to achieve this growth. Any skill necessary for you to advance your career in biomedical research is appropriate: It may be technical (e.g., new techniques or technical methods, quantitative/computational approaches), operational (e.g., practices that promote rigorous and reproducible science, research safety, animal, or human welfare) or professional (e.g., management, leadership, communication, teamwork) in nature.
       
  4. Scientific perspective (800 words)
    1. Explain your interest in the proposed project and the field.  Why is this field of science important and why did you select the project you propose?
    2. Describe a pressing scientific problem in your field. Why is it important? What might advance the science?
       
  5. Detailed Account of Activities Planned Under this Award (800 words)
    1. Describe, by year, the activities (research, coursework, professional development, clinical activities, etc.) you will be involved in during the proposed award. Estimate the percentage of time to be devoted to each activity. The percentage should total 100 for each year.
    2. Explain how the training activities will fill gaps, address the needs, and help you meet the goals you have specified for the fellowship. This section should provide the rationale for the activities and distribution of time described in the previous section.

Recommended 424 Fellowship Supplement - Sponsor and Co-sponsor Sections

Each sponsor/co-sponsor would be asked to submit  three statements.

  1. Training Plan, Environment, Research Facilities (2400 words/ 3 pages)

    Detail the specific Research Training Plan that you have developed in collaboration with the fellowship applicant. Explain how the sponsors and planned activities will meet the fellowship goals of the applicant. The applicant’s Research Training Plan should be individualized and reflect the candidate’s strengths and gaps in needed skills. The Research Training Plan should be designed to enhance both research and clinical training (if applicable).

    • Describe your approach to teaching and mentoring. What preparation supports your ability to undertake the proposed teaching and mentoring? How will you tailor your approach to this applicant?
    • Include items such as classes, seminars, opportunities for interaction with other scientists and any professional skills development opportunities.
    • Describe the research environment and available research facilities and equipment.
    • Describe the day-to-day lab environment with special attention to training; how the trainee will benefit from your lab environment? 
    • Indicate the relationship of the proposed research training to the applicant's career goals.
    • Describe the skills and techniques that the applicant will learn. Relate these to the applicant's career goals.
    • What intellectual/training contribution will each co-sponsor make?
       
  2. Number of Fellows/Trainees to be Supervised During the Fellowship (200 words)

    How many other pre- and post- doctoral trainees will be in your lab during the proposed fellowship? Make clear how many pre- and/or post- doctoral fellows/trainees each Sponsor/Co-sponsor is expected to supervise during the award period. Co-sponsor statements must also include this information.  Address the time you realistically have available to devote to training and to this applicant.

      

  3. Applicant's Qualifications and Potential for a Research Career (800 words/ 1 page)

    Address the applicant’s qualifications and potential for a scientific career. Do so by answering these questions:

    • What are the 2-4 characteristics of this applicant that speak to their potential to benefit from the fellowship and have a productive career in science? 
    • What are the most important areas for growth with respect to the applicant’s scientific skills. What are their main training needs? Any skill necessary for them to advance their career in biomedical research is appropriate: It may be technical (e.g., new techniques or technical methods, quantitative/computational approaches), operational (e.g., practices that promote rigorous and reproducible science, research safety, animal, or human welfare) or professional (e.g., management, leadership, communication, teamwork) in nature.

Recommended Instructions for Reference Letters

The purpose of this letter is to help the committee understand the applicant’s strengths, weaknesses, and potential to pursue a productive career in biomedical science. Do so by addressing the following questions:

  1. Identify the 2-4 most important characteristics of this applicant that will contribute to this applicant becoming a successful scientist and explain why. Give supporting examples. (400 words)
  2. Identify 2-4 areas for growth that the applicant should address to improve their prospects of becoming a productive biomedical scientist. Explain how the proposed fellowship helps address these needs. Any area of growth necessary for them to advance their career in biomedical research is appropriate: It may be technical (e.g., new techniques or technical methods, quantitative/computational approaches), operational (e.g., practices that promote rigorous and reproducible science, research safety, animal, or human welfare) or professional (e.g., management, leadership, communication, teamwork) in nature. (400 words)
  3. What scientific and intellectual contributions has the applicant made during their training/research experience with you? (250 words)
  4. Give an overall assessment of the applicant’s readiness for this fellowship taking into account their background, potential, current skills (or abilities), and career goals. (400 words)

Optional Statement of Special Circumstance

NIH recommends allowing fellowship applicants to submit an optional Statement of Special Circumstance to address situations that may have hindered the trainee’s progress, such as harassment, the COVID-19 pandemic, or other personal or professional circumstances.

This page last updated on: October 19, 2023

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