NIH’s fellowship application and review process will change for applications due on or after January 25, 2025. To preview these updates, NIH hosted a webinar titled Revisions to the Fellowship Application and Review Process in September 2024. If you missed it, watch now to get a better sense of the changes that lie ahead.
As background, the Center for Scientific Review Advisory Group recommended updates to the fellowship application and review process that will ensure the most fair, objective, and rigorous process for all applicants. Additionally, these changes are intended to better focus the review process on the needs and goals of the candidate, shorten the application process, and make the process easier to complete.
Continue reading for three takeaways from the recorded event to keep in mind when preparing your next fellowship application.
Follow New Application Format When Resubmitting Your Applications
Remember that the new FORMS-I Application Format will apply to all fellowship applications due on or after January 25, 2025. This includes resubmissions that follow applications that were previously submitted using the current format (FORMS-H). Many of the changes listed below will be included within the updated General PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form. Because of the scope of the changes, you and your sponsor(s) should factor in additional time if updating an application for resubmission.
What Information Should I Provide in my New Application?
The newly structured candidate section, which has replaced the Fellowship Applicant Section, will ask for four personal statements: 1) a statement of professional and fellowship goals, 2) a statement of fellowship qualifications, 3) a self-assessment, and 4) a statement of scientific perspective. The statement of scientific perspective allows candidates to discuss why their chosen field of science is important, the ways in which the research training project will advance the field, broader unresolved questions in the chosen field, and how biomedical research might advance them.
There are also significant changes to the Research Training Plan and Sponsor Commitment, as well as a new Sponsor Commitment Section.
Note as well that fellowship candidates will no longer be required to include their undergraduate or graduate grades in applications submitted on or after January 25, 2025.
Get a Head Start on Preparing Your Applications—No Need to Wait
Although the full instructions for fellowship applications are not available yet, you don’t need to wait to start preparing your applications. As part of the new changes to the fellowship application states, candidates can start working on the following aspects of their application:
- Define your research goals.
- Design the research training project.
- Write your research training project Specific Aims and research project strategy.
- Develop your training and mentorship goals and plans.
You may also want to consider discussing your career and fellowship goals with your sponsor(s).
Resources and Other Information
In late January 2025, NIH’s Office of Extramural Research will host an additional fellowship policy webinar for applicants who are new to the process (in advance of the next standard due date on April 8, 2025). Registration information will be forthcoming.
We encourage candidates and sponsors to review the webinar materials as well as Revisions to the NIH Fellowship Application and Review Process.
You can direct NIAID-specific questions about fellowships to AITrainingHelpDesk@niaid.nih.gov.