Funding Opportunities

Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Purpose: The purpose of this Kirschstein-NRSA program is to enable promising predoctoral students with the potential to develop into productive, independent research scientists, to obtain mentored research training while conducting dissertation research. The F31 is also used to enhance workforce diversity through a separate program.

Eligibility: U.S. citizen or permanent resident, enrolled in a research doctoral degree program.

NIH Institutes: The applicant chooses an institute that aligns with their research to submit their application. Click here for more details.

  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • National Eye Institute (NEI)
  • National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
  • National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
  • National Institute of Aging (NIA)
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
  • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
  • National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child and Health and Human Development (NICHD)
  • National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
  • National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
  • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
  • National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
  • National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
  • National Library of Medicine (NML)

Application Components: click here for more details.

  • Project Narrative
  • Introduction to Resubmission or Revision Application (when applicable)
  • Applicant’s Background and Goals for Fellowship Training
  • Specific Aims
  • Research Strategy
  • Respective Contributions
  • Selection of Sponsor and Institution
  • Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research
  • Sponsor and Co-Sponsor Statements
  • Letters of Support from Collaborators, Contributors, and Consultants
  • Description of Institutional Environment and Commitment to Training
  • Applications for Concurrent Support (when applicable)
  • Biographical Sketch

Due dates: click here for more details.

  • Cycle I: April 8
  • Cycle II: August 8
  • Cycle III: December 8

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

Purpose: The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) helps ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science and engineering in the United States and reinforces its diversity. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions.

Eligibility: click here for more details.

  • Be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident
  • Intend to enroll or be enrolled full-time in a research-based graduate degree program in an eligible Field of Study in STEM or STEM education (See Appendix and Section IV.3 for eligible Fields of Study)
  • Have never previously accepted a GRFP award
  • If previously offered a GRFP award, have declined by the deadline
  • Have never previously applied to GRFP while enrolled in a graduate degree program
  • Have never earned a doctoral or terminal degree in any field
  • Have never earned a master’s or professional degree (see joint bachelor’s-master’s degree information below) in any field, unless (i) returning to graduate study after an interruption of two (2) or more consecutive years immediately preceding the deadline, and; (ii) are not enrolled in a graduate degree program at the application deadline
  • Not be a current NSF employee

Field of Study: Applications are reviewed in panels based on the selection of a primary Field of Study. Selection of a primary Field of Study determines the application deadline, the panel that will review the application, and the designated Field of Study for awardees. Applicants may select “other” if their Field of Study is not represented in the list under each Primary Field of Study. The “other” field of study category should be selected by applicants only if the proposed field of study is not covered by one of the following fields, and should not be used to designate a field of study that is more specific than the fields listed. Click here for more details.

  • Chemistry
  • Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Geosciences
  • Life Sciences
  • Materials Research
  • Mathematical Sciences
  • Physics and Astronomy
  • Psychology
  • Social Sciences
  • STEM Education and Learning Research

Application Components: click here for more details.

  • Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement
  • Graduate Research Plan Statement
  • 3 Reference Letters
  • Academic Transcripts

Due Dates: End of October, due 5:00 p.m. local time, as determined by the applicant’s mailing address. Click here for more details.

NOTE: For general advice, go to Alex Lang’s website.

Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship

Purpose: The Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.

Eligibility: click here for more details.

  • All U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and U.S. permanent residents (holders of a Permanent Resident Card), as well as individuals granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, Indigenous individuals exercising rights associated with the Jay Treaty of 1794, political asylees, and refugees, regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation,
  • Individuals with evidence of superior academic achievement (such as grade point average, class rank, honors, or other designations),
  • Individuals committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level,
  • Individuals enrolled in or planning to enroll in an eligible research-based (dissertation-required) program leading to a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree at a non-proprietary (not for profit) U.S. institution of higher education,
  • Individuals who as of the 2020 fall semester require a minimum of three years of study to complete their Ph.D./Sc.D. degree, and
  • Individuals who have not earned a doctoral degree at any time, in any field.

Eligible Fields of Study: click here for more details.

  • Biological & Biomedical Sciences
  • Ecological, Environmental, and Evolutionary Sciences
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • History
  • Interdisciplinary Study (Social Sciences & Humanities)
  • Literature & Languages
  • Performance Studies, Communications, & Art History
  • Philosophy & Religious Studies
  • Physical Sciences, Mathematics, & Computer Science
  • Psychology
  • Social Sciences
  • Social/Cultural Anthropology, and Archaeology
  • Sociology

Application Components: click here for more details.

  • Personal Statement
  • Statement of Previous Research and Scholarly Productivity, including a list of publications and presentations
  • Proposed Plan of Graduate Study and Research and the applicant’s long-range career goals
  • 3-5 References
  • Transcripts and GPAs

Due date: mid-December. Click here for more details.

Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program Predoctoral Fellowship Award

Purpose:  Support the mentored training of predoctoral level students with a clear and direct commitment to and potential for contributing to the advancement of one or more stated research priorities. All applications must be tobacco-related.

Eligibility: 

  • The proposal must reflect the applicant’s own research project and is expected to clearly enhance the individual’s potential to develop into a productive, independent research scientist.
  • Awardees are required to commit at least 75 percent of their effort each year to activities supported by this award.
  • The candidate must be enrolled in a doctoral program at the time of submission of the application
  • The application must be prepared and submitted exclusively by the student and must outline an original research project (distinct from the project of a mentor, whether funded by TRDRP or another source).
  • A letter of support from the mentor and a minimum of two additional references are required. Letters of support should address the candidate’s training, potential, and the commitment of the mentor and the department to the candidate’s career development. In addition, the mentor must provide their biosketch and a detailed mentoring plan that is prepared in consultation with the applicant.
  • U.S. citizenship is not a requirement.

Application Components: click here for more details.

  • Letter of Intent (*if approved, applicants can submit the rest of the application)
  • Research Plan
  • Facilities
  • Biosketch
  • Community Engagement and Communication
  • Career Development Plan
  • Mentor Training Experience
  • Mentoring Plan
  • Human Subjects Accrual
  • Vertebrate Animals
  • Appendix List & Attachments
  • Letters of Recommendations (3)

Due Dates: click here for more details.

  • LOI: mid-November
  • Application: mid- to late- January

Know of more funding opportunities? Contact us at pbsegradcouncil-group@ucsc.edu and we will add it on the the list!