The
National Institutes of Health (NIH) IRTA Traineeships are established
for the principal benefit of the participants and to provide opportunities
for developmental training and practical research experience in
a variety of disciplines related to biomedical research, medical
library research and related fields. The IRTA components are: 1)
Postdoctoral IRTA - is designed to provide advance practical research
experience to physicians and other doctoral researchers who are
at the beginning stages of their professional research careers.
2) Predoctoral IRTA - is designed to provide practical research
training and experience to students, by supplementing academic course
work and/or encouraging pursuit of professional careers in biomedical
research to: a) students enrolled in doctoral degree programs in
biomedical sciences; b) students who have been accepted into graduate,
doctoral, or medical degree programs and wish an opportunity to
delay or interrupt their education for an interim research experience
before entering school. 3) Post baccalaureate IRTA - is designed
to provide recent college graduates, particularly minorities, women,
and persons with disabilities, an opportunity to postpone application
to graduate or medical school and to provide a means to introduce
individuals early in their careers to the research field, encourage
their pursuit of professional careers in biomedical research, and
allow additional time to pursue successful application to either
graduate or medical school programs. 4) Technical IRTA - is designed
to produce a cadre of highly trained research support professionals
capable of performing the latest advanced techniques in a laboratory
by developing the trainees' skills in the conduct of basic and applied
research. 5) Student IRTA - is designed to provide a developmental
training experience to promising high school and undergraduate and
graduate students who have expressed a strong interest in or are
studying disciplines related to biomedical sciences.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Participants in the IRTA
Program will be provided access to NIH facilities and equipment
and assistance in their training from senior NIH researchers. Trainees
may not engage in primary patient care activities, be assigned official
supervisory responsibilities, or sign documents on behalf of the
Government. Funding support will come from the individual National
Research Institutes, Centers and Divisions (ICD) that comprise the
National Institutes of Health. All funding is discretionary and
subject to the availability of appropriations and apportionment.
The IRTA Program does not include financial loans.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility:
Candidates for IRTA Program must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Resident
Aliens. 1) Postdoctoral IRTA participants must possess a Ph.D.,
M.D., D.D.S., D.M.D., D.V.M. or equivalent degree in biomedical,
behavioral or related sciences; or certification by a university
as meeting all the requirements leading to such a doctorate; and
5 or fewer years of relevant postdoctoral experience and up to 2
additional years of experience not oriented toward research (i.e.,
clinical training for physicians). 2) Predoctoral IRTA participants
must be: a) students enrolled in Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., D.M.D., D.V.M.,
or equivalent degree programs at fully accredited U.S. universities,
which frequently involves dissertation research. The research experience
is undertaken as an integral part of the student's ongoing academic
preparation and is credited toward completion of degree requirements;
or b) students who have been accepted into graduate, doctoral, or
medical degree programs and who have written permission from their
school either to delay entrance for up to 1 year, or to interrupt
their current schooling and to return within 1 year to their degree
granting programs. 3) Post baccalaureate IRTA participants are individuals
who have graduated from a fully accredited college or U.S. university
no more than 1 year prior to the activation date of traineeship,
and intend to apply to graduate or medical school in biomedical
research within the next year. 4) Technical IRTA participants are
individuals who have graduated from a fully accredited U.S. college
or university with a bachelor's or master's degree in any discipline.
5) Student IRTA participants are at least 16 years of age and are
enrolled at least half-time in high school or have been accepted
for or are enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate in an accredited
U.S. college or university and are in good academic standing.
Beneficiary Eligibility:
The IRTA Program benefits the participants by combining an opportunity
for study with practical work experience and valuable research
training experience at the NIH.
Credentials/Documentation:
These standards are contained in the Applicant Eligibility section.
Pre-application
Coordination: This program is excluded from
coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure:
Applicant may send the application documentation to a specific
ICD, or send application documentation to the NIH Office of Education:
1) Postdoctoral IRTA applicants must submit CV, bibliography,
3 letters of reference, statement of research goals, official
copy of transcript, and must provide an official copy of doctoral
degree and brief summary of doctoral dissertation. 2) Predoctoral
IRTA applicants must submit CV, bibliography, 3 letters of reference
emphasizing research potential, statement of research goals, an
official copy of undergraduate, graduate, and/or medical school
transcript, and verification from the university that the applicants
is in good academic standing, is enrolled in a doctoral degree
program, and that the school is agreeable to the student's participation.
In addition, (if applicable), must have written permission from
their institutions to interrupt their educational program including
a written agreement allowing students to return to their degree
program within 1 year. 3) Post baccalaureate IRTA applicants must
submit CV, bibliography, 3 letters of reference emphasizing potential,
statement of research goals, and official copy of undergraduate
school transcript. 4) Technical IRTA applicants must submit a
resume or CV, 2 letters of reference, statement of career goals,
and official copy of undergraduate transcript. 5) Student IRTA
applicants must submit a resume or CV, 2 letters of reference,
official copy of school transcript, letter from school verifying
academic standing, information on honors and achievements, and
statement of interest in biomedical research.
Award Procedure:
Awards are made by the interested Institutes or Centers based
on the information provided by the applicant, the availability
of NIH researchers to provide training, and the availability of
financial and other resources to support the research training.
Deadlines:
None.
Range of Approval/Disapproval
Time: Generally, an applicant is advised that
an award has or has not been provided within 90 days from submitting
an application.
Appeals:
None.
Renewals:
1) Postdoctoral IRTA component: Initial traineeship are for 1
or 2 years with a maximum traineeship of 5 calendar years. 2)
Predoctoral IRTA component: Initial traineeship are for 1 month
to 2 years with a maximum traineeship of 3 calendar years. 3)
Post baccalaureate IRTA component: Initial traineeship is for
1 year with a maximum traineeship of 2 calendar years. 4) Technical
IRTA component: Initial traineeship are for 2 years with a maximum
traineeship of 3 calendar years. 5) Student IRTA component: Initial
traineeship is for 1 month to 1 year. The maximum traineeship
period is unlimited as long as the student meets eligibility criteria.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching
Requirements: Not applicable.
Length and Time Phasing
of Assistance: Monthly stipend payments are
made directly to awardees.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
None.
Audits:
Not Applicable.
Records:
Not Applicable.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification:
75-0846-0-1-552.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 01 $32,224,603; FY 02 est $35,448,000; and FY 03 est
$38,993,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
NIH wide Except for North Carolina (NIEHS), Montana (RML-NIAID),
and Arizona (Phoenix, NIDDK) Postdoctoral: $30,800 to $55,700;
Postdoctoral for North Carolina (NIEHS), Montana (RML-NIAID),
and Arizona (Phoenix, NIDDK) $28,100 - 55,700; NIH wide with Discretionary
for North Carolina (NIEHS), Montana (RML-NIAID), and Arizona (Phoenix,
NIDDK) Predoctoral $19,300 to $27,300, Post baccalaureate: $19,300
(increase of $1,000 permitted, by exception, if the award is renewed
for a second (and final) year), Technical $19,300 to $28,500,
Student $1,100 to $2,400; If discretionary stipend levels are
not used, stipends are as follows: North Carolina (NIEHS), Montana
(RML- NIAID), and Arizona (Phoenix, NIDDK) Predoctoral $17,500
to $25,000, Post baccalaureate $17,500 (increase of $1,000 permitted,
by exception, if the award is renewed for a second (and final
year), Technical $17,500 to $26,000, Student $1,000 to $2,200.
There were 3,511 awards
granted in fiscal year 2001. It is estimated that 3,581 awards will
be granted in fiscal year 2002 and 3,653 in fiscal year 2003.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND
LITERATURE:
42 CFR 63.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local
Office: Not applicable.
Headquarters Office:
Executive Director for Intramural Research, National Institutes
of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Shannon Building,
Room 140, Bethesda, MD 20892. Telephone: (301) 496-4920.
Web Site Address: http://www.nih.gov
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
No examples are available.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Awardees are not selected
on the basis of the cost of the proposed training, but rather on
the applicant's qualification, research goals, and relevance to
the goals of the institute extending the award.
