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The NIH T32 is a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) institutional research training grant. The institution, not the trainee, applies to NIH; the program director then appoints predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees to the funded slots. The parent funding opportunity is PA-25-168. This page is for program directors, grants officers and prospective trainees who need to know who does what, what the grant pays for, and how the rules differ between NIH institutes. Everything below is as described on the official NIH pages on 2026-11-08.
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Suggested question: “Can an individual apply for a T32?”
What it is and who runs it
A T32 supports a structured training program at an institution, such as a graduate program or a postdoctoral track, rather than an individual. The parent notice of funding opportunity is PA-25-168, and individual NIH institutes and centers (ICs) run their own T32 portfolios and publish their own rules. For the definition and the NRSA background, see T32 training grant; for how an institutional award differs from an individual fellowship, see T32 vs F32.
The program director/principal investigator (PD/PI) is an established investigator who can provide scientific and administrative leadership; multiple PD/PIs are encouraged (NIMH parent T32 page).
Eligibility
Who can apply
The applicant is a US domestic institution; foreign components are allowed (NIMH parent T32 page, PA-25-168). Individual trainees do not apply for a T32 grant; they apply to a program that holds one.
Who can be appointed as a trainee
- Trainees must be US citizens, noncitizen nationals or lawful permanent residents at the time of appointment, and must train full time, normally 40 hours per week (NIMH).
- NIGMS states that trainees on temporary visas, or with asylum, refugee or DACA status, are not eligible (NIGMS T32/T34 FAQ).
- Predoctoral T32s typically support dissertation-stage trainees, usually for two to three years. They cannot support M.D., D.D.S. or other clinical degree study, except in formal combined programs such as M.D./Ph.D. (NIMH).
A prospective trainee seeks a slot by searching NIH RePORTER for T32 programs and contacting them directly. When no slot is available, NIDDK points to the individual routes: F30, F31, F32 and K awards (NIDDK T32 page). See NIH fellowships F30, F31, F32 and F33.
What it funds or requires
- Indirect costs: 8% of modified total direct costs, excluding tuition and fees, consortium costs above $25,000, and equipment (NIMH). See NIH indirect cost policy.
- Travel: up to $750 per predoctoral trainee and $1,200 per postdoctoral trainee (NIMH page).
- Training-related expenses are a lump sum; unobligated balances generally do not carry over, and per-trainee costs are not inflation-adjusted (NIGMS).
- Stipends follow NRSA levels: NRSA stipend levels.
- Responsible conduct of research: every application must include an RCR plan; individual development plans are strongly encouraged (NIMH).
- Mentor documentation: a biosketch is required for every faculty member or mentor in the program (NIGMS).
- Data sharing: NIGMS states the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy does not apply to training grants.
- Budget cap: NIMH describes no budget cap and requires no pre-approval for requests over $500,000 in direct costs. Historically, NIMH T32s support two to six trainees per year.
Application and compliance steps
Institution and PD/PI
- Confirm the target IC accepts T32 applications in your scientific area, and read its own page, since ICs add their own conditions.
- Request only the slots you can fill. NIGMS: “Applicants should only request slots which they can fill.”
- Submit by the IC’s due date. NIGMS generally does not accept late applications.
- After an award, appoint trainees through xTrain; NIGMS requires the appointment form before a stipend is paid.
- Appointments are generally 12 months full time. NIGMS requires its prior approval for appointments under nine months.
- File the annual progress report (RPPR) on schedule; see the timeline below.
Trainee
The trainee applies to the program, not to NIH, and is then appointed by the PD/PI. Related pages: xTRACT and NIH K12.
Typical timeline phases
Figures are from NIGMS and describe its process; other ICs may differ.
- Submission by the IC’s due date (see the table below and NIH standard due dates).
- Review: about 9 to 10 months from submission.
- Funding decision after council: about 8 to 9 months after submission, per NIGMS.
- Project period: awards are typically five years, the maximum project period (NIGMS).
- Annual RPPR: due 7.5 months before the budget period starts, which NIGMS gives as November 15 for a July 1 start.
Differences between institutes
No single page reconciles the institutes, so the table sets out what each cited page states.
| Institute | What its page states |
|---|---|
| NIMH | Due date May 25 for new, resubmission and renewal applications; AIDS-related applications September 7. Travel $750/$1,200; historically two to six trainees per year. |
| NIGMS | Five-year awards, slots only as many as can be filled, appointments under nine months need approval. NIGMS will stop supporting competing postdoctoral T32 awards for due dates on or after January 25, 2027. |
| NIDDK | Does not accept T32 applications for kidney, urologic or hematologic research (those use U2C, PAR-23-248). An institution with an existing program must explain how a new one differs and that faculty, trainee pool and resources support another. |
NIGMS also notes that Table 7 is for renewals only and should not be included in new applications.
Common mistakes
- Asking for more slots than the program can fill (NIGMS advises against it).
- Submitting after the due date, which NIGMS generally does not accept.
- Applying to an IC that does not take your area, such as kidney, urologic or hematologic research at NIDDK.
- Including Table 7 in a new application (NIGMS: renewals only).
- Appointing a trainee on a temporary visa, which NIGMS lists as ineligible.
- Omitting the RCR plan, which every application must include.
Related programs
| Mechanism | Who applies | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|
| T32 | Institution; trainees are appointed | T32 training grant |
| F30/F31/F32/F33 | Individual (the route NIDDK suggests when no slot exists) | NIH fellowships |
FAQ
Can an individual apply for a T32?
No. The institution applies, and the PD/PI appoints trainees to the funded slots.
What is the NIH T32 parent announcement?
PA-25-168, as cited by NIMH on 2026-11-08.
Are non-US citizens eligible as trainees?
US citizens, noncitizen nationals and lawful permanent residents are eligible at appointment. NIGMS excludes temporary visa, asylum, refugee and DACA status.
How long does a T32 award last?
NIGMS describes awards as typically five years, its maximum project period. Predoctoral trainees are usually supported two to three years (NIMH).
Does the data management and sharing policy apply?
NIGMS states it does not apply to training grants.
Sources
- NIMH, Parent T32 page, read 2026-11-08.
- NIGMS, T32/T34 postdoctoral FAQ, read 2026-11-08.
- NIDDK, T32 funding mechanism page, read 2026-11-08.
- NIH Guide, PA-25-168, cited as referenced by NIMH.
Programs change; confirm current terms against the sponsor pages above.
