Revisions to the Fellowship Application and Review Process

he NIH fellowship application and review criteria are undergoing changes that take effect for due dates on or after January 25, 2025. These involve restructuring the review criteria used to arrive at an overall impact score, as well as modifications to sections of the PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form, candidate biosketch, and referee letter instructions.

The goal for these changes is to:
Better focus reviewer attention on three key assessments: the fellowship candidate’s preparedness and potential, research training plan, and commitment to the candidate;
Ensure a broad range of candidates and research training contexts can be recognized as meritorious by clarifying and simplifying the language in the application and review criteria; and
Reduce bias in review by emphasizing the commitment to the candidate without undue consideration of the sponsor and institutional reputation.
Wondering about the implications for your application? Consider participating in this live, virtual event where NIH experts will provide essential insights and updates on these changes, concluding with a Q&A session.