Intramural Research Training Award

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) Traineeships/Fellowships are established for the principal benefit of the participants and to provide opportunities for developmental training and practical research ex

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) IRTA fellowships provide opportunities for U.S. Citizens and U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents to have biomedical research training experiences within the campuses and facilities of the NIH Intramural Research Program.

Candidates for the IRTA Program must be U.S. citizens or U.S. lawful permanent residents: 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; 5 or fewer years of relevant postdoctoral experience and up to 2 additional years of experience not oriented toward research; 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 any accredited U.S. or foreign university, 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 medical degree programs and who have written permission from their school to interrupt their current schooling and to return within 1 year to their degree granting programs; 3) Postbaccalaureate IRTA participants are individuals who have received a bachelor's degree no more than 3 years prior to the activation date of the traineeship or a master's degree no more than 6 months prior to the activation date of the traineeship, and who intend to apply to graduate, other doctoral, or medical degree programs during the program and 4) Student IRTA participants must be 18 years old by September 30, 2026. If an individual is a graduating high school senior who will be 17 years old as of June 1, 2026, but will turn 18 by September 30, 2026, the individual's permanent home address must be located within 40 miles of an NIH campus. Student-IRTAs must also be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in an accredited college or university and in good academic standing.

The IRTA Program benefits the participants by combining an opportunity for study with practical work experience and valuable research training experience at the NIH.

Funds are used for stipend payments to IRTA program participants. IRTAs will be provided access to NIH facilities and equipment and assistance in their training from senior NIH researchers. IRTAs 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 NIH Institutes, Centers and Offices (ICOs) that comprise the NIH Intramural Research Program. All funding is discretionary and subject to the availability of appropriations and apportionment. The IRTA Program does not include financial loans.

The funds are direct stipend payments to individuals.

Monthly stipend payments are made directly to awardees.

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Subpart E, Cost Principles.

The application procedure differs widely for the various IRTA program types. The program descriptions, eligibility requirements, and application procedures are listed on the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE) website.

Awards are made by the interested NIH ICOs 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.

Individual NIH investigators select their own trainees. There is, thus, no firm timeline for notification.

1) Postdoctoral IRTA component: Initial traineeships are for 1 or 2 years with a maximum traineeship of 5 calendar years. 2) Predoctoral IRTA component: Initial traineeships are for 1 month to 2 years with a maximum traineeship of 5 calendar years. 3) Postbaccalaureate IRTA component: Initial traineeships are for 1 year with a maximum traineeship of 2 calendar years. 4) Student IRTA component: Initial traineeship is for 1 month to 1 year, with renewals possible if student maintains eligibility criteria, and depending upon the program.