This document provides a checklist for attachments required for an F-award fellowship grant application. It outlines 22 required attachments including biosketches for key personnel, letters of support, descriptions of research facilities and resources, responses to questions about human subjects, vertebrate animals, and other sections. It provides guidance on page limits, who is responsible for each attachment, and other tips to ensure a complete and compliant application. The checklist covers all elements needed for a National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship application.

1. 26 May 2021 revised Created by PJ Simpson-Haidaris, PhD University of Rochester
1
Checklist for F-award applications—attachments to SF424
October 16, 2020, revised fellowship instruction guide for Adobe Forms F
PA-21-052 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to
Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Parent F31) used as model F grant.
Note: This [PA-21-052] Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is designed specifically for applicants proposing research
that does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary study to a clinical trial,
but does allow applicants to propose research experience in a clinical trial led by a sponsor or co-sponsor.
SF424 form pages 1-2 Who Does Final
Fill in specific information for items 1-20 as instructed in FELLOWSHIP INSTRUCTIONS
FOR NIH AND OTHER PHS AGENCIES SF424 (R&R) APPLICATION PACKAGES (no
attachments 1-19; 20. pre-application attachment very rare)
PI with Grant
Admin help
SF424 form page 2 (SF424 pdf)
21. Cover Letter Attachment. Did you include required information on outside referees?
Did you include name of Program Officer you spoke with about your application? 1-page limit
Use optional PHS Assignment Request Form for Institute and Study Section to suggest
assignment of grant to desired study section for review and IC for the funding component.
PI with input
from mentor for
Assignment
Request
RESEARCH & RELATED Senior/Key Person Profile
Key Personnel Information (fill out in form/ASSIST) and Biosketches (attachments);
Must Include Biosketches each with 5-page limit; PI use fellowship Biosketch template;
Sponsors and Collaborators use the R-grant SF424 general format Biosketch template. Mentors’
and Collaborators/Consultants must write their Personal Statements to reflect their role on
the FELLOWSHIP grant (not their own R01 grant!). New Biosketch Format effective 5-25-2021.
All Senior/Key Personnel must have a valid eRA Commons username and the PI (trainee)
must also be assigned the role as PI in eRA Commons.
PI, mentor, co-
mentors, (AKA
sponsors)
consultants,
collaborators
identified as key
personnel
RESEARCH & RELATED Other Project Information. All attachments are pdf files.
1-6. Questions only (no attachments). Provide answers appropriate to Human Subjects
and Vertebrate Animal Use; impact on environment; historic sites; international
collaborations?
PI and Grant
Administrator
7. Project Summary/Abstract attachment; limit 30 lines text with 0.5-inch margins PI
8. Project Narrative attachment (Public Health Relevance); maximum of 3 sentences PI
9. Bibliography & References Cited attachment (can cite Preprints & Other Interim Research
Products—see NOT-OD-17-050); No page limit but cite relevant and current literature.
PI
10. Facilities & Other Resources attachment; No page limit PI
11. Equipment attachment; No page limit PI
12. Other Attachments
• Certification Letter of Eligibility for Predoctoral Fellowships (F31) to Promote Diversity
(must be on university official’s letterhead and signed). See NOT-OD-19-039
Name file Diversity_Eligibility_Ltr.pdf; 1-page limit
ONLY for PA-21-052 F31 diversity (Request from appropriate institutional official)
• Refer to FOA to see if additional attachments should be uploaded here
• If requesting funding for childcare, upload attachment named
Childcare_Cost_Request.pdf to request costs past first year. First year costs are
included in Budget request on Line 28b.
PI and
Registrar
PI for other
PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form
1. Introduction to Application Attachments (for resubmission–A1 app only); 1-page limit PI
2. Applicants Background and Goals for Fellowship Training attachment; 6-page limit;
present as these three sections in this order: A. Doctoral Dissertation and Research
Experience; B. Training Goals and Objectives; and C. Activities Planned Under Award.
PI
3. Specific Aims attachment; 1-page limit PI
4. Research Strategy attachment; 6-page limit PI
5. Respective Contributions attachment; 1-page limit PI
6. Selection of Sponsor and Institution attachment; 1-page limit PI
7. Progress Report Publication List (RENEWAL applications) N/A

2. 26 May 2021 revised Created by PJ Simpson-Haidaris, PhD University of Rochester
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8. Training in Responsible Conduct of Research attachment; 1-page limit [Required:
1) Format, 2) Subject Matter, 3) Faculty Participation, 4) Duration of Instruction & 5) Frequency of
Instruction]. Suggest including training in Data Reproducibility and Rigor in Science.
PI
Sponsor(s), Collaborator(s) and Consultant(s) Section
9. Sponsor and Co-Sponsor Statement Attachment; 6-page limit Sponsors
10. Letters of support from Collaborators, Contributors and Consultants attachment;
combine into one pdf document; 6-page limit
PI solicits letters; makes pdf file (Not the same as outside referee letters!)
PI requests
and may send
draft letter
Institutional Environment and Commitment to Training
11. Name file: Institutional_Environment_and_Commitment_to_Training.pdf;
2-page limit. Documents institutional resources devoted to career enhancement and
overall intellectual environment. PI, mentors and PhD program directors (and MSTP
Program Director if F30 or F31 Diversity) need to contribute to this document.
PI must request Institutional Environment and Commitment to Training Information from
Mentors and PhD (and MSTP, if dual degree) program directors!
PI, Mentors &
PhD Program
Director, but
Sponsor and PI
make sure
information
specific to PI
12. Description of Candidate’s Contributions to Program Goals- Who must complete the
"Description of Candidate's Contribution to Program Goals" attachment:
Applicants to diversity-related FOAs (e.g., diversity-related K01 and diversity-related K22s): The
"Description of Candidate's Contribution to Program Goals" attachment is required.
All other Career Development (K-awards) applicants: Skip the "Description of Candidate's
Contribution to Program Goals" attachment, as it is not required.
Not applicable for Individual F-award Fellowship applications.
Some admin
may upload the
Certification of
Eligibility here,
but it SHOULD
be uploaded in
“Other
attachments”
Other Research Training Plan Section
Vertebrate Animals [are vertebrate animals used? Yes/No] PI
13. Are vertebrate animals euthanized? Yes/No?
No attachment but answer: Are vertebrate Animals Euthanized? Yes/No?
-Is method consistent with American Veterinary Yes/No?
Medical Association (AVMA) guidelines?
-If "No" to AVMA guidelines, describe method and
provide scientific justification in text box provided on form.
PI
14. Vertebrate Animals, if applicable; add attachment providing an explanation and anticipated
timing of animal use (See section F.430 - PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form, Vertebrate Animals).
PI
15. Select Agents Attachment required if research involve the use of select agents at any
time during the project period at the applicant organization or at any performance site.
PI
16. Resource Sharing Plan Attachment PI
17. Authentication of Key Biologicals and/or Chemical Resources Attachment
Attach ONLY if specified in FOA that it is required e.g., PA-21-052, F31 diversity does NOT
request (Recommend that PI discuss this in Research Strategy as appropriate to show
adhering to rigor and reproducibility in science).
N/A, but PI
must check
FOA
18-24. no attachments but answer questions. (Line 25 does not appear to exist on
form in 10-16-2020 SF424 instruction guide). Line 14 was duplicated.
PI
Budget Section
26-28. Answer appropriate questions. Include full graduate courses tuition amount
for PI’s institution.
NIH funds tuition amount based on their rules, but PI needs to ask for full
institutional tuition amount). Contact Office of Research and Grants Administration
for the current full year tuition. Make sure this is done correctly otherwise may
result in lost funding for tuition!
Grant Admin in
your Dept, Univ
Official
Representative,
or Grad Dept
29. Appendix – do not include info that should be in the Research Strategy.
See NOT-OD-18-126 and future updates for appendix restrictions (Note: Reviewers
HATE to read appendices)
PI
Internal Signoff form for Grant (PI responsibility): be sure to check with your grants administrator and follow protocol for
internal approval of F-award grant submission!
Do you need to include with internal signoff form a specific form signed by your Sponsor (Mentor) approving your grant
submission (PI responsibility)?