OSERS and NIDRR: Research Fellowships for Disability and Rehabilitation

Note: In the most recent competitions for this program, Merit Fellowship recipients had research experience at the doctoral level.

(b) To be eligible for a Distinguished Fellowship, an individual must have seven or more years of research experience in subject areas, methods, or techniques relevant to rehabilitation research and must have a doctorate, other terminal degree, or comparable academic qualifications.

Note: Institutions are not eligible to be recipients of research fellowships.

Please review the official application notice for pre-application and application requirements, application submission information, performance measures, priorities and program contact information.

Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Research Fellowships Program is to build research capacity by providing support to highly qualified individuals, including those who are individuals with disabilities, to perform research on the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities.
Fellows must conduct original research in an area authorized by section 204 of the Act. Section 204 authorizes research, demonstration projects, training, and related activities, the purposes of which are to develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency, of individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with the most significant disabilities, and to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Act.

Note: This program is in concert with NIDRR’s currently approved long-range plan (the Plan). The Plan is comprehensive and integrates many issues relating to disability and rehabilitation research topics. The Plan, which was published in the Federal Register on February 15, 2006 (71 FR 8166), can be accessed on the Internet at the following site: www2.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/other/2006-1/021506d.html.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133F-1.

All individuals applying for a research fellowship must register at www.Grants.gov prior to submitting their application. To register with Grants.gov you must know the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) of the grant opportunity you are applying for. You can obtain this number by searching Grants.gov using the CFDA number, 84.133. This search will lead you to available NIDRR solicitations and identify the FON for each. You will use the FON to register in Grants.gov. Once you register
with Grants.gov, to facilitate the safe and secure transfer of your application to the Department, you will be asked to create a profile with your username and password, which will be used to identify you within the system, and create an electronic signature. Details on
registering with Grants.gov as an individual are outlined in the following Grants.gov tutorial: www.grants.gov/assets/IndividualRegistrationOverview.html.
To register with Grants.gov, you do not have to provide a Data Universal Numbering System Number, a Taxpayer Identification Number, or
your Social Security Number (SSN). You also do not have to complete a Central Contractor Registry or System for Award Management registration in order to access Grants.gov or submit your application.
However, your SSN is required to complete your application for a research fellowship.
Applications for grants under the Research Fellowships Program, CFDA Number 84.133F-1, must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not email an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
You may access the electronic grant application for the Research Fellowships Program at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number’s alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.133, not 84.133F).