Funding Opportunity for Postdoctoral Fellows in Brain Health
The Brain Health Training Program (BHTP) Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (KU ADRC) offer a unique opportunity for early-career scientists to deepen their engagement in Alzheimer’s disease and brain health research. Fellows and their mentorship team benefits from training support, a vibrant culture of collaboration, structured career development, and a rich intellectual community. Fellows join a multidisciplinary environment spanning basic, translational, and clinical science, supported by flexible funding mechanisms with varying terms, durations, and priorities.
Award Information: Fellowships are supported by multiple funding sources, each with its own scope, duration, and eligibility criteria. Fellowships typically span one to two years, depending on the source and availability. Depending on the funding mechanism, awards may include support for salary/stipend, research activities, tuition, training, and travel. Because funding availability varies across cycles, applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Brain Health Training Program coordinator to confirm current opportunities align with their background and goals.
Funding Type for this RFA: Available this RFA cycle is one T32 postdoctoral fellowship. See the attached Table of Funding Source Requirements and Expectations for further information
Application Submission Deadline: 10/21/2025 at 11:59PM CST
Application Eligibility: The program is open to postdoctoral scholars focused on brain health, brain aging, and Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias (ADRD). Applicants must be eligible to apply for NIH funding. A major goal of the BHTP is to attract and develop the best talent across the broadest spectrum of experience. Applications that highlight new and unique approaches to brain health, or varied experiences brought by the trainee to ADRD research are welcome.
Application and Submission Information: If you are not a registered Brain Health Trainee, begin by completing the registration form and choosing “Yes” for “Responding to a BHTP Request for Applications for Training Awards”. Be sure to identify the mentor with whom you have been discussing the application. After submitting, the BHTP coordinator will email an application link to upload a PDF with the following components, by the application deadline. If you have previously registered as a Brain Health Trainee, please email the BHTP Coordinator for an updated application link.
Upload a single PDF of each of the following to Redcap by the application deadline:
• Applicant’s NIH-style Biosketch
• NIH-style Specific Aims (up to 1 page)
• Career Narrative and Goals (up to 1 page)
o Applicants are encouraged to talk to the BHTP coordinator about course and training requirements specific to the available funding sources at the time of application
• Mentor Statement of Support, including
o Available support
o Current and prior trainees
o Training plan
o Applicant qualifications
Application Review: Applications will be evaluated by independent reviewers identified by the Brain Health Training Program (BHTP). Based on these reviews, BHTP leadership will make funding recommendations to the Internal Advisory Committee (IAC), which holds final decision-making authority. The IAC operates independently of BHTP leadership and is composed of senior training leaders from across the institution. Applicants will be evaluated on their prior accomplishments, mentorship statement of support, proposed plans for training or a career in aging and ADRD research, project alignment with AD/ADRD research, potential for external funding, and the unique experiences and perspectives they bring to the program.
If you have any questions, see the attached overview and contact the BHTP Coordinator, Brenda Aylward at bhtp@kumc.edu
KU Brain Health Training Program Funding Overview
Expectations and Requirements of KU Brain Health Training Program (BHTP) Funding
The BHTP is a training ecosystem providing unique access, support and opportunities for trainees pursuing careers in aging brain health research. Any trainee may register and immerse themselves in this ecosystem. The BHTP also provides a limited number of funded training positions for graduate and postdoctoral trainees. Requests for applications to these funded training positions are released as available. Applicants and applicant mentors for BHTP funding should review the following expectations and requirements prior to submission to understand key expectations and requirements for applications and post-award activities.
1. Not all BHTP awards provide the same support. Mentors and trainees should review the Table of Funding Sources (below) regarding expected support.
o Requests for applications may not explicitly define what funding source is being used, especially when multiple sources are available in an application window.
o All applicants will be considered for all available funding sources appropriate for their training level.
o It is the responsibility of the mentor to evaluate their capacity to support trainees beyond the BHTP award- see Table of Funding Sources.
2. Trainees are expected to:
o Develop an Individual Development Plan (IDP) and meet monthly with mentors;
o Attend and participate in BHTP events, and present when appropriate (minimum of 3 required presentations per year);
o Submit regular reports on time for progress assessment;
o Submit application(s) for external funding;
o Complete required coursework or training.
o Be aware of the funding available to them and maintain records of their expenses and be prepared to review these at semi-annual IDP check-ins.
3. Mentors are expected to:
o Develop and support an Individual Development Plan (IDP) and meet regularly with trainees;
o Participate in BHTP events when asked;
o Understand the funding mechanism and appropriately support trainees with training costs; see Table of Funding sources below;
o Be responsive to requests for information on trainees;
o Support trainee attendance and presentation at programmatic, institutional, regional, and national meetings, including a minimum of 3 required presentations per year;
o Provide an environment that aligns with NIH expectations: Complete BHTP-designated mentorship training.
Elements of a Strong Application
BHTP funding applications have similar components regardless of funding source or training level. See the application for specifics. Applications are evaluated by independent reviewers using the standard NIH scale. The BHTP Board of Directors then reviews the applications and makes recommendations for funding. The BHTP Internal Advisory Committee, with institutional membership separate of the BHTP Board of Directors, make final funding decisions. Funding decisions will include ongoing evaluation of the trainees and mentors’ ability to Support a Safe and Respectful Workplace at Institutions that Receive NIH Funding | Grants & Funding
Elements of a strong application have historically included:
1. Clear research-focused professional trajectory.
2. Strong mentor statement of support including environment, training history, and available resources.
3. Clear relationship of project to ADRD or aging brain health research with use of KU ADRC resources as appropriate.
4. Clear plan for external funding application.
Table of Funding Source Requirements and Expectations
Duration Up to 2 years of support Up to 2 years of support 8 weeks of support Up to 2 years of support
Allowable
Salary / Fringe
$28,788 (Salary only)
PGY0-$62,232
PGY1-$62,652
PGY2-$63,120 (Salary only)
Research Allowance
$4704 (Salary only)
$50,000 (Salary + fringe allowable)
Mentor is responsible for any difference between allowance and actual salary/fringe
$4750*
Travel Limited to $2000/trainee (deducted from research expense)
Health Insurance
Child care allowance
Restrictions
Reimbursement of student health insurance
$12,400* $1182 $3000
Limited to $2000/trainee (deducted from research expense)
None
$3000 $3000
Salary/Fringe difference must be on non-sponsored funds.
Requirements X-train Statement of Appointment (PHS-2271); reappointment form; termination notice
Hours/week
Eligibility U.S Citizen or Permanent resident
Salary/Fringe difference must be on non-sponsored funds.
X-Train Statement of Appointment (PHS-2271); payback agreement; reappointment; termination notice
$0 $1500
None
None
Salary/Fringe difference must be on non-sponsored funds.
X-Train Statement of Appointment (PHS-271); termination notice
None
None
Trainee can be on other federal funding.
Attend at least 1 of the bi-annual NIA National ADRC meetings
U.S Citizen or Permanent resident
U.S Citizen or Permanent resident
UnrestrictedUS Citizen preferred by NIH unless compelling argument.
These amounts are subject to change based on any change in parent award or Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Stipends, Tuition/Fees and Other Budgetary Levels
NOT-OD-25-105: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Stipends, Tuition/Fees and Other Budgetary Levels Effective for Fiscal Year 2025
