Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 120109 001
Apply for ED GRANTS 120109 001
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) Research Fellowships Program CFDA 84.133F 1" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.133 National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 2, 2009 and posted on Dec 2, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 1, 2010 Applications Available December 1, 2009. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications February 1, 2010.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $505,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Individuals Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible Applicants Eligible individuals must have training and experience that indicate a potential for engaging in scientific research related to the solution of rehabilitation problems of individuals with disabilities. The program provides two categories of Research Fellowships Merit Fellowships and Distinguished Fellowships. (a) To be eligible for a Merit Fellowship, an individual must have either advanced professional training or independent study experience in an area that is directly pertinent to disability and rehabilitation. 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) Research Fellowships Program, listed under CFDA 84.133F-1, is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education designed to strengthen the field of disability and rehabilitation research by investing directly in individual researchers. The central goal is research capacity building: the program funds highly qualified people so they can carry out focused research that helps solve real rehabilitation problems affecting individuals with disabilities. A notable feature is that the program explicitly encourages participation by researchers who themselves are individuals with disabilities, reflecting the program's broader commitment to disability-focused expertise and lived experience within the research workforce.
This opportunity supports fellowships awarded to individuals rather than institutions. In other words, universities, hospitals, nonprofits, and other organizations are not eligible to receive these fellowship awards as the primary grantee. Instead, the applicant must be an individual with the background and research potential to contribute scientifically to disability and rehabilitation. Eligibility is framed around demonstrated training and experience showing the applicant can engage in rigorous research relevant to rehabilitation outcomes, methods, or problems.
The program offers two main fellowship tracks with different experience expectations: Merit Fellowships and Distinguished Fellowships. A Merit Fellowship is intended for emerging or developing researchers who already have advanced professional training or substantial independent study directly related to disability and rehabilitation; in recent competitions referenced in the notice, recipients commonly had doctoral-level research experience. The Distinguished Fellowship is geared toward established researchers with significant track records: applicants must have at least seven years of research experience using subject areas, methods, or techniques relevant to rehabilitation research, and must hold a doctorate or other terminal degree (or have comparable academic qualifications). These two categories signal that NIDRR is trying to support both the next generation of rehabilitation researchers and seasoned investigators capable of producing high-impact work and mentoring capacity within the field through their fellowship activities.
From an administrative and submission standpoint, applications had to be filed electronically using the Department of Education's e-Application system, accessed through the e-Grants website (e-grants.ed.gov). The notice emphasizes that the application data are entered online and stored in a database, and that applicants cannot submit by emailing an electronic copy to the agency. For the specific funding cycle described in the synopsis (FY 2010), applications were made available on December 1, 2009, with a deadline to transmit applications of February 1, 2010. The opportunity was later archived on March 3, 2010, indicating the posting reflects a past cycle, though the program description and structure are still useful for understanding how the fellowship mechanism works.
In terms of funding scale, the synopsis lists an estimated total funding amount of $505,000, with an award ceiling of $75,000 per fellowship. The expected number of awards was seven, and the funding instrument type is a grant. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which is important for individual applicants since it means the fellowship does not require the recipient to bring additional non-federal funds as a condition of the award. The opportunity is categorized under the Education funding activity category, consistent with the Department of Education's administration of NIDRR at the time of the notice.
The synopsis repeatedly points applicants to the official Federal Register notice as the controlling document for full details. That includes the elements that typically determine competitiveness and compliance, such as application content and formatting rules, any absolute or competitive priorities, performance measures, reporting expectations, and program contact information. The Federal Register version is described as the official source, accessible online through the Government Publishing Office (GPO) portal referenced in the posting. For practical help related to accessing the full announcement or navigating the electronic systems, the notice provides a technical contact (Julius Cotton) connected to ED Grants/Grants.gov systems administration, and a program manager contact (Marlene Spencer) at the Department of Education for programmatic questions.
Overall, this fellowship program is best understood as a targeted investment in individual research talent to expand the knowledge base and practical solutions in disability rehabilitation. By offering separate pathways for earlier-stage and senior researchers, and by keeping the awards individual-centered rather than institution-centered, the program aims to directly support the people who will drive research advances and, in turn, improve rehabilitation practices and outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NIDRR Research Fellowships Program (CFDA 84.133F-1)?
The NIDRR Research Fellowships Program (CFDA 84.133F-1) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Education. It is designed to strengthen disability and rehabilitation research by funding individual researchers to carry out focused research that addresses real rehabilitation problems affecting individuals with disabilities.
What is the main goal of this fellowship program?
The central goal is research capacity building. The program invests directly in highly qualified individuals so they can conduct rigorous disability and rehabilitation research that contributes practical solutions and advances the field.
Who is the intended applicant: individuals or institutions?
This opportunity supports fellowships awarded to individuals rather than institutions. Universities, hospitals, nonprofits, and other organizations are not eligible to receive these fellowship awards as the primary grantee under the information provided.
Are researchers with disabilities encouraged to apply?
Yes. The program explicitly encourages participation by researchers who themselves are individuals with disabilities, reflecting a commitment to disability-focused expertise and lived experience within the research workforce.
What kinds of research does the program aim to support?
The fellowship supports research relevant to disability and rehabilitation, including work focused on rehabilitation outcomes, methods, or problems. The emphasis is on research that helps address real rehabilitation issues affecting individuals with disabilities.
What are the two fellowship tracks mentioned in the opportunity?
The program offers two main fellowship tracks: Merit Fellowships and Distinguished Fellowships. They are structured around different levels of research experience and career stage.
What is a Merit Fellowship intended for?
A Merit Fellowship is intended for emerging or developing researchers who already have advanced professional training or substantial independent study directly related to disability and rehabilitation. The notice references that, in recent competitions discussed, recipients commonly had doctoral-level research experience.
What is a Distinguished Fellowship intended for?
A Distinguished Fellowship is geared toward established researchers with significant track records. Applicants must have at least seven years of research experience using subject areas, methods, or techniques relevant to rehabilitation research, and must hold a doctorate or other terminal degree (or have comparable academic qualifications).
Does this program require a certain number of years of research experience?
Yes, for the Distinguished Fellowship track. The information provided states that applicants must have at least seven years of research experience relevant to rehabilitation research to qualify for the Distinguished Fellowship.
Is a doctorate or terminal degree required?
For the Distinguished Fellowship, the information provided states that the applicant must hold a doctorate or other terminal degree, or have comparable academic qualifications. For the Merit Fellowship, the description highlights advanced training and notes that recipients commonly had doctoral-level research experience in referenced competitions.
How are applications submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically through the U.S. Department of Education's e-Application system, accessed via the e-Grants website (e-grants.ed.gov). The notice emphasizes that application data are entered online and stored in a database.
Can an application be submitted by email?
No. The information provided states that applicants cannot submit by emailing an electronic copy to the agency.
What were the key dates for the funding cycle described?
For the FY 2010 cycle described: applications were made available on December 1, 2009; the deadline to transmit applications was February 1, 2010; and the opportunity was later archived on March 3, 2010.
Is this posting for a current competition or a past cycle?
The information provided indicates the opportunity was archived on March 3, 2010, and the dates cited are for FY 2010. That suggests the posting reflects a past cycle, though the program description and structure still illustrate how the fellowship mechanism works.
How much funding was estimated to be available in the described cycle?
The synopsis lists an estimated total funding amount of $505,000 for the cycle described.
What is the maximum amount that can be awarded per fellowship?
The award ceiling listed is $75,000 per fellowship.
How many awards were expected?
The expected number of awards listed is seven.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The information provided states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
Which federal agency administers the program?
The program is described as a U.S. Department of Education discretionary grant opportunity, administered under the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) as referenced in the notice.
What is the funding activity category listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under the Education funding activity category.
Where can applicants find the official rules and full details?
The synopsis repeatedly points to the official Federal Register notice as the controlling document for full details. It is described as accessible online through the Government Publishing Office (GPO) portal referenced in the posting.
What kinds of details are expected to be in the Federal Register notice?
According to the synopsis, the Federal Register notice typically contains the full requirements and criteria, such as application content and formatting rules, any absolute or competitive priorities, performance measures, reporting expectations, and program contact information.
Who is listed as a technical contact for electronic systems support?
The notice provides a technical contact for ED Grants/Grants.gov systems administration: Julius Cotton.
Who is listed as a program contact for programmatic questions?
The notice lists a program manager contact at the Department of Education for programmatic questions: Marlene Spencer.
Why does the program separate Merit and Distinguished Fellowships?
Based on the description provided, the two categories are meant to support both earlier-stage researchers (Merit) and established researchers with significant experience (Distinguished), strengthening research capacity across career stages within disability and rehabilitation research.
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| Indian Education Formula Grants to Local Educational Agencies CFDA 84.060A Apply for ED GRANTS 120909 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 120909 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Projects CFDA 84.133P 1 Apply for ED GRANTS 121109 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 121109 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $150,000 |
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| National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase I CFDA 84.133S 1 Apply for ED GRANTS 011310 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 011310 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $75,000 |
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