Programs FAQs

Yes, each individual program has a deadline(s) of when applications are due. You should consult the specific program page for due dates. In cases where a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, applications are due the following business day. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline day. 

Yes, CRI has no citizenship restrictions for any of its funding programs.

Yes, CRI-supported research can be performed in the United States or abroad, as long as it is conducted at a non-profit institution.

CRI allows applicants to resubmit a proposal that was not funded. When resubmitting to a subsequent deadline the candidate should update their proposal to include details related to the progress made since the last time the proposal was submitted.

No, as long as you still meet all eligibility requirements you may still apply.

Yes, an applicant may submit an application to CRI if the applicant has simultaneously submitted or intends to submit the proposal to a federal agency or other private foundation. However, if the application is selected for funding by another organization, and the applicant accepts the grant, the applicant must withdraw their CRI application. If both CRI and another organization approve an applicant for funding, the applicant must provide certification that there is no overlap in funding.

Yes, applicants from the same organization may apply to the same program provided that each application is scientifically distinct. In the case of fellowship support, only one applicant per mentor per round may be submitted.

Yes, provided that they are two separate projects. For programs that are project specific (i.e. CLIP and Technology Impact) an applicant cannot submit overlapping proposals to more than one program.

No, CRI does not provide reviewer comments.

If the institution from which you are applying considers your current academic rank the equivalent of a tenure-track assistant professor or associate professor, you are still eligible to apply.

No, however, applicants should write “pending” if the protocol has not yet been approved. For applications that involve human subjects, vertebrate animals, recombinant DNA and other nonexempt biohazards, an applicable protocol number will be required following the acceptance of the award.

Yes, you may submit a NIH biosketch in place of a curriculum vitae. When available the NIH biosketch is the preferred format.

The minimum font size for all text is 12pt, except for the NIH biosketch which should follow the NIH guidelines. There are no margin requirements for an application; however, proper judgement should be exercised to keep documents legible.

No, tables, figures, and references should be included as an appendix.

Applicants are notified within approximately 12-16 weeks following the application deadline. For programs with a two-step process, you will be notified within 12-16 weeks if you are invited to submit a full proposal.

All CRI awards, including fellowships, can be activated within four months of the application deadline. For awards with a two-step application process, activation follows stage two after full proposal submission. Awards and fellowships must activate within one year of the deadline. Awards activate on the first of the month.

For both U.S. and non-United States based institutions, CRI issues grant payments quarterly to the host institution in U.S. currency. Payments are issued via electronic payment transfer.

For programs other than fellowships (CRI Irvington Fellowship, Immuno-Informatics Fellowship, and IGNITE), CRI will provide Indirect Costs (IDCs) up to 10% of the award total. IDCs are provided in addition to the award total. CRI does not allow for IDCs on fellowships and mentored awards.

Postdoctoral fellows receive an institutional allowance. The fellow’s sponsor determines if a portion of those funds can be used for fringe benefits.

CRI does implement a salary cap consistent with the current salary cap set by the NIH.

Applications are accepted annually on March 1 and September 1. When those dates fall on the weekend or holiday, applications are due the following workday. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on these dates. Applicants are notified of fellowship committee decisions within approximately 10-12 weeks of the application deadline.

No, an applicant cannot submit two applications in the same cycle of the CRI Postdoctoral Fellowship. Applicants must choose one fellowship track to apply for per cycle.

Yes, provided that the CRI fellowship stipend is the fellow’s primary source of funding. Supplementation of the stipend is allowed; however, the fellowship may not supplement another award. Fellows may not accept two postdoctoral fellowships.

The eligibility guidelines posted on the CRI website state, “only in exceptional circumstances will a fellowship be awarded to an applicant who will already have spent three years or more in the intended sponsor’s laboratory by the start of the fellowship…” Can you clarify this?

Applicants are encouraged to conduct a postdoctoral fellowship in a laboratory other than the one in which they conducted their graduate studies. Applicants who chose to stay in the same laboratory tend to be less competitive than those candidates who move to a new institution and training environment. If a candidate still plans to apply, we strongly suggest that both the candidate and their sponsor clearly delineate how the additional years in the same lab will still provide adequate training and in new areas of research.

Yes, however, an applicant must submit a joint letter of support from both co-mentors and provide the CV/biosketch for each. On the application form, please list both mentors on the cover sheet (page 1) but choose a “lead mentor” to provide contact information in the subsequent sections of the application.

A mentor or co-mentor can be listed on two applications in the same cycle if the applications are to different tracks of the CRI Postdoctoral Fellowship. Therefore, the only possible scenario where this is possible is when one application is submitted to the CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship and a second to the CRI Immuno-Informatics Fellowship.

Your mentor’s list of current research support includes all financial resources, whether governmental, commercial, or institutional that are available in direct support of your mentor’s research endeavors. The list should contain: the name of the Principal Investigator, source of support, title of project/subproject, funding period, and person months.

If your recommender(s) have provided a letter of recommendation directly to you, there is an option for you to upload the letters with your application prior to submission. If your references would prefer to submit their letter themselves, they should email their letter to CRI at [email protected] . All letters of recommendation should be submitted prior to the application deadline.The file should be named with your lastname, firstname, and the abbreviation rec, ie. Smith_John_rec.pdf.

Postdoctoral fellows receive an institutional allowance. The fellow’s sponsor determines if a portion of those funds can be used for fringe benefits.

CRI requires that every application have a single PI who will have full responsibility and authority for the project and who will be responsible for all financial and scientific reporting. Others that are making significant contributions may be listed as Co-Investigators. All are considered key personnel and should include their curriculum vitae or NIH biosketch.

No, we ask that you do not include copies of the five (5) selected publications, instead  you may include a DOI link in addition to the citation.