Switzer Research Fellowships Program

12 month period

Upper:  $80,000USD Lower:  $70,000USD

No entities are eligible for this award, only individuals are eligible to apply. If you are a non-USA citizen, you must provide documentation that you are eligible to receive research funding directly from an agency of the United States government.

Only individuals are eligible to apply for NIDILRR Switzer Research Fellowship grants. Institutions and organizations may not apply. Because the individual person rather than their institution is the applicant, the person who seeks the Fellowship signs the forms included in the application. Representatives of institutions do not sign anywhere on the application forms. Because the award is made to the individual rather than their institution, institutional indirect costs may not be deducted from the award. Fellowship funds are taxable income.

Applicants must: (1) Satisfy the requirements of 45 CFR part 75 and (2) have training and experience that indicate a potential for engaging in scientific research related to improving the outcomes of individuals with disabilities. The program provides two categories of Fellowships: Merit Fellowships and Distinguished Fellowships. To be eligible for a Merit Fellowship, individuals must be in the earlier stages of a career in research and have advanced professional training and/or experience in independent study in an area which is directly pertinent to disability and rehabilitation. To be eligible for a Distinguished Fellowship, individuals must have seven or more years of research experience in subject areas, methods, and/or techniques relevant to disability and rehabilitation research and must have a doctorate, other terminal degree, or comparable academic qualifications.

Fellows must not, during the duration of the Fellowship award performance period, be direct recipients of Federal government grant funds in addition to those provided by the Fellowship grant. Fellows may, subject to compliance with their institution’s policy on additional employment, be the principal investigator of, or otherwise work on, Federal grants awarded to the Fellow’s institution.

Fellows must work principally on the Fellowship project during the term of the Fellowship grant.

Potential applicants who receive certain Federal and state benefits are cautioned that acceptance of a Fellowship may adversely affect their eligibility for services such as In-Home Supportive Services under Supplemental Security Income Section 1619. This has occurred in the past because Fellowships are awarded directly to individuals rather than host institutions, and this can affect determinations of employment and income status.

Potential applicants who are not U.S. residents are cautioned that acceptance of a Fellowship may adversely affect their immigration or non-immigrant visa status. If you are not a citizen of the U.S., you may not be eligible to receive research funding directly from an agency of the U.S. government. Successful applicants who are not eligible to receive research funding directly from the U.S. government will not receive the Fellowship. Also, a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) is required for completing and submitting the application materials. Fellowship applicants from other countries may be able to obtain a SSN through the following web site: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10096.pdf