Merit Switzer Research Fellowships for Doctoral Dissertation Research | HHS 2024 ACL NIDILRR SFGE 0072

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2024 ACL NIDILRR SFGE 0072

The Merit Switzer Research Fellowships for Doctoral Dissertation Research is a discretionary federal grant opportunity run by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) through NIDILRR (the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research). Its core goal is to strengthen research capacity in disability-related fields by funding highly qualified researchers, including researchers with disabilities, to carry out original, doctoral-level dissertation research. The work must directly focus on the real-world experiences and outcomes of people with disabilities and align with at least one of NIDILRR's three outcome domains: community living and participation, employment, or health and function. In practice, this means the fellowship is intended to support dissertation projects that generate new knowledge with clear relevance to rehabilitation, independent living, and the broader life outcomes of disabled people.

This specific competition is designed exclusively for doctoral candidates who are at the dissertation research stage and can formally document their doctoral candidacy status. NIDILRR expects to make about five awards under this announcement, and each fellowship has a single 12-month project period. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $45,000, which is meant to support the individual fellow's research activities during that one-year period. Because this is framed as a fellowship to the person rather than a typical institutional research grant, applicants should think of it as direct support for the doctoral researcher to complete a defined dissertation research plan within a year.

Eligibility is intentionally narrow: only individuals may apply. Universities, nonprofits, research centers, and other organizations are not eligible applicants and cannot apply on someone else's behalf. The applicant is the doctoral candidate, and the application forms must be signed by the individual seeking the fellowship rather than by institutional representatives. Another important implication of the award being made to an individual is that institutional indirect costs (often called overhead or F&A) cannot be taken out of the fellowship funds. Applicants should also plan for tax implications, because fellowship funds are treated as taxable income.

Citizenship and funding eligibility requirements are also explicit. U.S. citizenship is not stated as strictly required, but non-U.S. citizens must provide documentation showing they are eligible to receive research funding directly from a U.S. government agency. This requirement matters because the award goes to an individual rather than being routed through an institution that might otherwise handle eligibility or compliance issues.

Key administrative details from the opportunity listing include: Funding Opportunity Title: Merit Switzer Research Fellowships for Doctoral Dissertation Research; Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2024-ACL-NIDILRR-SFGE-0072; CFDA Number: 93.433; Funding Instrument Type: Grant; Activity Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development; Agency: Administration for Community Living. The original application closing date was June 28, 2024, and the opportunity record was created April 29, 2024.

• The Administration for Community Living in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Merit Switzer Research Fellowships for Doctoral Dissertation Research" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.433.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $45,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Individuals.

Apply for HHS 2024 ACL NIDILRR SFGE 0072

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