Training
NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research
Training
Learn about training opportunities available through the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research and BRAIN Initiative through our July 2026 webinar. We discussed both individual fellowship and career development awards and institutional training and research education awards.
The NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research is strongly committed to building the next generation of neuroscientists. Current training programs include:
This opportunity is a program within the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research in conjunction with the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) and the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). The primary objective of the JSPTPN is to prepare individuals for careers in neuroscience that have a significant impact on the health-related research needs of the nation.
The program provides support during the first and second years of PhD training, offering broad and fundamental research training in the neurosciences. Students build a strong foundation in experimental design, statistical methodology, and quantitative reasoning, with laboratory rotations that allow them to explore different research areas, scientific approaches, and laboratory cultures.
The NIH Blueprint prioritizes programs that fulfil the following criteria:
- provide broad and fundamental research training in the neurosciences;
- include a curriculum that provides a strong foundation in experimental design, statistical methodology and quantitative reasoning;
- include laboratory rotations that allow students to explore different research areas, scientific approaches, and laboratory cultures; and
- Appoint PhD students to the training grant only during the first 2 years of their graduate research training.
Applications will be accepted through the Parent T32 funding opportunity
- Help us identify your interest in this program by referencing "JSPTPN" in the Training Program Section 2. Program Plan
- Request assignment to NINDS or NIMH
- Applications will be prioritized for January Council (May due date)
- Final determination of mission fit is done by NIH staff and selection for the program will be communicated at time of award
Direct questions to the Scientific Program Contact.
For more information: JSPTPN (T32)
The purpose of the ACTION (Academic Career Transition Initiative for Opportunities in Neuroscience) Potential F99/K00 award is to support a defined pathway across career stages for graduate students from a wide variety of institutions and regions, who are interested in independent neuroscience research careers. This two-phase award is run through the Parent F99/K00 and facilitates the transition of graduate students to postdoctoral positions. It provides career development and networking opportunities across the Neuroscience Blueprint mission space. Blueprint participation provides flexibility for a trainee to pursue neuroscience research during the pre- and postdoctoral phases that aligns with mission of one or more of the participating institutes.
Applications will be accepted through the Parent F99/K00 funding opportunity
- Help us identify your interest in this program by referencing the "Neuroscience Blueprint" in section A. Overall Training Goals, under Goals, Preparedness, and Potential in the Candidate Section
- Applications are prioritized for all Councils (all receipt dates)
- Direct your application to any participating Blueprint institute, center, or office
- Final determination of mission fit is done by NIH staff and selection for the program will be communicated at time of award
For more information: Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99)
Direct questions to the Scientific Program Contact.
The purpose of the ASCEND program is to raise interest and provide opportunities in neuroscience research for undergraduate students, especially those who are enrolled in institutions that have limited research resources.
Through ASCEND, undergraduates will be provided with a two-year neuroscience research training experience that will prepare them to successfully matriculate into neuroscience PhD programs.
We expect ASCEND programs to be composed of partnerships between research-intensive institutions and resource-limited institutions and will support a range of activities to increase student interest and involvement in neuroscience, including authentic research experiences, career development opportunities, core and advanced neuroscience courses/seminars, and the establishment of professional networks.
The NIH Blueprint prioritizes programs that fulfil the following criteria:
- Prepares undergraduates to matriculate into neuroscience PhD programs;
- Partnership between research-intensive institution(s) and resource-limited institution(s);
- Provides a two-year period of authentic neuroscience research experience(s) composed of a part-time research experience during the school year and full-time research experience during the summer; and
- Provides career development opportunities, skills development, core and advanced neuroscience courses/seminars, and the establishment of professional networks
Applications will be accepted through the Parent R25 Research Education Program – Research Experiences funding opportunity
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- Help us identify your interest in this program by referencing the "Neuroscience Blueprint" in the Specific Aims of the Research Plan Section
- Request assignment to NINDS
- Applications are prioritized for August Council (January due date)
- Final determination of mission fit is done by NIH staff and selection for the program will be communicated at time of award
Direct questions to the Scientific Program Contact.
For more information: Education Projects (R25)
The primary goal of this training opportunity is to expose undergraduate and graduate students to a wide range of neuroscience and behavioral questions, quantitative methods, and experimental systems to ensure a strong dual foundation in clinical and quantitative science. This foundation is expected to give trainees the ability to adopt new computational theory and methodology and apply these methods to relevant questions in health and disease.
Applications will be accepted through the Parent T32 funding opportunity and the Parent R25 Research Education Program – Courses, Curriculum and Methods funding opportunity
- Help us identify your interest in this program by referencing "Blueprint Computational" in the Specific Aims of the Research Plan section
- Request assignment to NIDA
- Applications will be prioritized for January Council (May due date)
- Final determination of mission fit is done by NIH staff and selection for the program will be communicated at time of award
Direct questions to the Scientific Program Contact.
For more information: Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
For more information: Education Projects (R25)
The goal of this training opportunity is to develop and implement short courses on neurotherapeutics development for academic neuroscientists. The short courses will provide participants with a sufficient overview of the neurotherapeutics development process to (1) understand the steps required for therapeutics development, (2) anticipate and overcome common challenges in the process, and (3) interact effectively with collaborators who have expertise in various aspects of therapeutics development.
The current program is Training in Neurotherapeutics Discovery and Development for Academic Scientists through the University of California, Davis. Learn more and apply to participate on their program website.
The purpose of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) T15 Program is to support pre- and post-doctoral training in biomedical informatics, data science, and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML). Blueprint-supported programs will provide training that advances the Blueprint mission to accelerate transformative discoveries in brain function in health, aging, and disease through informatics, data science, and AI/ML training applied to basic, translational, and clinical neuroscience. Trainees will have mentorship from both neuroscience faculty and AI, data science, and/or informatics faculty to support research and career development.
Direct questions to the Scientific Program Contact
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