NIH Graduate Student Compensation Limit
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will award funds for graduate student compensation, including stipend and tuition, for students working on a research project up to the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) postdoctoral “zero level” stipend level in effect at the time that the research project is awarded. For research awards (i.e., non-training fellowships), the NIH allows rebudgeting of awarded funds in order to expend more than this amount during the award period. Graduate student compensation, including stipend and tuition, can be paid up to the “amount paid to a first-year postdoctoral scientist at the same institution performing comparable work,” which includes salary and fringe benefits. Therefore, PIs are expected to use NIH awarded funds to support graduate students up to this maximum amount allowed by the agency.
Example (using 2011 postdoctoral zero level rate):
- Maximum amount awarded for graduate student compensation: $38,496 per year (NIH postdoctoral zero level)
- First-year postdoctoral allowance: $54,699 per year ($40,548 NIH first-year postdoctoral level plus 34.9% fringe benefits).
