Active, accepting applications Checked November 7, 2026
- Mechanism
- T34 institutional training grant (PAR-26-033)
- Who it serves
- Undergraduates in biomedical bachelor's programs, including community college transfer students
- Today
- Open. Standard due dates January 25, May 25 and September 25 through September 2028; announcement expires September 26, 2028.
Short answer
BURT is an NIGMS T34 training grant (PAR-26-033) that supports full-time undergraduate research trainees at institutions averaging under $50 million a year in NIH research project grant funding. It has a single-site track and a community college partnership track, allows up to 30 trainees per award, and accepts applications on standard dates through September 25, 2028.
What is BURT?
BURT is a T34 institutional training grant from NIGMS that supports undergraduates training full time in research during the final two to three years of a biomedical bachelor's degree, with the goal that they go on to a research doctorate. The announcement is PAR-26-033. Awards usually run five years and can be renewed.
The grant pays toward trainee stipends, tuition and fees, training-related expenses and health insurance. Training-related expenses are set at $12,500 per trainee per year, and an award can support up to 30 trainees.
Which institutions can apply?
Three rules matter most:
- The applicant must enroll undergraduates and the application must include a bachelor's degree-granting organization.
- The institution's NIH research project grant funding must average less than $50 million a year in total costs over the last three fiscal years.
- Each organization can submit only one application.
There are two tracks. The single-site track supports trainees at one bachelor's-granting institution. The community college partnerships track links at least one associate degree-granting organization with at least one bachelor's-granting organization, so students can start as trainees at the community college and continue after transfer.
Who can be a trainee?
Trainees must be US citizens, noncitizen nationals or lawful permanent residents at appointment, and must train full time (normally 40 hours a week, in 12-month appointments). On the single-site track they must be enrolled in a biomedical bachelor's program at the applicant institution. On the partnership track they start at the community college with a plan to finish a biomedical bachelor's degree. NIGMS expects a two- to three-year training experience.
When are applications due?
| Due date | Earliest start |
|---|---|
| January 25, 2027 | December 2027 |
| May 25, 2027 | April 2028 |
| September 25, 2027 | July 2028 |
| January 25, 2028 | December 2028 |
| May 25, 2028 | April 2029 |
| September 25, 2028 | July 2029 |
Dates that fall on a weekend or federal holiday move to the next business day; September 25, 2027 is a Saturday, so that deadline becomes Monday, September 27. The grant timeline builder handles this and back-plans your internal milestones.
How does BURT compare with the programs it sits beside?
| BURT | MARC (ended) | U-RISE (ended) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | T34 | T34 | T34 |
| Institution funding rule | Under $50M a year in NIH RPGs | Research-intensive (at least $7.5M) | Research-active (under $7.5M) |
| Community college track | Yes | No | No |
| Trainee cap | 30 | Set per award | Set per award |
The funding line is the big shift. MARC and U-RISE split institutions at $7.5 million; BURT draws one line much higher, which opens it to most colleges and many universities. For the history behind this, see what changed.
Questions people ask
Can a large research university apply for BURT?
Only if its NIH research project grant funding averaged less than $50 million a year in total costs over the last three fiscal years. Institutions above that line cannot apply.
Can international students be BURT trainees?
No. Trainees must be US citizens, noncitizen nationals or lawful permanent residents when they are appointed, as with other NRSA training grants.
How many students can a BURT award support?
Up to 30 trainees per award. Training-related expenses are budgeted at $12,500 per trainee per year, on top of stipend, tuition and fees, and health insurance costs set by NRSA policy.
Is BURT the new MARC?
NIGMS doesn't describe it that way. BURT is a separate announcement with its own eligibility rules. It does serve a similar purpose to MARC and U-RISE, which are no longer on NIGMS's current program list.
Sources
This profile is an independent summary, not an official NIH or NIGMS description. Eligibility and deadlines are set by the current funding opportunity; read it before you apply.