Eligibility

Q: Are there citizenship requirements for your programs?

A: There are no citizenship requirements for the biology of aging programs. The Medical Student Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) and Beeson Career Development programs require that the applicant is a US citizen or permanent resident.


Q: Is the _______ award available internationally?

A: At this time AFAR grants are only open to candidates conducting research at a U.S.-based not-for-profit institution by the start date of the award. Please contact grants@afar.org with any questions.

Technical Stuff

Q: I am not familiar with the NIH-style biosketch, is there a template I can use?

A: The template for the NIH-style biosketch can be found here: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/.... This is the biosketch that you should use, not the new SciENcv biosketch that will be required by NIH and NSF after January 25, 2026.

Q: Are there restrictions on the number of researchers who can apply from the same lab or institution?

A: No, we do not have any restrictions on the number of applications that can be submitted from the same lab or institution.

Q: Can I get an extension on the deadline?

A: No, we do not give extensions on the deadline for ANY reason.

Q: How will I know that my Letter of Intent or application was received?

A: After submitting your Letter of Intent/application through the appropriate link, you will receive an automatically generated confirmation email. Please keep this email for your records. If you do not receive this email within hours of submitting your application, please check your spam/junk folder. If you do not receive the confirmation email, contact AFAR immediately.

Q: I am submitting an LOI for the Glenn Postdoctoral Fellowship program and I have co-mentors, can I submit a 5 page biosketch for both mentors?

A: Yes, we will allow a 5 page biosketch to be submitted for both mentors (up to two).

Q: When is the start date of the award?

A: This varies for each grant program, but is clearly stated in the related guidelines. If you cannot locate the appropriate start date for the award to which you are applying, please contact grants@afar.org.

Q: Can my figures and graphs be included as appendices to the LOI or application?

A: This varies by grant. We allow a separate page for figures/graphs for the Glenn Postdoctoral Fellowship program. For the Junior Faculty and Discovery programs any figures/images must be included in the LOI as instructed. If you do not follow these instructions, your LOI may not be reviewed. Also, the reviewers do not want to use a magnifying glass to read the legend on your figures/images - please keep them legible.

Q: I was selected to submit a full application, can the budget include postdoctoral students and graduate students under personnel?

A: Yes. But we only cover salary or stipends, not tuition. (This does not apply to the postdoctoral fellowship program.)

Q: Under personnel in the budget, can fringe benefits be included as well as salary?

A: Yes. (This does not apply to the postdoctoral fellowship program.)

Q: Are indirect costs allowed?

A: Yes, but it varies by grant. Please read the grant materials carefully and contact us if you have questions.

Q: Can there be more than one PI?

A: No, but we will allow for co-Investigator and Collaborators. The award will only be made to one person.

Q: I have a co-Investigator/Collaborator on my project. Should I have them write a letter of collaboration?

A: You should list them on your LOI and if your LOI is selected for a full application ask them to write a letter of commitment and include their NIH-style biosketch.

Q: Can I include a manuscript with my application that has not yet been accepted for publication?

A: No, you can only include it if it has been accepted for publication but has not yet been published. We will remove manuscripts from your application should they not meet this criteria, so please indicate where the manuscript has been accepted and the anticipated publication date.

Q: Do I need to include IRB/Animal Use Committee approval with my application?

A: No, but if your application is recommended for funding you must provide it prior to the start date of the award.

Q: Can my application be submitted a few days late? The official authorizing the proposal is not available.

A: No, it has to be submitted with the page of original scanned or electronic signatures by the deadline. We will not accept late submissions. Please plan accordingly.

Q: I was selected to submit a full application. Is it ok if my letters of reference come in after the deadline?

A: Yes. We prefer that the letters arrive by the deadline, but we will accept them a few days late. It is best to check with grants@afar.org to confirm this as it may change.

Q: I submitted an Institutional Commitment Form with my Letter of Intent (LOI). Do I need to re-submit the Institutional Commitment Form with my full application?

A: No. You do not need to submit the Institutional Commitment Form a second time unless there is a significant change such as additional space or start-up funds.

Q: I already have an award, how can I find out about reporting requirements/no-cost extensions/rebudget/other administrative issues?

A: Head on over to our Administrative Guidelines page.

Glenn Foundation for Medical Research and AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty

Q: Is the total amount for the Junior Faculty Grant $160,000 for one year and $320,000 for two years?

A: No, it’s $160,000 total over one or two years.

Q: I am not yet junior faculty, but I will be by the start date of the award-- am I still eligible to apply?

A: Yes, as long as you are junior faculty by July 1, 2026. This should be indicated on the Institutional Commitment form which must be submitted by your Department Chair or Dean.



MSTAR Program

Q: Is there a citizenship requirement for the MSTAR program?

A: Yes. The Medical Student Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) program requires that the applicant is a US citizen or permanent resident.

Q: Are MD/PhD students eligible?

A: Yes.

Q: Do I have to complete the MSTAR program in the summer between my first and second year of medical school?

A: While most applicants do complete the program between the first and second year of medical school, it is not required. It is only required that students have completed at least one year of medical school and that they are currently enrolled while participating in the program (i.e. they have not graduated). However, students are encouraged to conduct the program during the summer as there are group activities that will not be available during other times of the year

Q: When is the deadline?

A: Confirm with each National Training Center directly, although the deadline is typically in late January.

Q: I received the MSTAR last year. Will I receive a W-2 or some type of tax document to use when I file my taxes?

A: We do not provide any documentation for tax filing. You should check with the IRS or your tax-preparer to determine the best way to declare the scholarship.