NIGMS strongly believes that a diverse workforce benefits the entire scientific enterprise [PDF, 1.2MB]. The Diversity Supplements Program (DSP) is designed to support this goal by facilitating the recruitment and training of promising scientists from diverse backgrounds (e.g., individuals from groups underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce).
Applicants are strongly urged to contact their research grant Program Official and the Diversity Supplement Program (DSP) Co-Directors, Dr. Shakira Nelson or Dr. Zuzana Justinova, prior to submitting an application.
Applications may be submitted at any time and are administratively reviewed within NIGMS on a continuous basis. The review process typically takes 12 weeks.
Applicants requesting supplements to support a summer research experience are strongly encouraged to submit their applications no later than April 1, or at least 12 weeks before the desired start date to allow enough time for application review. We anticipate applicants will receive notification of a funding decision approximately 12 weeks after receipt of the application. This is a competitive program and funding is not guaranteed.
Applications submitted in the current fiscal year that receive a favorable review will be funded in the same fiscal year, if funds are available. If funds are no longer available in the current fiscal year, applications will be held for funding in the following fiscal year, with an earliest start date of December 1. Applications submitted in June or later are at risk for being held to the next fiscal year. After September 1 the next start date is December 1. Start dates in October or November are not possible.
Please see the funding announcement and the NIGMS specific application requirements detailed below.
NIGMS expects the following materials in a competitive diversity supplement application.
Applications should provide a detailed plan that is appropriate for a high school student and describe how this experience will encourage and prepare the candidate to transition into a college or university and earn a baccalaureate degree in a biomedical field.
Applications should provide a detailed plan that is appropriate for an undergraduate student and describe how the candidate will be provided with support as well as adequate, appropriate, and timely information to transition into the next phase of the biomedical research workforce pathway (e.g., support and information when applying to research-focused graduate programs, or for funding opportunities).
Applications should provide a detailed plan that is appropriate for a postbaccalaureate researcher or master’s student, and provide evidence (e.g., an academic transcript) that the researcher or student, with appropriate support and training, will be competitive for a research-oriented graduate program. The application should describe how this experience will prepare the candidate for admission to and successful completion of a research-oriented graduate program (e.g., Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. program), or a career in the research biomedical workforce.
Applications should provide a detailed plan that is appropriate for a graduate student and describe how the candidate will be provided with support as well as adequate, appropriate, and timely information to transition into the next phase of the biomedical research workforce pathway. In most circumstances the training plan should include mentoring the candidate to submit fellowships applications or to transition into a postdoctoral position or to transition into a career in the biomedical research workforce.
Applications should provide a detailed plan that is appropriate for a postdoctoral fellow and describe how the candidate will be provided with support as well as adequate, appropriate, and timely information to transition into the next phase of the biomedical research workforce pathway. In most circumstances the training plan should include mentoring the candidate to submit fellowships/career development applications. NIGMS encourages diversity supplement applications that will provide candidates with the knowledge, skills, and support to transition to academic research careers.
Applications should provide a detailed plan that is appropriate for a junior investigator and describe how the candidate will be provided with support as well as adequate, appropriate, and timely information to transition into independence and professional advancement at their institution. Applications should clearly state what the goal of the supplement is and how it will enable the candidate to achieve independence and advance to the next career stage. In most circumstances the training plan should include mentoring the candidate to submit research grant applications, such as R01, MIRA for ESIs, R15 or SCORE, career development or other relevant research grants. Applicants should describe plans for publications and how the supplement will enable the candidate to enhance their research program and/or training of students at their own institution. NIGMS encourages diversity supplement applications that will provide candidates with the knowledge, skills, and support to fully transition to independence and achieve tenure.
For more information, contact:
Shakira Nelson, Ph.D.Program Director Division of Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity National Institute of General Medical Sciences National Institutes of Health
or
Zuzana Justinova, M.D., Ph.DProgram Director Division of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological ChemistryNational Institute of General Medical Sciences National Institutes of Health
At: NIGMS-DSP@nigms.nih.gov