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November 8, 2018

Archived: Your Perspectives: Strategies for Enhancing Postdoctoral Career Transitions to Promote Faculty Diversity

Continuing our longstanding commitment to train the next generation of biomedical scientists and support the careers of students and postdoctoral scientists from diverse backgrounds, for example groups underrepresented in biomedical research, we sought input from the community through a request for information (RFI) on strategies to enhance successful postdoctoral career transitions to promote faculty diversity, specifically in research-intensive institutions. The RFI was open May 24 to July 20, 2018, and received a total of 89 unique responses from stakeholders including postdoctoral scientists, faculty members, and professional societies. Figure 1 shows the most frequently mentioned barriers scientists from underrepresented groups face as they progress from postdoctoral training into faculty positions at research-intensive institutions, and potential strategies to overcome these barriers. The five most frequently noted barriers were bias, mentorship, personal finances, current lack of faculty diversity, and position availability. The five most frequently noted potential solutions included institutional responsibility, enhanced mentorship, transitional awards, increased networking, and focused recruitment and hiring/skills development (tied).
Figure 1. Major Barriers to Faculty Diversity and Potential Solutions in RFI Responses</strong>. Bar charts showing the number of RFI responses in which a barrier (top) or solution (bottom) was mentioned.
Figure 1. Major Barriers to Faculty Diversity and Potential Solutions in RFI Responses. Bar charts showing the number of RFI responses in which a barrier (top) or solution (bottom) was mentioned. A total of 89 unique responses were received for the RFI.
NIGMS thanks everyone who took the time to respond to the RFI and will take this input into consideration when developing new funding opportunity announcements to enhance postdoctoral career transitions to promote faculty diversity. For more details about the analysis, including a list of current strategies and resources to enhance faculty diversity employed by the federal government, private funders, institutions, and societies identified through the RFI, we encourage you to explore the report.

About the Authors

Michael Sesma.

Michael Sesma

Prior to his retirement in December 2024, Mike oversaw the postdoctoral training branch, which includes research training, fellowship, and career development programs.
Kenneth Gibbs.

Kenneth Gibbs

Kenny is director of the Division of Training and Workforce Development, which supports programs that foster the training and development of a strong biomedical workforce through a variety of programs at the undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, faculty, and institutional levels.
Alison Gammie.

Alison Gammie

Alison is a senior advisor in the Division of Training and Workforce Development, which supports a variety of research training and career development programs at the undergraduate through faculty levels.