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Sydella Blatch Alexander

As a physiologist and former professor at a primarily undergraduate institution, Sydella administers programs that include institutional training awards, research project grants, programs to increase biomedical research capacity, and career development awards.

Virtual Meeting for IMSD and G-RISE Program Applicants

November 21, 2022

We’re pleased to announce a virtual “office hour” for people interested in applying for our Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) and Graduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (G-RISE) programs. The next application due date for both programs is January 30, 2023.

These research training programs share the goal of developing a diverse pool of scientists earning a biomedical Ph.D., but have different institutional eligibility based on NIH research project grant (RPG) support. IMSD eligibility is limited to research-intensive institutions (i.e., those with an average of funding greater than or equal to $7.5 million total costs over the last 3 fiscal years) while G-RISE eligibility is limited to research-active institutions (i.e., those with an average of NIH RPG funding less than $7.5 million total costs over the last 3 fiscal years). 

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Grant Writing Webinar Series for Institutions Building Research and Research Training Capacity

July 28, 2022

Join us for a three-part webinar series designed for faculty and sponsored programs/research development personnel at institutions building research and research training capacity. During the webinars, we’ll share our suggestions for navigating the process of seeking NIH funding. You’ll also learn considerations for determining research idea and grant writing readiness, selecting opportunities to apply for, and effectively writing your grant application and seeking appropriate feedback. 

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Research on Interventions R01 Funding Opportunity and Upcoming Webinar

June 23, 2022

In line with a key mission area of NIGMS—ensuring the vitality and continued productivity of the biomedical research enterprise—we support the Research on Interventions that Promote the Careers of Individuals in the Biomedical Research Enterprise funding opportunity (R01) (PAR-21-269). The program encourages studies on interventions for enhancing research-oriented individuals’ interest, motivation, persistence, and preparedness for careers in the biomedical research workforce.

Program proposals must test an intervention’s effectiveness to increase success in the biomedical research workforce by using robust experimental designs, such as randomized control trial approaches, case controls, or matched pair design. Potential intervention focus areas include, but are not limited to, networking and mentoring, institutional climate, persistence and success of individuals/groups underrepresented in the research enterprise, harassment, and structural racism and discrimination. 

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Request for Information: Initiatives That Improve Research Training, Career Progression, or the Educational Environment in the Biomedical Research Enterprise

April 12, 2022

NIGMS supports individuals and institutions that foster research training and a strong and diverse biomedical research workforce through a variety of programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels. We’re seeking input from trainees (undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral scientists), biomedical faculty, and research education program participants (e.g., postbaccalaureates), on initiatives that can help us improve research training, career progression, or the educational environment. NIGMS is especially interested in hearing about trainee-initiated activities—particularly from the trainees themselves—in NIGMS-funded training programs, including U-RISE, MARC, BUILD, PREP, G-RISE, IMSD, Bridges to the Baccalaureate, Bridges to the Doctorate, IRACDA, MOSAIC, basic biomedical T32, and MSTP.

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Webinar for U-RISE and MARC Training Program (T34) Applicants

March 10, 2022

Are you preparing a grant application for the Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-RISE) or the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) T34 training programs? If so, please join our webinar to learn about the programs and application components. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask us questions:

Wednesday, April 6, 1:30-3:00 p.m. ET

During the webinar, we’ll provide a broad overview of the programs, and share our expectations for applications and the required data tables for the upcoming May 26, 2022, receipt date. We’ll also reiterate compliance information to help you avoid issues that could lead to application withdrawal.

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Webinar for G-RISE and IMSD Research Training Program (T32) Applicants

November 18, 2021

Are you preparing a grant application for the Graduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (G-RISE) or the Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) predoctoral institutional research training program? If so, please join our informational webinar to learn about the programs and application components. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask us questions:

Friday, December 3, 1:30-3:00 p.m. ET

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New Research on Interventions R01 Funding Announcement and Upcoming Webinar

July 13, 2021

UPDATE: The video from the Interventions webinar is now available.

NIGMS has reissued its funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for Research on Interventions that Promote the Careers of Individuals in the Biomedical Research Enterprise (R01) (PAR-21-269). In line with a key mission area of the Institute—ensuring the vitality and continued productivity of the research enterprise—the FOA encourages studies on interventions aimed to enhance research-oriented individuals’ interest, motivation, persistence, and preparedness for careers in the biomedical research workforce. Potential intervention focus areas include, but are not limited to, networking and mentoring, institutional climate, harassment, and structural racism and discrimination.

The new FOA no longer includes research designed solely to inform interventions; applicants must also conduct and test an intervention. Proposals must test the effectiveness of an intervention using robust experimental designs, such as randomized control trial approaches, case controls, matched pair design, or other designs appropriate to perform rigorous research on effective interventions aiming to increase success in the biomedical research workforce.

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New U-RISE and MARC Funding Announcements and Upcoming Webinar

March 23, 2021

UPDATE: The video from this webinar is now available.

We’re pleased to announce the reissuance of funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) for the Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-RISE) (PAR-21-146) and the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) (PAR-21-147) T34 programs. The FOAs continue the shared goal to develop a diverse pool of undergraduates who complete their baccalaureate degree, and transition into and complete biomedical, research-focused higher degree programs (e.g., Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D.).

The first application due date for these FOAs is May 26, 2021, and the earliest start date for both programs is April 2022.

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New G-RISE and IMSD Funding Announcements and Upcoming Webinar

November 20, 2020

Funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) for the Graduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (G-RISE) (PAR-21-026) and the Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) (PAR-21-025) T32 programs have been issued. The FOAs continue the shared goal to develop a diverse pool of scientists earning Ph.D. degrees who have the skills necessary to transition successfully into careers in the biomedical research workforce.

The new G-RISE and IMSD FOAs have an application receipt date of February 26, 2021. The earliest start date for both programs is February 2022.

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