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.

UPDATE: An informational webinar on these modules will be held on April 28 from 2-3:30 ET. For details see NOT-GM-22-035.

We’re pleased to announce a new notice of special Interest (NOSI) calling for applications to develop training modules on wellness and resiliency, and structural racism and discrimination in research training environments (NOT-GM-22-016). The proposed modules should impact individuals from a broad range of scientific disciplines and career stages and cover material not typically taught as part of current institutional coursework. The modules can take many different formats and approaches and should be timely, informative, engaging, easily accessible, and free to everyone. Applications must focus on one of the following topics:

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.

We’re offering another round of administrative supplements to provide summer research experiences for undergraduate students. These supplements are open to all NIGMS-funded investigators with active R01, R35, and R37 awards, including those in their final year of funding. We’ll accept requests under PA-20-272, Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional). The research experiences can be conducted remotely or in person, depending on the institutional policies of each applicant.

UPDATE: Learn more about noncompliance and withdrawal of applications by reading our Frequently Asked Questions.

We frequently come across compliance issues when reviewing NIGMS T32, T34, and K12 institutional training grant applications. We’re providing information to help applicants avoid the consequences of not following the funding opportunity announcement (FOA) instructions, which could result in the withdrawal of applications without review:

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

We’re hosting a webinar for Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) (PAR-20-066) applicants:

Tuesday, November 30, 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET

We’re excited to host the first meeting of scholars funded through the Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) program to promote faculty diversity:

Thursday, October 14, and Friday, October 15, 1:00-5:00 p.m. ET

UPDATE: The video and slides [PDF] from the webinar are now available.

We’re pleased to share that the Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) have been reissued. MOSAIC, a trans-NIH initiative that NIGMS oversees, has two components: a postdoctoral career transition award (K99/R00), and a cohort-based mentoring and career development program that supports the scholars (UE5 research education cooperative agreement).

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.