Training Opportunities for Special Populations
NIA participates in NIH-wide programs to increase diversity in the research workforce, supplements these programs with NIA-specific initiatives that target particular stages of research training, and co-funds initiatives with the same overall goals offered by the National Institute for General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). The goals of these programs are to improve the diversity of the research workforce by increasing the numbers of trained researchers from underrepresented groups who become leaders in their research field. NIH, including NIA, expects these efforts to improve the recruitment of the most talented researchers in all groups, to improve the quality of the broader educational and training environment, to lead to more inclusive research priority-setting, to improve researchers’ capacity to recruit research participants from all sectors of the community, and to improve the capacity of research to address and eliminate health disparities.
On this page:
- NIH programs to diversify the research workforce
- NIA-specific programs for research workforce diversity
- NIGMS programs to diversify the research workforce
NIH programs to diversify the research workforce
NIH’s ability to help ensure that the nation remains a global leader in scientific discovery and innovation is dependent upon a pool of highly talented scientists from diverse backgrounds who will help to further NIH's mission. With this notice (NOT-OD-20-031), NIH encourages institutions to diversify their student and faculty populations to enhance the participation of individuals from groups that are underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral and social sciences.
- Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity (NOT-OD-20-031)
- Predoctoral Individual Fellowship to Promote Diversity (F31)
- Supplement Programs to Enhance Diversity and Re-entry into the Research Workforce
- Notice of Special Interest to Encourage Eligible NIH HEAL Initiative Awardees to Apply for PA-20-222: Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- Administrative Supplements to Promote Diversity in Research and Development Small Businesses-SBIR/STTR (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- S06: Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) (S06 Clinical Trials Optional)
Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA for Individual Predoctoral Fellowships (F31) to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research
The program also includes opportunities for students with disabilities.
- PA Number: PA-21-052
- Expires: September 8, 2023
Supplement Programs to Enhance Diversity and Re-entry into the Research Workforce
NIA participates in NIH-wide supplement programs to enhance diversity and re-entry into the research workforce.
Please refer to NIA-specific guidelines when preparing your application.
NIA Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research
Provides research supplements for individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from socially, culturally, economically, or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.
- PA Number: PA-21-071
- Expires: May 8, 2023
NIA Supplements to Promote Re-Entry and Re-Integration into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers
Permits PIs on many different types of research grants an administrative supplement to support an individual returning to the research workforce after a forced interruption (e.g., raising children or caring for a disabled parent).
- PA Number: NOT-OD-21-134
- Expires: October 7, 2023
NIA-specific Programs to Diversify the Research Workforce
Aging Research Dissertation Awards (R36)
As part of NIA's broader effort to increase the diversity of the research workforce on aging, the institute is offering dissertation support to eligible students. This dissertation research award announcement is intended to stimulate the participation of individuals from the following groups:
- Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups
- Individuals with disabilities
- Individuals from socially, culturally, economically, or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, which have inhibited their ability to pursue a career in health-related research
More information is available in the Aging Research Dissertation Awards To Increase Diversity funding opportunity announcement.
NIA Predoctoral, Postdoctoral, and Career Transition Awards to Promote Diversity in Translational Research for AD/ADRD (Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
The purpose of these companion Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) is to promote diversity in the translational research workforce for Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD). With an emphasis on the development of skills in data science and drug discovery, and their application to various aspects of AD/ADRD research (from populations studies to research that can lead to new treatments and diagnostics, including all aspects of behavioral and social research), these awards will support research training of candidates from diverse backgrounds to gain critical translational skills in data science and drug discovery. The long-term goal of this program is to develop a diverse translational workforce that can effectively participate in and/or lead a team-science, precision medicine approach to studies of AD/ADRD treatment, prevention, early detection, and disease management and care. For more information, see the table below.
|
Number |
Name |
FOA |
|
F31 |
NIA Predoctoral Fellowship Award to Promote Diversity in Translational Research for AD/ADRD |
|
|
F32 |
NIA Postdoctoral Fellowship Award to Promote Diversity in Translational Research for AD/ADRD |
|
|
K99/R00 |
NIA Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Awards to Promote Diversity in Translational Research for AD/ADRD |
BRAIN initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00)
The purpose of the NIH BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00) program is to enhance workforce diversity in the neuroscience workforce and maintain a strong cohort of new and talented, NIH-supported, independent investigators from diverse backgrounds in BRAIN Initiative research areas. This program is designed to facilitate a timely transition of outstanding postdoctoral researchers with a research and/or clinical doctorate degree from mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions. The program will provide independent NIH research support during this transition in order to help awardees to launch competitive, independent research careers. For more information visit PAR-18-813 and PAR-18-814.
Butler Williams Scholars Program
The Butler-Williams Scholars Program provides a week-long program with unique opportunities for junior faculty and researchers new to the field of aging to gain insight about aging research. The program offers diverse perspectives and includes presentations, seminars, and small group discussions. As an offering of the NIA Office of Special Populations, researchers with an interest in health disparities research related to aging are encouraged to apply. Applicants from diverse backgrounds, including individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities and women are always encouraged to apply for NIH support.
Add-On Slots
This program permits directors of NIA-supported training grants (T32s) to obtain a temporary additional pre- or postdoctoral training slot if an eligible and qualified student from a background likely to diversify the research is identified and no appropriate slots on the training grant are available.
NIGMS Programs to Diversify the Research Workforce
NIA funds or co-funds with the NIGMS projects relevant to aging research under the following mechanisms:
Support of Continuous Research Excellence (SCORE)
SCORE is a developmental program that seeks to increase the research competitiveness of faculty at institutions that have an explicit historical mission focused on training and graduating students from underrepresented groups. For further details visit NIGMS Web page on SCORE.
NIH Blueprint Program for Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Education Experiences (NIH BP ENDURE R25)
The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The overarching goal of this NIH Blueprint R25 program is to encourage and support undergraduate students from diverse background, including those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research workforce, to enter Ph.D. degree programs in the neuroscience and pursue further studies or careers in research. To accomplish the stated overarching goal, this FOA will support creative educational activities with a primary focus on Courses for Skills Development, Research Experiences, and Mentoring Activities. For further details about the NIH BP ENDURE R25, visit the RFA.
NIH Blueprint Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award (F99/K00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
The purpose of the NIH Blueprint Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award is to support a defined pathway across career stages for outstanding graduate students from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral sciences. This two-phase award will facilitate completion of the doctoral dissertation and transition of talented graduate students to strong neuroscience research postdoctoral positions, and will provide career development opportunities relevant to their long-term career goal of becoming independent neuroscience researchers, visit the RFA.
For more information, contact NIA Training.
