Purpose
Fellowship support for the research training of predoctoral students from groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce.

Program Announcement
PA-19-196

Due Dates for New Applications
April 8,  August 8,  December 8

PD/PI Eligibility
U.S. citizens or permanent residents; research doctoral programs; members of underrepresented groups

Institution Eligibility
U.S. domestic institutions; foreign institutions

Additional Information

NINDS provides National Research Service Award (NRSA) training fellowships to outstanding predoctoral candidates from groups that have been shown to be underrepresented, including underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.  The intent of this program is to increase the number of scientists from underrepresented populations in biomedical research. Award recipients will receive up to five years of research training leading to a PhD. or equivalent research degree, a combined MD-PhD. degree, or another formally combined professional and research doctoral degree in biomedical, behavioral, health services, or clinical sciences who are within their first 6 years of graduate school. Support is NOT available for individuals enrolled in medical or other professional schools UNLESS they are enrolled in a combined professional doctorate/PhD degree program in biomedical or behavioral research.

Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Michelle Jones-London, Chief, Office of Programs to Enhance Neuroscience Workforce Diversity (OPEN) for additional information.

Applications must include a letter from the institution explaining how the candidate’s participation will further the goals of the predoctoral fellowship program to promote diversity in health-related research, consistent with the Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity (NOT-OD-18-210). This letter must be received by the NIH by the application due date, or the application will be considered incomplete and not reviewed. The certification letter (titled: Diversity_Eligibility_Ltr) must be attached under Item 12 “Other Attachments” in the Section titled “Other Project Information Form.” The letter must be on institutional letterhead and scanned so that an institutional official signature is visible.

Institutions are encouraged to recruit potential student participants from diverse backgrounds, such as:

1. Individuals from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in health-related sciences on a national basis (see data at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/showpub.cfm?TopID=2&SubID=27) and the report Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering). The following racial and ethnic groups have been shown to be underrepresented in biomedical research: Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. In addition, it is recognized that underrepresentation can vary from setting to setting; individuals from racial or ethnic groups that can be demonstrated convincingly to be underrepresented by the grantee institution should be encouraged to participate in this program.  For more information on racial and ethnic categories and definitions, see NOT-OD-15-089.

2. Individuals with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, as described in the  Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended. See NSF data at, http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd/2013/pdf/tab7-5_updated_2014_10.pdf.

Relevant Policy Notices
Change to Standard Due Dates for Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Predoctoral Fellowships to Promote Diversity in Health Related Research (F31 - Diversity) (NOT-OD-17-029)