November 5, 2020

NIH Neuroscience Development for Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce applications due Nov. 12

 

These instructions are for VUMC investigators. VU investigators should apply through InfoReady and address any questions to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

 

 VUMC may submit 1 application to the NIH Neuroscience Development for Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce program. The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The over-arching goal of the Neuroscience Development for Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce R25 program is to(1) complement and/or enhance the training of a workforce to meet the nation’s biomedical, behavioral and clinical research needs; (2) encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, to pursue further studies or careers in research; (3) help recruit individuals with specific specialty or disciplinary backgrounds to research careers in biomedical, behavioral and clinical sciences; and (4) foster a better understanding of biomedical, behavioral and clinical research and its implications.

To accomplish the stated over-arching goal, this FOA will support creative educational activities with a primary focus on:

  • Research Experiences
  • Mentoring Activities
  • Curriculum or Methods Development

This Neuroscience Diversity R25 initiative will focus on factors that have been shown to affect retention of underrepresented graduate students, postdoctoral trainees, and junior faculty in neuroscience research such as mentoring, scientific networks, professional development, and attention to the structural and institutional environment regarding inclusion (http://acd.od.nih.gov/dbr.htm; Structure and Belonging: Pathways to Success for Underrepresented Minority and Women Ph.D. Students in STEM Fields; The Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM).

Programs that target transitions and/or more than one career stage for neuroscience career advancement and progression are strongly encouraged. This initiative will support the development of collaborative research education partnerships that will increase participants’ awareness and interest in the neurosciences, develop participants’ scientific knowledge and research skills that will allow them to progress and transition to more advanced neuroscience-related research education and training activities. Proposed program interventions to enhance workforce diversity in response to this FOA should also focus on asset models and leadership opportunities, rather than solely deficit models and remediation (recommendations from 2017 NINDS Activating a Neural Network; 2016 NINDS Forming a Neural Network Workshops; and NAMHC Workgroup on Research Training Report)..

Institutions with existing Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) institutional training grants (e.g., T32) or other federally-funded training programs may apply for a research education grant provided that the proposed educational experiences are distinct from those training programs receiving federal support. In many cases, it is anticipated that the proposed research education program will complement ongoing research training occurring at the applicant institution.

See solicitation for full program details.

 Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered to submit VUMC’s proposal must submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on November 12:

  •  .     Brief (2-page maximum) research plan including summary budget;
  • 2     Statement of support from department chair/center director;
  • 3     NIH Biosketch

 Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.