NIH Diversity Funding Opportunities

The NIH has set aside specific funds to encourage trainees from diverse backgrounds to pursue research careers in health-related fields.

Why? 

The NIH has made a commitment to promote diversity in NIH-funded science and to enhance the participation of individuals from underrepresented groups as a part of the biomedical research workforce. This is because studies have shown that science benefits from diversity, not only by providing different perspectives to productively address complex scientific questions but also to expand the innovative questions asked to move discovery forward. For more information about NIH’s interest in diversity, refer to: Diversity Matters | Diversity in Extramural Programs (nih.gov)

Who?

To see a list of groups which NIH considers underrepresented in the trainee and health-related research workforce, please refer to NOT-OD-20-031: Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity for details.

What?

You may find NIH funding opportunity announcements (FOA) that specifically support diverse applicants on the NIH's Find Funding page by sorting for active FOAs with the key word "diversity". Please note that applicants from underrepresented populations are allowed, and encouraged (!), to apply to any FOA regardless if the FOA is geared towards promoting research workforce diversity. 

The table below lists several of NIH's FOAs to support the research-related and career development activities for trainees (e.g., high school through postdoc) and qualifying faculty.(e.g., junior faculty or disabled).

• For high schoolers, consider a diversity supplement to a PI/mentor eligible grant
• For undergraduates, consider a diversity supplement to a PI/mentor eligible grant or that they join a R25 supported program such as the Summer Program for Underrepresented Students or the Summer of Translational Aging Research for Undergraduates
• For postbacs, consider a diversity supplement to a PI/mentor eligible grant
• For students pursuing their PhD or MD-PhD, consider a diversity supplement to a PI/mentor eligible grant, an administrative supplement to a training (T32 grant), or a NRSA fellowship (F30 or F31, depending on eligibility). 
• For early stage (1st or 2nd year) postdocs, consider a consider a diversity supplement to a PI/mentor eligible grant or a NRSA fellowship (F32).
• For advanced postdocs (3rd to 4th year), consider transition career development a ward (K22) or an advanced postdoctoral career development award (K99/R00) which allows for 2 years of mentored funding and 3 years of independent funding.
• For mid- to late-stage postdocs or associate research scientists, consider a consider a diversity supplement to a PI/mentor eligible grant, a mentored research scientist development award (K01), or mentored clinical scientist research career development award (K08)
• For non-independent junior faculty, consider a diversity supplement to a PI/mentor eligible grant, a mentored junior faculty development award (K01) or a mentored clinical scientist research career development award (K08), 
• For Early Stage Investigators from underrepresented groups looking to fund a smaller research project consider a small grants for New Investigators to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (R21).
• For faculty who are or have become disabled, consider a diversity supplement to a your eligible grant.

Please note that the VP&S Office for Research has several resources to help applicants apply to these opportunities:

• NIH Fellowship Info Sessions
• K Award Program for On-time Proposal Preparation (K-POPP)
• Preparing a NIH Diversity Supplement in the Grant Starter Kit