NIEHS is committed to ensuring a diverse environmental health science workforce. Workforce Diversity Supplements are one way we help recipients recruit and train people who are typically underrepresented in the environmental health science field, or who are re-entering the workforce after taking time off for personal reasons.

This program is not intended to provide an alternative or additional means of supporting individuals who receive support from an NIH research grant, a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (Kirschstein-NRSA), or any other PHS funding mechanism.

Per NIH policy, supplements cannot be awarded to a recipient in a no-cost extension period (including mid-project no-cost extensions).

What Is the Funding Opportunity Announcement for This Supplement?

PA-23-189: Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Who Can Apply?

Recipients with active NIEHS research grants are eligible to apply.

At the time of a supplemental award, the parent award must have support remaining for a reasonable period (usually two years or more).

What Can Funds Be Used For?

Diversity supplement funding can be used to cover the costs of providing laboratory experiences to a wide array of individuals, including high school students, science teachers, undergraduate students in health-related sciences, underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, and scientists re-entering the work force after taking time off for family responsibilities.

What Are the Submission Deadlines?

NIEHS reviews diversity supplement applications every other month to minimize the time from application to award. Meritorious diversity supplements received after June 1 may not be awarded until after the start of the next fiscal year in October, pending availability of funds.

Any workforce diversity supplements that are awarded will be adjusted to align with the parent award.

FY 2024 Receipt Dates for Diversity/Re-entry Supplements
Receipt Date Earliest Award Date
June 1, 2023 August 2023 (FY23)
October 2, 2023 December 2023 (FY24)
December 1, 2023 February 2024 (FY24)
February 1, 2024 April 2024  (FY24)
April 1, 2024 June 2024 (FY24)
June 3, 2024 August 2024 (FY24)
October 1, 2024 December 2024 (FY25)

Are There Restrictions?

Individuals may receive support under these programs for only one grant at any time; however, someone may be supported by more than one grant during their research career.

Individuals who are supported by an institutional Kirschstein-NRSA may not be transferred to supplemental support prior to the completion of their appointed period of training.

Individuals may not be transferred from the parent award to a supplement to increase the availability of funds to the parent grant for other uses.

Individuals who were not included in the original competing budget may be supported by the parent grant for up to 3 months (cumulative support) at the recipient’s risk, pending the NIEHS decision on the supplement application.

Individuals must meet eligibility requirements for the candidate level they are requesting prior to award. Applications submitted 3 or more months before the candidate will meet eligibility requirements may not be considered.

Per NIH policy, supplements cannot be awarded to a recipient in a no-cost extension period (including mid-project no-cost extensions).

How Long Can Individuals Be Supported by Diversity Supplements?

  • High School Students: Support for at least three months is encouraged during any one year. This may include a combination of full-time summer experience and part-time experience during the school year. PD(s)/PI(s) are encouraged to seek high school students who will devote at least two years to this program (i.e., equivalent to two three-month, full-time periods). Exceptions to the latter will be considered, depending on the circumstances of the applicant, the parent grant, and the specific request.
  • Undergraduates: Students are expected to devote the equivalent of at least three months of full-time effort to the research project and related activities in any one year; in most cases, the period of support for any individual should last at least two years. Exceptions to these requirements will be considered, depending on the circumstances of the applicant, the parent grant, and the specific request.
  • Baccalaureate and Master’s Degree Holders: One year but can be extended (12 months+)
  • Predoctoral: Up to three years (36 months)
  • Postdoctoral: Up to two years (24 months)
  • Investigator developing independent research career: Up to two years (24 months)

Who Is Eligible for Diversity Supplement Support?

NIH does not determine eligibility with regard to the categories listed below. We encourage PIs who are submitting an application for a diversity supplement to review the specific eligibility criteria in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). It is up to the submitting institution to determine the candidate’s eligibility.

People eligible to be funded through a diversity supplement include:

  • Individuals from racial and ethnic group underrepresented in biomedical research, including Blacks and African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders
  • Individuals with disabilities
  • Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, defined as those who meet two or more of the following criteria:
    • Were, or currently are, homeless
    • Were, or currently are, in the foster care system, as defined by the Administration for Children and Families
    • Were eligible for federal free or reduced-price school meals for two or more years
    • Have or had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree
    • Were, or currently are, eligible for Federal Pell Grants
    • Received support from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) as a parent or child
    • Grew up in one of the following areas: a) a U.S. rural area, or b) a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-designated Low-Income and Health Professional Shortage Area
    • Students from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds

NIEHS recognizes that women in the biological sciences remain underrepresented at the faculty level (see NCSES Survey Data). For this reason, NIEHS will consider women faculty members (e.g., positions such as Research Associate, Research Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor) developing independent research careers as eligible to submit applications in response to PA-23-189 Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed).

This extension of eligibility to women faculty is not applicable to candidates at other career levels (e.g., high school students, undergraduate students, baccalaureate and Master’s degree holders, graduate and health professional students, and individuals in postdoctoral training). Potential applicants at other career levels must meet additional criteria listed under Part 2. Section I. Enhancing Diversity. Paragraph C. of the Program Announcement and are encouraged to review the PA-23-189 for information about other types of diversity that may be applicable.

Program Contacts

Scientific:

Fred Tyson, Ph.D.
Fred Tyson, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator
Tel 984-287-3334
Fax 919-564-5064
[email protected]
P.O. Box 12233
Mail Drop K3-15
Durham, NC 27709

Superfund:

Heather Henry, Ph.D.
Heather Henry, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator, Superfund Research Program
Tel 984-287-3268
[email protected]
530 Davis Dr
530 Davis Drive (Keystone Bldg)
Durham, NC 27713

Grants Management:

Clark A. Phillips II
Clark A. Phillips II
Grants Management Officer
Tel 984-287-4037
[email protected]
P.O. Box 12233
Mail Drop K3-05
Durham, NC 27709