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Improving and expanding DEIA efforts are among the highest priorities for the NIEHS Senior Leadership Team. Strong leadership for DEIA is important, but it is equally important that all NIEHS staff work together to bring about real, lasting change throughout our institute and the greater NIH Community. Our goal is to promote a greater understanding and appreciation for one another, and to build and maintain a work culture that ensures everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
Highlights
NIEHS encourages eligible, currently funded PIs to apply for the NIH Administrative Supplements to Support Diversity Mentorship.
NIEHS wants to provide early notice to potential applicants about NIH’s Notice of Intent to Re-issue RFA-RM-21-022 – Transformative Research to Address Health Disparities and Advance Health Equity at Minority Serving Institutions (U01 Clinical Trial Allowed). We encourage potential applicants to review the notice and the original RFA for more information.
NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship in Fertility & Reproductive Health: The Fertility and Reproductive Health Group (PI: Anne Marie Jukic, Ph.D.) in the Epidemiology Branch at NIEHS is seeking a candidate with training and experience in perinatal epidemiology for a postdoctoral fellowship.
UNITE
The UNITE initiative was established to identify and address structural racism within the NIH-supported and the greater scientific community. With representation from across the NIH Institutes and Centers, UNITE aims to establish an equitable and civil culture within the biomedical research enterprise and reduce barriers to racial equity in the biomedical research workforce.
Office of Science Education & Diversity (OSED)
Science Education & Diversity – The Office of Science Education & Diversity (OSED) coordinates local, state, and national outreach efforts designed to raise the awareness of students, teachers, parents, and scientists regarding the mission, research, and goals of the institute.
Environmental Health Disparities & Environmental Justice (EHD-EJ) Faculty
The Environmental Health Disparities & Environmental Justice (EHD-EJ) Faculty focuses on advancing NIEHS priorities in environmental racism, EHD, and EJ. Its mission is to advance the institute’s understanding of EHD-EJ and promote environmental health equity.
Careers, Grants and Funding
Continuous Funding Opportunities
Intramural
- IRTA Diversity Program – The NIEHS Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) scientific diversity program has the goal of increasing the participation of fellows and faculty from underrepresented groups at the Institute.
- Scholars Connect Program – The NIEHS Scholars Connect Program (NSCP) is designed to provide unique intramural opportunities for highly motivated science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) focused undergraduate students to solidly connect with NIEHS and receive frontier-level training in biomedical research.
Extramural
- Loan Repayment Program – Attracts health professional to careers in clinical, pediatric, and health disparities research by offering funding for student loan repayment for doctoral-level biomedical or behavioral researchers. The loan repayment is a great way to retain people in science and research by paying their loans. For many, an LRP award is their first “funding,” which builds confidence and eventual grant applications from the LRP awardee.
Eligibility: Doctoral researchers at domestic universities or U.S. government agencies who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Application Period: September 1, 2021 – November 18, 2021
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Astrid C. Haugen, M.S.E.H.
Health Specialist -
Tel 984-287-3266
haugen@niehs.nih.gov -
530 Davis Dr
530 Davis Drive (Keystone Bldg)
Durham, NC 27713
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- Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Parent F31-Diversity) – This program enhances the diversity of the health-related research workforce by supporting the research training of predoctoral students from population groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research workforce.
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Mike Humble, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator, Basic Science -
Tel 984-287-3272
humble@niehs.nih.gov -
P.O. Box 12233Mail Drop K3-15Durham, N.C. 27709
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- Workforce Diversity Supplements – NIEHS is committed to ensuring a diverse environmental health science workforce. Workforce diversity supplements are one way we help grantees 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. Grantee institutions with active NIEHS research grants that have at least two years or more of funding remaining are eligible to apply. NIEHS reviews these applications on a monthly basis.
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Fred Tyson, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator -
Tel 984-287-3334
Fax 919-564-5064
tyson2@niehs.nih.gov -
P.O. Box 12233Mail Drop K3-15Durham, N.C. 27709
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Current Diversity Funding Opportunities
- Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00) – The MOSAIC program supports the transition of postdoctoral researchers from diverse backgrounds into independent research careers. The long-term goal of this program is to enhance diversity in the biomedical research workforce. The program is designed to facilitate a timely transition of promising postdoctoral researchers from diverse backgrounds (e.g., see NIH’s Interest in Diversity) from their mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions at research-intensive institutions. MOSAIC researchers will also have the opportunity to participate in mentoring, networking, and other professional development activities.
Eligibility: Early career researchers with no more than four years of postdoctoral research experience who are from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical research. U.S citizen or permanent resident enrolled in a research doctoral degree program at domestic U.S. institutions and graduating within 2 1/2 years at the time of application.
Application Dates: Applications accepted through September 8, 2024. Standard dates apply.
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Carol A. Shreffler, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator -
Tel 984-287-3322
shreffl1@niehs.nih.gov -
P.O. Box 12233Mail Drop K3-15Durham, N.C. 27709
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- NIH Blueprint Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award (F99/K00): This award supports a defined pathway across career stages for outstanding graduate students who are from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in neuroscience research.
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Jonathan A. Hollander, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator -
Tel 984-287-3269
jonathan.hollander@nih.gov -
P.O. Box 12233Mail Drop K3-15Durham, N.C. 27709
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Mike Humble, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator, Basic Science -
Tel 984-287-3272
humble@niehs.nih.gov -
P.O. Box 12233Mail Drop K3-15Durham, N.C. 27709
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- Support for Research Excellence (SuRE) Program – SuRE is a research capacity-building program designed to develop and sustain research excellence in higher education institutions that receive limited NIH research support and serve students who are underrepresented in biomedical research. Eligible institutions include, but are not limited to, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions. SuRE-First awards will support investigators at the beginning of their research careers who have not had any prior externally funded research grants. Faculty with prior experience in leading independent research who aren’t currently program directors/principal investigators of active NIH research project grants may apply for a SuRE Award (PAR-21-169). Faculty who haven’t had any prior independent research grant support are encouraged to apply for the SuRE-First Award (PAR-21-173).
The SuRE Program Supports Two Awards
- SuRE (R16): Tenure-track faculty, with student participation
Deadline: May 26, 2022, and 2023, and September 7, 2022, and 2023 for AIDS applications. - SuRE-First (R16): Early-career faculty, with student participation
Deadline: September 28, 2021, 2022, and 2023, and January 7, 2021, 2022, and 2023 for AIDS applications.
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Toccara A. Chamberlain
Health Specialist -
Tel 984-287-4482
toccara.chamberlain@nih.gov -
530 Davis Dr
530 Davis Drive (Keystone Bldg)
Durham, NC 27713
- SuRE (R16): Tenure-track faculty, with student participation
Small Business
The NIEHS actively seeks to partner with small, disadvantaged, woman-owned, HUBZone, veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and encourages prime contractors to establish relationships with subcontractors within these recognized federal programs.
- Small Business Information
- Small Business Innovation Research & Small Business Technology Transfer Grants (SBIR/STTR, R41, R42, R43, R44) – NIEHS SBIR/STTR grants help small businesses develop innovative and commercially viable products or technologies to translate and communicate environmental health research to improve public health.
- Administrative Supplements to Promote Diversity in Research and Development for Small Businesses-SBIR/STTR - Funds are available for administrative supplements to enhance the diversity of the research and entrepreneurial workforce by recruiting and supporting students, post-doctorates, and eligible investigators from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in health-related research, women, and socially or economically disadvantaged individuals. Administrative supplements must support work within the scope of the original project. This administrative supplement is designed to provide support for research and entrepreneurial experiences for individuals from the diverse backgrounds throughout the continuum from undergraduate to the faculty level.
Eligibility: Organizations and individuals must have an active SBIR or STTR grant, and the research proposed in the supplement must be accomplished within the competitive segment of the active award.
Application Period: October 10, 2021 – September 10, 2024. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.-
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Lingamanaidu V. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator -
Tel 984-287-3309
lingamanaidu.ravichandran@nih.gov -
P.O. Box 12233Mail Drop K3-05Durham, N.C. 27709
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Worker Training Program (WTP) – WTP provides grants to nonprofit organizations, including labor-based health and safety organizations and academic institutions, so they can deliver training to a variety of workers who may face a hazardous work environment.
Career Development
Early Career Reviewer Program
The Early Career Reviewer Program aims to help early-career scientists become more competitive as grant applicants through first-hand experience with peer review. It also helps enrich and diversify the Center for Scientific Reviews' pool of trained reviewers.
Eligibility:
- At least one year of experience as full-time faculty or researcher (postdocs are not eligible). This program is intended for early-career investigators, so associate professors are not eligible.
- Have experience in independent research. This could be shown through publications, presentations, institutional research support, patents, acting as supervisor of student projects.
- Have at least one senior-authored research publication in a peer-reviewed journal in the last two years, plus at least one additional senior-authored research publication since receiving a doctorate.
- Have not served on an NIH study section in any capacity aside from as a mail reviewer. (Mail reviews do not include participation in the meeting.)
- Have not held an R01 or R01-equivalent (R35, R37, RF1, R23, R29, DP1, DP2, DP5, U01, RL1) grant in the PI or PD role.
- Have submitted a grant proposal, in the PI or PD role, to the NIH and received the associated summary statement.
NIH Funding Opportunities - Career Development
NIH Diversity Funding Opportunities
NIH Grant Writing Guidance
Upcoming Events
Free NIEHS Workshop: Addressing Racism As a Public Health Issue Through the Lens of Environmental Health Disparities and Environmental Justice: From Problems to Solutions
Friday, December 10, 2021 • 9:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. ET.
The workshop will offer opportunities for learning and discussion with environmental justice (EJ) researchers, grassroots organizations, and members of the community. The goal is to identify possible collaborative solutions to environmental health disparities and EJ issues that affect communities that have been disproportionately impacted.
This workshop is free and open to the public. Preregistration is required.
Individuals with disabilities who need sign language interpreters and/or reasonable accommodation to participate in this event should contact Darlene Dixon, D.V.M., Ph.D.
NIH Programs and Articles
NIH Director Dr. Francis S. Collins discusses the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
- The NIH Director’s Award Recipients for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion 2019 – May 12, 2020
- Where Can I Find Diversity Related Funding Opportunity Announcements? – February 26, 2020
- Expanding NIH’s Definition of Socio-Economic Disadvantaged to be More Inclusive and Diversify the Workforce – November 26, 2019
- Time to End the Manel Tradition – June 12, 2019
- Equity, Inclusion and Diversity – We cultivate a culture of inclusion where diverse talent is leveraged to advance health discovery.
- Scientific Workforce Diversity – Diversity affects performance, creativity, and other organizational outcomes of success.
Stories From NIEHS
The NIEHS Conversation on Race, Equity, and Inclusion
NIEHS Director Rick Woychik’s highest priorities are diversifying the workforce and addressing racial health disparities through research and outreach.
- Olden Distinguished Lecture Casts New Light on Health Inequities – March 2022
- Climate Change Can Worsen Health in Underserved Communities – March 2022
- Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders Encouraged to Find Their Voice – June 2021
- Fellow Wins Award to Study How Neighborhoods Influence Dementia – June 2021
- Neighborhood Disadvantage May Affect Brain Development – June 2021
- Sharon Beard Recognized by American Industrial Hygiene Association – June 2021
- Autism Awareness Month Spotlights the Next Generation of Researchers – May 2021
- Climate Change and Health Disparities Take Center Stage – May 2021
- FDA Chief Scientist Presents 20th Annual NIEHS Spirit Lecture – May 2021
- Women's Health Awareness Conference Explores Impact of Racism – May 2021
- Black History Month Speaker Shares Path to Building Better Workplaces – April 2021
- Environmental Justice Champion Speaks on Challenges, Opportunities – April 2021
- Environmental Justice Through Community-engaged Research – April 2021
- Obesity May Affect Puberty Timing and Hormones in Girls – April 2021
- Advisory Council Launches Working Group on Anti-racism – March 2021
- Dixon, Germolec, King-Herbert Step Into Leadership of Global Scientific Organizations – March 2021
- Education, Experience, and Action: An Interview with Trevor Archer – March 2021
- Earthrise Poem by Amanda Gorman – February 2021
- NIEHS Program Builds Careers, Changes Lives – February 2021
- Workplace Chemical Exposure Study Leads to Small Business COVID-19 Awareness Campaign – February 2021
- COVID-19 Impacts on Children with Special Needs, Their Families – January 2021
- Environmental Health Disparities, Racism Studies Collected at EHP – January 2021
- Experts Tackle Infectious Disease, Exposures in India – January 2021
- Research on Environmental Factors Informs Women's Health – January 2021
- NIEHS Science Education Office Focuses on Diversity and Equity – December 2020
- Data Scientists in Africa Tackle Environmental Health Challenges – November 2020
- Injectable birth control may increase blood lead levels in African American women – November 2020
- Trainees at NIEHS Take on Equity and Justice – November 2020
- Scientific Journeys: From Researcher to Role Model – November 2020
- Increasing NIEHS Diversity, Inclusion Major Topic at Council Meeting – October 2020
- New Report Highlights Magnitude of Global Lead Poisoning in Children - October 2020
- Olden Distinguished Lecture Highlights Economic Inequality and Health – October 2020
- Racial Health Inequities Addressed with NIEHS Research Funding – September 2020
- Water Contamination on Tribal Lands Focus of Webinar Series – August 2020
- Birth Defects Group Honors NIEHS Scientists for Research, Service – July 2020
- COVID-19 Shines Light on Navajo Water Contamination – June 2020
- Health Disparities in Congressional Spotlight – June 2020
Additional Reading and Viewing
- 2022 Spirit Lecture: Enhancing Diversity and Excellence in Science – March 2, 2022
Marie Bernard, M.D., Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity, NIH
- Culturally Aware Mentoring Sherilynn Black, Ph.D., and Angela Byars-Winston, Ph.D., describe the value of cultural awareness in mentorship. They also review highlights from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report on effective mentorship and discuss resources on culturally aware mentorship for mentors and mentees.
- EHP Racism Collection: Exposure & Health Inequities in Black Americans – For this collection, EHP has gathered articles that represent a variety of exposures and health outcomes, some unique to Black Americans and some that are concentrated in Black Americans. As EHP collected this, a disproportionate number of Black Americans are also contracting and dying of COVID-19, and nationwide protests were invoking America’s history of environmental racism and other injustices.
- Environmental Health Disparities and Environmental Justice Grantee Research
- How Biomedical Programs for Students Spark Novel Research Opportunities – Dr. Cynthia Warrick, president of Stillman College, and also a pharmacist and health services researcher by trade, highlights how her academic institution is uplifting students and faculty to expand biomedical programs and research impacting the public health care sector.
- Largest-ever survey exposes career obstacles for LGBTQ scientists – Study of thousands of US-based researchers finds those from sexual and gender minorities are more likely to experience workplace prejudice and harassment.
- The Science of Health Disparities Research, a new NIMHD textbook, is now available for free download.
- Stanford Social Innovation Review’s Data on Purpose Conference has a free complimentary recorded session, “How Not to Use Data Like a Racist: A Seven-Step Framework for Ethics and Equity in Data,” with Heather Krause, founder of We All Count. This session provides you with several, shocking real-world examples of mistakes made when using data that led to biased outcomes, and a seven-step framework for identifying inequity and hidden bias in the data product lifecycle. As interest in equity in data grows, this framework provides actionable steps for making changes in the way you and your team use data.
- Strategies to Improve Recruitment – Institutional training programs are required to demonstrate successful efforts to recruit an outstanding and diverse trainee pool.
- Systemic inequalities for LGBTQ professionals in STEM – These findings reveal LGBTQ status as a clear axis of inequality in STEM and motivate further research into the mechanisms producing such outcomes.
- TED Talks on Diversity – A collection of TED Talks (and more) on the topic of Diversity.
- ‘This deserves our attention.’ New data highlight LGBTQ scientists’ workplace challenges – LGBTQ professionals in STEM are 30% more likely to experience workplace harassment compared with their non-LGBTQ peers. They’re also more likely to experience other career-related challenges, including social exclusion and professional devaluation and to consider leaving their STEM profession entirely.
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