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Administrative Supplements to Promote Diversity in SRP-Related Research

Superfund Research Program

The "SRP Diversity Administrative Supplement" opportunity is intended to promote diversity in the biomedical, environmental science and engineering, and social sciences (e.g., community engagement and research translation) workforce. The research experience is intended for new trainees (not current) to be added to Superfund Research Program (SRP)-supported grants. The candidate (i.e., trainee) should be from a diverse background (see eligibility below), and the project proposed must be integral to the approved, ongoing research of the parent grant. Furthermore, the project must have the potential to contribute significantly to the research career development of the candidate.

Eligibility: To be eligible, candidates must be individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from socially, culturally, economically, or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. This includes:

A.    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 the most recent report on 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: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, 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 convincingly demonstrated to be underrepresented by the grantee institution are encouraged to participate in this program.

B.    Individuals with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

The candidate must be a "Graduate (Predoctoral) and Health Professional Student" or an "Individual in Postdoctoral Training." In addition, there must be at least two years of funding remaining on the parent grant at the time of application. Only one submission is permitted per grantee per year.

Grantees interested in submitting Administrative Supplements to Promote Diversity in SRP-Related Research should follow these instructions:

  • Contact your assigned SRP Program Administrator (Danielle Carlin - danielle.carlin@nih.gov;  Heather Henry - henryh@niehs.nih.gov; Michelle Heacock - heacockm@niehs.nih.gov ) about the nature of the request and to determine whether the Administrative Supplement process is appropriate for the request. There are three receipt dates per year, as provided on the NIEHS Administrative Supplements web page. Please contact your Program Administrator at least three weeks before the receipt date of the supplement application. Grantees are highly encouraged to submit supplement requests by April 1 for potential funding within a given fiscal year (i.e., before September 30). Applications received after the April receipt date will not be guaranteed for funding within the associated fiscal year. For grantee planning purposes, the earliest anticipated funding date would be three months after the date of application submission (depending on availability of funds and Congressional Appropriation).
  • The supplement request should be submitted through your institution's business official (AOR) to adminsupplements@niehs.nih.gov with a cc: to your Grants Management Officer and your SRP Program Administrator. The subject line should read: "SRP Diversity Administrative Supplement."
  • Candidates for diversity supplement support must have a profile in the eRA Commons, and the candidate's Commons Username should be entered on the Senior/Key Personnel form.

What to include in your request:

  • A cover letter from the Principal Investigator describing the nature of the request (i.e., Center Director for P42s or PI for R01 and SBIR/STTR grants). This letter should be signed by the PD(s)/PI(s) and an institutional official and should provide information establishing the eligibility of the candidate for support under this program (see "Eligibility" above). The statement must include clearly presented information on citizenship. The statement must also include a convincing description of how the appointment of this specific candidate will address the issue of diversity within the national scientific workforce or within the workforce or the relevant population at the grantee institution. The strength of this statement will be considered by the NIH administrative review committee along with all other material provided.
  • A completed face page (with appropriate signatures) from Grant Application Form PHS 398. Include the title and grant number of the parent grant on line 1, and on line 2, use the name "SRP Diversity Administrative Supplement."
  • A detailed budget using the PHS 398 form, pages 4, 5, and the Checklist form page. Describe any current or previous PHS research grant support the candidate has received.
  • Research Experience Plan (not to exceed 6 pages): The Principal Investigator of the project/core must prepare a "Research Experience Plan," which includes a summary or abstract of the funded grant or project, a description of the proposed research activity, and a brief statement indicating the relevance of the research to the Superfund Program mandates. The plan should provide evidence that the proposed activity will allow the candidate to contribute intellectually to the research project while also enhancing the candidate's research capability, allowing them to develop into a productive researcher. In addition, the plan must demonstrate the willingness and experience of the PD(s)/PI(s) in providing appropriate research and career mentorship. Applicants should also include a plan for the candidate to interact with other individuals on the parent grant. Please include a timeline for the research and career development experiences proposed for the candidate, as well as a description of institutional support, including matching funding for the diversity supplement award..
  • Biographical Sketch: A biographical sketch of the candidate should follow the format on the relevant form . Submit as a single attachment under "Applicant Biosketch." The biosketch must not exceed 4 pages and should include the following additional information: evidence of scientific achievement or interest, any source(s) of current funding, and a statement from the candidate outlining her/his research objectives and career goals.
  • A proposed budget (not to exceed $50,000 in total costs) entered on budget pages from Grant Application Form PHS 398, related to the percent effort (where appropriate) for the research experience of the candidate during the first and future years. If the initial budget period requested is fewer than 12 months, the budget must be prorated accordingly.
  • Documentation, if applicable, that the proposed research experience was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or human subjects Institutional Review Board (IRB) at the grantee institution must be provided. Adherence to the NIH policy for including women and minorities in clinical studies must also be insured, if additional human subjects' involvement is planned for the supplement component.
  • A copy of the most recent official transcript, if the candidate is a graduate student.
  • If the request is for a supplement based on disability, the institution should indicate what, if any, reasonable accommodations the institution has supported or plans to provide, along with a full description of how any additional support for accommodation might be used. The relationship of the proposed accommodation to the proposed project must be described.

Review Criteria

Administrative supplement requests will undergo an administrative evaluation by NIH staff, but not a full peer review. The following general criteria will be used:

  • Budget and Period of Support: NIH Staff will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.
  • The qualifications of the candidate including career goals, prior research training, research potential, and any relevant experience.
  • Evidence of educational achievement and interest in science (if the candidate is a student).
  • The strength of the description of how this particular appointment will promote diversity within the institution or in science nationally.
  • The plan and timeline for the proposed research and career development experiences in the supplemental request and their relationship to the parent grant.
  • Evidence that the proposed experience will expand and foster the research capabilities, knowledge, and/or skills of the candidate.
  • Evidence that the activities of the candidate will be an integral part of the project.
  • Evidence of adequate mentoring experience and success.

In addition, protections for human subjects, inclusion of women, minorities, and children, vertebrate animals, and biohazards will be evaluated when they will be impacted by the proposed activities.

Special attention will be given to relevance to the Superfund Research Program and its objectives to meet the programmatic mandates.

Funds Available: SRP intends to support up to three administrative supplement awards under this program at a total cost of up to $100,000, depending on availability of funds and Congressional Appropriation. Due to limited set-aside of funds for this program, applicants are strongly encouraged to leverage matching funding for candidates.