Application Due Date(s) (by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization)
- August 15th
- October 15th
- December 15th
- February 15th
- April 15th
For applications to be considered for funding during FY 2025, which ends September 30, 2025, they must be received by April 15, 2025. Applications received after this date will be considered for funding during the next fiscal year.
Overview
The Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (or "Diversity Supplement") program was established by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to foster diversity in the scientific research workforce. Through this program, NIH institutes provide administrative supplements to existing NIH research grants to provide research training and mentorship opportunities to scholars from diverse backgrounds at various career levels. Individuals who can participate in NIDA’s program may be postbaccalaureates, master’s degree holders, graduate/clinical students, postdoctoral researchers (including health professionals), and eligible early career investigators from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in health-related research. Please carefully review the information in the notice of funding opportunity – PA-23-189 and contact Angela Holmes, Ph.D. in the NIDA Office of Diversity and Health Disparities prior to submission of an application by email (angela.holmes2@nih.gov).
Eligibility
Institutions are encouraged to identify candidates who will enhance diversity on a national basis. In addition, it is recognized that underrepresentation can vary from setting to setting; individuals from racial or ethnic groups that can be demonstrated convincingly to be underrepresented by the grantee institution should be encouraged to participate in this program (see Section I Description in the notice of funding opportunity – PA-23-189).
Supplemental awards under this announcement are limited to citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States or to individuals who have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States (i.e., in possession of a Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551).
NIDA-specific Guidance
In addition to the information found in PA-23-189, NIDA provides the following guidance for Principle Investigators interested in applying for a diversity supplement award on behalf of the candidate/trainee. Principle Investigators (PIs) and Candidates/Trainees are encouraged to contact Angela Holmes, Ph.D. in the NIDA Office of Diversity and Health Disparities prior to submission of an application by email (angela.holmes2@nih.gov) to discuss important eligibility and timeline considerations, and the guidance provided below:
- Grant mechanisms/activity types eligible for a Diversity Supplement are listed in the notice of funding opportunity – PA-23-189.
Grant awards must be active and have adequate time remaining in the project period for the proposed diversity supplement training, research, and mentorship activities. The minimum time remaining are as follows: 1 year for post-baccalaureate candidates/trainees or master’s degree holders; 2 years for pre-doctoral candidates/trainees; 18 months for post-doctoral or investigator-level candidates/trainees. - The PI submits the diversity supplement application on behalf of an eligible candidate/trainee. The start date for the supplement project will be the same as the parent grant budget start date (some exceptions may apply).
- Diversity supplement applications should propose the appropriate amount of time for the trainee to conduct research-related activities and training to advance substantially in their research career. As a diversity supplement recipient is eligible to receive up to five years total funding support through the NIH Diversity Supplement Program across all ICs, recipients of past diversity supplement funding, including from NIH institutes other than NIDA, are eligible to apply for NIDA funding if total NIH support does not exceed five years. See table below for specific NIDA's length of support for each career stage.
- A parent grant may support two NIDA diversity supplements, but they must be for different career stages unless both supplements are for candidates are at the pre-doctoral level.
- All applicable page limitations are strictly enforced.
- As noted in the funding announcement, administrative supplement requests for all activity codes must be submitted using electronic submission processes.
| Career Level* | Maximum Length of Support | Research and Travel Support | Salary Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-baccalaureate and Master's degree holders | 2* years (Prior to the end of the first year of support it is recommended that the candidate apply to graduate school.) | $3,000/yr | Consistent with applicant Institutional salary policies but cannot exceed $35,000/yr total for both salary and fringe benefits. Fringe benefits must be itemized in the budget. |
| Pre-doctoral students (including dual degree students) | 3 years | $4,000/yr | Consistent with applicant institutional salary policies, total compensation (salary, fringe benefits, and tuition remission) cannot exceed zero level NSRA postdoc stipend in effect at the time of appointment. Fringe benefits must be itemized in the budget. |
| Post-doctoral | 2 years | $6,000/yr | Must be in accordance with the salary structure of the grantee institution, consistent with the level of effort, and may not exceed the maximum allowable NRSA stipend level for postdoctoral fellows in effect at the time of appointment. Requested salary cannot exceed the NRSA stipend level listed for the number of years of experience in effect at the time of appointment. The number of years of experience as a post-doctoral candidate/trainee must be identified in the application. Fringe benefits must be itemized in the budget. |
| Early Career Investigator | 2 years | $10,000/yr | Must be consistent with applicant Institutional salary policies but cannot exceed $85,000/yr in salary support. Early-career investigators must request at least 9 person months (equivalent to 75% effort) on the supplement project during each 12-month budget period. Application must include the early-career investigator’s base salary and requested salary with effort level and fringe benefits costs. Fringe benefits must be itemized in the budget. |
The diversity supplement can cover tuition costs up to the NRSA level for pre-docs at the parent grant university. Tuition remission is not available for other career stages.
Research Plan Form
The Research Strategy and Career Development and Mentorship Plan should be no more than 6 pages combined.
Research Strategy
- Summary of the Funded Grant or Project
- Must include a summary or abstract of the funded parent award or project.
- Description of the Candidate’s Proposed Research Activities and Project
- Describe how the candidate’s proposed research project relates to one or more aims of the parent project and how it is within the scope but not duplicative of the parent grant specific aims. Any related preliminary data can be included but is not required.
- Describe how the mentored research experiences will expand and foster the research capabilities of the candidate and how they relate to the research goals and objectives of the parent grant.
- The research plan should present evidence that the proposed experience is appropriate for the stage of the individual's research development, and that it will significantly enhance the individual's research potential, while furthering the individual's ability to pursue a research career.
- Should include a description of how the mentored research experience will contribute to the competitiveness of the candidate to transition into the next level in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical, or social sciences research pathway.
- Should incorporate a plan for the candidate to interact with other individuals on the parent grant, to contribute intellectually to the research, and to enhance their research skills and knowledge regarding the selected area of biomedical, behavioral, clinical or social sciences science.
- Applications must also describe stage-appropriate opportunities for developing the skills required to conduct responsible, safe, and rigorous research.
- Provide a timeline for the research experience plan that is appropriate for career stage of the candidate.
Career Development and Mentorship Plan
- A detailed description of proposed research and professional development activities specific to the candidate to expand and foster their research capabilities and skills to successfully move towards their short- and long-term career goals.
- Details of mentor-candidate interactions. The plan should go well beyond simple laboratory assignments and supervision plans or stating that the candidate will attend seminars or lab meetings. The career development and mentorship plan should be structured, specific and stage-appropriate for the candidate and include parameters such as the frequency of meetings, topics to be discussed, and how progress will be monitored.
- A projected timeline delineating specific research milestones and professional development activities that will be made in an attempt to secure independent research funding (i.e., anticipated publications, grantsmanship workshops, timeframe for grant submissions and type of independent research support the candidate seeks).
- A description of how the PI will assist the candidate in achieving the objectives and goals they have described in their candidate statement.
- The plan should consider the typical barriers and impediments encountered by all trainees, as well as the unique challenges that individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in health-related research, may encounter in gaining entry and progressing in the biomedical workforce.
- The role of other investigators who will contribute to the research mentoring/professional development should be appropriately described in the application and their Biosketches must be included with the application.
- Co-mentoring approaches and mentoring committees are encouraged, especially when the primary mentor is an early-stage faculty member.
Special Instructions for Postbaccalaureate Researchers and Master’s Degree Holders:
Applications should provide a detailed plan that is appropriate for a postbaccalaureate researcher or master’s degree holder, and provide evidence that the researcher or student, with appropriate support and training, will be competitive for a research-oriented graduate program. The application should describe how this experience will prepare the candidate for admission to and successful completion of a research-oriented graduate program (e.g., Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. program), or a career in the research biomedical workforce.
For more specific information on the research, please refer to the notice of funding opportunity - PA-23-189.
NIDA Diversity Supplement Application Checklist
Use this checklist to ensure that your application is complete prior to submission. Please also see the NOFO for more information, PA-23-189. If you are applying for an SBIR/STTR diversity supplement, please refer to NOFO, PA-24-255.
To be considered complete, applications must include the following:
- A candidate eligibility statement (from an institutional official)
- A research plan
- A career development plan (must include a projected timeline delineating specific research milestones and professional development activities that the candidate will participate in) during the supplement period).
- A mentorship plan
- The Research Strategy and Career Development and Mentorship Plan should be no more than 6 pages combined.
- Biosketch of candidate
- Biosketches of mentors and other senior and key persons (should include mentoring history, relevant expertise and experience, and commitment to the candidate's training/mentorship)
- Project/performance site form and budget forms
Program Contact Information
If you are a PI or scholar interested in applying, we strongly recommend that you speak with Dr. Angela Holmes by email (angela.holmes2@nih.gov).
NIDA Diversity Supplement Frequently Asked Questions and answers can be found on our FAQ webpage.