Diversity Programs & Awards

The National Institute of Nursing Research recognizes a unique and compelling need to promote diversity in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and social sciences research workforce among nursing research investigators. NINR participates in the NIH programs designed to attract and encourage eligible individuals from underrepresented populations to nursing research careers by providing a continuum of research training opportunities, from high school to faculty levels.

The overall goal is to increase diversity in the research workforce by providing training opportunities to individuals whose basic or clinical research interests and skills are grounded in the advanced methods and experimental approaches needed to solve research problems.

The research emphasis in NINR is described in the mission statement. The applicant for any opportunity listed on this page is encouraged to contact the NINR Program Director whose science area responsibility is appropriate. The applicant may email questions and a synopsis of interests and research/training aims for the opportunity to the Program Director for discussion as needed. The contact for general Training Program information is Dr. Karen Huss.

Research Supplement Award
Career Development Award
Institutional Training Award (T32)
NINR Diversity Outreach Activities
Other Diversity Resources

Research Supplement Award

Principal Investigators holding certain types of NIH research grants (see full announcement below for list) may apply for administrative supplements to improve the diversity of the research workforce by supporting one eligible individual per grant from among high school or college students, post-doctorates, or investigators from groups that have been shown to be underrepresented. Research supplements to promote diversity must support work within the scope of the original project. Contact your NINR Program Director to discuss this award.

Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health Related Research

Career Development Award

This award is available to doctorally prepared scientists who desire a mentored research experience with an expert sponsor as a way to gain expertise in an area that is new to the candidate or would demonstrably enhance the candidate's scientific career. This mechanism is identical to the NIH Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) except that this is targeted toward underrepresented or disadvantaged investigators. These investigators are also eligible for the NIH K01 award.

NINR Mentored Research Scientist Development Award for Underrepresented or Disadvantaged Investigators (K01)

Institutional Training Award (T32)

The purpose of the NRSA Institutional Training grants is to help ensure that a diverse and highly trained workforce is available to assume leadership roles related to the Nations biomedical and behavioral research agenda. Institutional NRSA programs that are funded by NINR support predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships for nurses. See here for a list of universities with T32 programs. Contact the T32 Program Director for more information. Applications are made directly to the Institutional NRSA and not to NINR.

NINR Diversity Outreach Activities

NINR representatives attend annual minority nursing organization meetings to promote research training opportunities for minority and other underrepresented nurses.

The NINR Workshop Cultural Dynamics in HIV/AIDS Biobehavioral Research, held in September 2005, highlighted research among varied ethnic and other population groups. Presenters (senior scientists) and audience participants represented a wide range of ethnic, cultural, and international backgrounds.

NINR participated in the Council on Nursing and Anthropology Workshop on Cultural Competence at the Society for Applied Anthropology Annual Conference April 2004

Nursing Partnership Centers (P20). To direct more research towards reducing health disparities, NINR, in collaboration with the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD) supports 8 research center partnerships between schools of nursing with established research programs in health disparities and minority serving schools of nursing. The partnership mechanism facilitates nurse scientist collaboration and sharing of expertise, helping to increase research on health disparities and enhance the development of minority nurse researchers. See here for a list of Institutions with partnership centers.

Other Diversity Resources

National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities

DHHS Office of Minority Health