Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research

Diversity supplements support students, postdocs, and faculty scientists who are members of an underrepresented group. For more information, read the July 2, 2008, Guide notice.

Deadlines

NIAID receives applications at any time and review them approximately every eight weeks.

Submit applications for a high school or undergraduate student for summer work as early as possible. To consider your application for the summer of this calendar year, we have to receive it no later than April 15.

If you are seeking an award before the end of a fiscal year -- September 30 -- we have to receive your application no later than June 30.

Applications received after these dates are considered for funding in the next fiscal year. We do not make awards during continuing resolutions.

Review and Award

A committee of NIAID senior staff members review applications, generally within two months. NIAID will make awards about four to six weeks after review.

Eligibility

As long as PIs have at least two years of NIAID support remaining, they can receive funding for the following grant types:

• Research project grants -- R01, R18, R24, R37
• Multiproject grants -- P01, P30, P50
• Small business awards -- R41, R42, R43, R44
• Cooperative agreements -- U01, U19, U42, U54

Students who are supported on research or training grants are not eligible.

Non-U.S. citizens must have permanent residency status ("green card") at time of award. People on temporary or student visas are not eligible.

Salary and Budget

High school students

• Salary: consistent with the institutional salary policy.
• Supplies and travel: not allowed.

Undergraduate students

• Salary: consistent with the institutional salary policy.
• Supplies and travel: up to $200 per month with justification.

Post baccalaureate and post master's degree students

• Salary: consistent with the institutional salary policy.
• Supplies and travel: up to $3,000 per year with justification.

Graduate students

• Salary: consistent with the institutional salary policy.
• Supplies and travel: up to $4,000 per year with justification.
• Total salary, tuition, and fringe benefits cannot exceed the amount allowable for a first year postdoc at the same institution performing comparable work. See NRSA Stipend Levels -- FY 2008 for postdoctoral levels.

Postdocs and Faculty

• Salary: consistent with the institutional salary policy, but not to exceed $50,000 per year.
• Supplies and travel: up to $6,000 per year with justification.

Investigators developing independent research careers

• Salary: consistent with level of support for a comparable career development award. To find the best match, go to Career Development Awards in our Tutorial for Training and Career Awards, Fellowships, and Supplements.
• Fringe benefits: consistent with your institution's policies.
• Supplies and travel: up to $10,000 per year with justification.

Supplements for established investigators who become disabled

• Salary: any amount necessary for the investigator to meet the goals of a funded research project.
• Equipment: any accommodations necessary for the investigator to complete the research project, consistent with the type of disability and the nature of the research.

Advice for Applicants

Submit a paper application or email PDF files of scanned documents. NIAID encourages -- but does not require -- using PDFs.

Paper applications

• Include the following:
  • Front page of PHS 398.
  • Budget page from PHS 398 for the first 12 months.
  • Budget page for entire proposed period of support.
  • PI's two-page biosketch as in an R01.
  • Diversity investigator's biosketch.
  • Two- to four-page description of what the project entails. We need to know exactly what project the diversity investigator will be engaged in.
    • Descriptions for high school students and undergrads can be no more than two pages long.
    • Descriptions for graduate students and postdocs should be more detailed.
  • One-page statement of the diversity investigator's career goals.
  • Official copy of transcript if the candidate is a high school, undergraduate, post baccalaureate, post master's, or graduate student.
  • A signed statement from PI stating the eligibility of the candidate (include ethnicity, citizenship, and a description of any previous PHS research grant support).
• Send the original plus two copies to the NIAID staff contact.

PDF Files

• Convert the required PHS 398 forms (see above) into PDF files.
  • Your institutional business official's signature must be clearly legible.
  • Include a single PDF with transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other items that cannot be downloaded from the PHS 398 application package.
• Send your PDFs as attachments in an email to the NIAID Staff Contact.
  • Use the subject line "NIAID Diversity Supplement Application PDF."
  • Make sure your contact information is in the body of the email.

For More Information

See Research Supplements in our Tutorial for Training and Career Awards, Fellowships, and Supplements tutorial.

NIAID Staff Contact

Raushanah Newman
6700B Rockledge Drive
Room 2148B
Bethesda, MD 20817
Phone: 301-451-2691
Email: newmanrau@niaid.nih.gov