SCENARIO II
Establishing a Research Career Using
Minority and Nonminority Support Programs
Luis is a young Hispanic high school student residing in a large
metropolitan area who wants to pursue a doctoral degree and
a career in pulmonary research. Luis visits the NHLBI Research
Training and Career Development website and, with the help of
his high school counselor and parents, plans the following strategy
to help him become a pulmonary researcher:
- * Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minority
High School Students
- * Short-Term Training for Minority Students Program (T35)
- * Predoctoral Fellowship Award for Minority Students
(F31)
- * Individual Postdoctoral National Research Service Award
(F32)
- * Investigator-Initiated Research Grant (RO1)
Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minority High
School Students In this scenario, Luis, a third-year
high school student, visits the health science center at a
nearby university to apply for a summer job. The staff tells
him about the Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minority
High School Students program and suggests that he speak with
a researcher at the center who has an NHLBI research grant.
The investigator interviews Luis and decides to apply to the
NHLBI for a minority supplement to support Luis' work during
the summer. Participation in this research effort during the
summers before and after his senior year will enable Luis
to decide whether he likes research and which areas interest
him the most.
Short-Term Training for Minority Students Program (T35)
By the time Luis graduates from high school, he has decided
that he definitely wants to pursue a career in biomedical
research and that he wants to continue his research training
while attending college. He informs his biology professor
of his interests. The professor informs Luis that the university
is the recipient of a Short-Term Training for Minority Students
Program grant and refers Luis to its director. Luis' acceptance
into the program enables him to work in the biology laboratory
during the summer months. He pursues several research projects,
learning basic laboratory techniques and further defining
his research interests.
Predoctoral Fellowship Award for Minority Students
(F31)
After receiving his undergraduate degree, Luis enrolls in
the graduate school at the same university. He has identified
an area of research he wants to pursue and a researcher at
the institution with a similar research interest to serve
as his mentor. Luis submits an application for a Predoctoral
Fellowship Award for Minority Students and receives 5 years
of support.
Individual Postdoctoral National Research Service Award
(F32)
Upon receiving his doctorate, Luis applies to the NIH for
an NRSA fellowship to support full-time research training.
He remains at the university where he focuses on lung diseases.
Upon completing his NRSA training, he will be well positioned
to apply for an NHLBI Investigator-Initiated Research Grant
(R01), another mechanism of support for NIH research activities.
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