STTP Slots for Recruitment of Individuals from Diverse Backgrounds into Biomedical Informatics Careers

NIH recognizes a unique and compelling need to promote diversity in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical and social sciences workforce. The NIH expects efforts to diversify the workforce to lead to the recruitment of the most talented researchers from all groups and to: improve the quality of the educational and training environment; to broaden the perspective in setting research priorities; to improve the ability to recruit subjects from diverse backgrounds into clinical research protocols; and to improve the Nation's capacity to address and eliminate health disparities.

Accordingly, beginning in 2007, all NLM Short Term Trainee Position (STTP) slots will be awarded only for recruitment of individuals from diverse backgrounds. NIH is particularly interested in encouraging the participation of 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, as well as those individuals from racial and ethnic groups that can be convincingly demonstrated to be underrepresented by the grantee institution; individuals with disabilities; and individuals from economically, socially, culturally or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds into careers in biomedical Informatics. NLM STTP slots will be awarded on request, when an eligible candidate(s) has been identified. The short-term trainee may be an undergraduate or graduate student, physician or veterinarian with an interest in a biomedical or behavioral science career.

  1. Eligibility:
    1. Slots can be requested for individuals from under-represented racial and ethnic groups: Black or African-American, Native Americans and Alaskan Indians, Hispanic, Hawaiian Native or Pacific Islander, or from groups determined to be underrepresented by the institution.
    2. Individuals with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
    3. Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds may come from (1) a family with an annual income below established low-income thresholds, or (2) a socio-cultural environment (such as found in some rural or inner-city areas) that inhibited their ability to obtain knowledge skills and abilities for a research career. The latter case applies only to high school or undergraduate students.
  2. STTP slots can last up to 3 months and receive the following funds:
    1. For 2007, stipend of $5,193 (1/4 cost of 0 level from Predoctoral stipend table) for undergrad or grad student. For MD/DVM, the stipend is $9,249 (1/4 cost of 0 level Postdoctoral stipend table). Current stipend levels are available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ep/stipend.html.
    2. Tuition/Education Costs: up to $4,000
    3. Training-related: $1,100
    4. 8% administrative overhead cost
  3. Slot can be requested at any time and appointment can be made at any time during the funded training year of July 1 through June 30. An individual can receive more than one STTP appointment, but they cannot be used end-to-end to create a longer, continuous training period.
  4. Requests: STTP slot requests should be sent to the NLM Program Officer for Extramural Training, Dr. Valerie Florance, as a request for a supplement to your T-15 award. All applications should be sent via e-mail to florancev@mail.nih.gov, with these attachments. For items a, b and c, use fillable forms from PHS 398 found at http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html.
    1. Signed face page
    2. Detailed budget page
    3. Checklist page
    4. Up to 1 page that describes what the trainee will do and who will be the mentor
    5. Training Appointment form 2271 for the requested candidate. The form is available at http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm#training.

Last reviewed: 16 March 2009
Last updated: 16 March 2009
First published: 30 November 2007
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