Career and Research

Program Type Related Website Focus of Program

Mentored Career Development 

NCI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity (K01 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) PAR-18-364

NCI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity (K01 Independent Clinical Trial Required) PAR-18-365

Individual mentored and independent career development program to provide support and protected time for research

Mentored Career Development Award to Promote Faculty Diversity in Biomedical Research (K01 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) RFA-HL-19-026

Mentored Career Development Award to Promote Faculty Diversity in Biomedical Research (K01 Independent Clinical Trial Required) RFA-HL-19-025

NINDS Faculty Development Award to Promote Diversity in Neuroscience Research (K01 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) PAR-18-490

NINDS Faculty Development Award to Promote Diversity in Neuroscience Research (K01 Independent Clinical Trial Required) PAR-18-486

NCI Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K08 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) PAR-18-337 

NCI Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K08 Independent Clinical Trial Required) PAR-18-336

NINDS Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity in Neuroscience Research (K22 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) PAR-18-469

NINDS Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity in Neuroscience Research (K22 Independent Clinical Trial Required) PAR-18-468

NCI Transition Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K22 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) PAR-18-366

NCI Transition Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K22 Independent Clinical Trial Required) PAR-18-367

Additional Research Career Development Awards including K02, K08, K23, K24, K99/ R00

Clinical Scientist Institutional Career Development

Clinical Scientist Institutional Career Development Program Awards (K12)

Support to institutions for newly trained clinicians with commitment to independent research careers

NIDA Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Program Award in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorder Research (K12 Clinical Trial Optional) PAR-18-746

Paul Calabresi Career Development Award for Clinical Oncology (K12 Clinical Trial Optional)

KL2 portions of Clinical and Translational Science Awards (U54)

Transition Support

Promote Workforce Diversity in Basic Cancer Research (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) PAR-18-731

Support to individuals for research, bridge between training and larger research grant application

NINDS Neuroscience Development for Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce PAR-17-312

Support to institutions to increase pool of neuroscientists from diverse backgrounds (programs may be at graduate, postdoctoral or junior faculty levels)

Small Grants for New Investigators to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

Support for new investigators from diverse backgrounds, including from groups nationally underrepresented in biomedical and behavior research to conduct small research projects in the scientific mission areas of NIDDK and NHGRI.

Faculty Research at Low-Resource Institutions 

Support of Competitive Research (SCORE) Research Advancement Award (SC1)PAR-16-439
Pilot Project Award (SC2) - PAR-16-438
Research Continuance Award (SC3) - PAR-16-437

Support to individuals to increase the research competitiveness of faculty at institutions that have a historical mission focused on serving students from underrepresented groups

Native American Research Centers for Health

The Indian Health Service (IHS) and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) of the National Institutes of Health have a joint partnership supporting the Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH)

Supports research and research training to meet the needs of American Indian/Alaska Native communities

Research Projects

Research funding opportunities at grants.gov

Individual applications for NIH research funding are always encouraged by individuals from underrepresented groups

Small Business

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs

Support for early stage small businesses seeking to commercialize innovative biomedical technologies; similar programs for collaboration with research institutions

NIH supports programs to develop the biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and social sciences research workforce. Enhancing the participation of individuals from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds is a consideration in all NIH programs including research education (R), training (T), fellowship (F), and career development (K) award programs. In addition, it is an explicit consideration in diversity-related programs. The table above identifies most NIH research workforce programs by career level, with diversity-related programs indicated with highlight.*

  • Institutional programs (such as a T32 training grant): To participate, apply to an institution that has an NIH program. Identify awardee institutions through NIH RePORTer and contact the principal investigator for more information.
  • Individual programs (such as an F31 predoctoral fellowship): To participate, prepare an application to the NIH. Read the funding opportunity announcement and contact the NIH program official listed for more information.
  • Intramural programs that occur only at the NIH campus are included as they provide unique training opportunities that you should be aware of. See the websites for more information.

Many programs permit applications from individuals with specific educational backgrounds (such as PhD, MD, DVM, DDS, etc.), and/or focus on particular health or disease missions. It is important to read the funding opportunity announcement carefully. Note that not every NIH institute or center offers every funding opportunity.

Users are advised to check the NIH Guide (search the Title Text to include diversity) for the most current list of programs, and the NIH Research Training and Career Development website for any updates.