Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research for Graduate Research Assistants

This supplement enables principal investigators with eligible NHLBI research grants/contracts to include graduate students in their projects. Priority is given to applications requesting support for individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and/or individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. Nationally, underrepresented groups in biomedical research careers include but are not limited to African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

The objective of this program is to reach out to graduate students already in biomedical, behavioral, biometric, clinical, nursing or social sciences research and provide an opportunity to further develop their research capabilities. Any eligible graduate student who is enrolled in a master's or a research doctoral degree program in biomedical, behavioral, clinical, or social sciences is eligible for consideration. Students in medical school or other professional schools are encouraged to use this program to gain research experience.

Graduate students are expected to conduct a defined research project which must be a logical extension of the goals and objectives of the parent grant, subproject, or contract that will lead toward completion of their graduate degree. Medical or students of other allied health professions, who seek a GRS for short-term research training and not for obtaining a degree, may assume partial or complete responsibility for some aspects of the parent grant or contract's original research plan or goals.

Appointment of more than one graduate and one medical student research supplement to a research grant, subproject of a program project grant (P01), or contract will depend on the nature of the parent grant/contract, the circumstances of the request, and the program balance of the NHLBI. A separate application must be submitted for each candidate provided adequate laboratory space and mentorship are assured.

Before submitting a supplement application, individuals and their mentors should explore new and existing training and career development programs at their institution which also provide research training opportunities (e.g., F31, F32, K08, K23, K01, T32, and T35).

Research Supplements to Promote Diversity Web links:

Program Announcement (PA-08-190) Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research

For additional information specific to the NHLBI, please see the NHLBI Guidelines for the Applicant - Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research

The NHLBI Website also lists training programs under the category Request for Applications/Proposals & Program
Announcements with the application receipt date.

Who is eligible? All principal investigators at U.S. institutions with eligible NHLBI research grants/contracts who wish to offer research experiences to students who are pursuing a master's or a research doctoral degree program in biomedical, behavioral, clinical, or social sciences. Graduate (GRS) supplement levels require at least one year remaining on the parent grant/contract at the time of award.

The opportunities? Research training

Duration of support? Up to 4 years with full-time research effort required for graduate students enrolled in a doctoral program or up to 2 years for a master's program. A minimum of 3 months full-time research effort each year or equivalent is required for medical or students of other allied health professions. The GRS will be terminated when the candidate obtains their graduate degree.

Where? At the principal investigator's institution

Applications due? Any time, however, all applications should arrive at least three months before the requested start date, to allow time for review.

Note: Applications requesting support by the end of the fiscal year have an early June receipt date. Please check the Guidelines.

Stipend: The NIH will provide salary support in addition to other necessary expenses, such as supplies and travel, to enable the individual to participate as a graduate research assistant in a funded research project. The NIH will provide compensation that (1) conforms to the established, consistently applied salary and wage policies of the institution and (2) reflects the percentage of time devoted to the PHS-funded project. For graduate students this compensation may include tuition remission paid as, or in lieu of, wages provided that the student is in a bona fide employer-employee relationship with the institution for the work performed, and payment is made explicitly for performance of necessary work. The total amount requested for salary, tuition and fringe benefits cannot exceed the amount allowable for a first year postdoctoral fellow (i.e., level zero) at the same institution performing comparable work (see NIH Guide Notice, NOT-OD-11-067). Additional funds up to $4,000 per year may be requested for supplies and travel. Up to $1,000 per year of this amount should be for travel to scientific meetings. Funds may not be used to purchase equipment.

Reasonable Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities: As a part of this award, funds may be requested to make changes or adjustments in the research setting that will make it possible for an otherwise qualified employee with a disability to perform the essential functions associated with his/her role on the project. The accommodations requested under this program must be DIRECTLY related to the performance of the proposed role on the research project and must be appropriate to the disabilities of the individual.

How to apply: Principal investigators should contact the NHLBI program administrator who administers the parent grant/contract or:

Nara Gavini, Ph.D.
Office of Research Training and Minority Health
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 9184, MSC 7913
Bethesda, MD 20892-7913
Phone: (301) 451-5081
Fax: (301) 480-0862
Email: gavininn@nhlbi.nih.gov

Revised November 2011