NIGMS accepts institutional predoctoral and postdoctoral training grant (T32) applications to support promising students and fellows seeking research training in basic biomedical sciences and related behavioral and clinical fields. The goal of these programs is to promote interdisciplinary, collaborative and innovative research training in areas relevant to the NIGMS mission. Programs are required to demonstrate successful efforts to recruit and retain a diverse trainee population, including students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and individuals with disabilities. (Note that training grant programs supporting only graduate-level students and/or postdoctoral fellows are not required to submit a recruitment and retention plan addressing disadvantaged individuals.)
Definitions: The following racial and ethnic groups have been shown to be underrepresented in biomedical research: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans/Alaska Natives who maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment, Hawaiian Natives and natives of the U.S. Pacific Islands. In addition, it is recognized that underrepresentation can vary from setting to setting and individuals from racial or ethnic groups that can be convincingly demonstrated to be underrepresented by the grantee institution may be included in the recruitment and retention plan. Individuals with disabilities are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
This site is intended to serve as a resource for NIGMS-funded training grant program directors in their efforts to improve diversity in their training programs.
- Strategies and approaches to develop a recruitment and retention plan to enhance diversity
- Tools and resources to identify and recruit diverse trainee applicants
- NIGMS policies and practices to enhance diversity recruitment
- Frequently Asked Questions: Recruitment and Retention Plan to Enhance Diversity