Principal investigators (PIs), help enhance the diversity of the research workforce by recruiting and supporting students, postdocs, and other eligible researchers from diverse backgrounds to work on existing projects. As defined in Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity, this includes individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, and women from the aforementioned backgrounds.
If you are interested—or live with a disability and need additional support to accommodate your disability to continue research work—consider the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp, Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
|
If you’re unfamiliar with research supplements, they are administrative supplements* that provide additional funds for an existing grant to increase the participation of scientists from underrepresented groups in biomedical research. *To learn about the mechanics of administrative supplements, read our Administrative Supplements to Grants and Cooperative Agreements SOP. |
To apply to the Diversity Supplement NOFO, you must propose a research project integral to the approved, ongoing research of the parent award, with the potential to contribute significantly to the career development of the candidate.
Read the NOFO for items to include in your application, such as biosketches for the candidate, mentors, and senior or key personnel directly involved in activities related to the supplement; a research plan; and a career development and mentorship plan. Recipients with grants that have multiple PIs are eligible to apply, but they may not use a supplement to request adding another PI or other personnel for salary support.
Budget, Performance Period, and Due Dates
Application budgets are limited to no more than the amount of the current parent award and must reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. Direct costs for individual supplements vary from less than $5,000 to more than $100,000 depending on the career level of the candidate.
Note the following:
- At the time of a supplement application, the parent grant must have support remaining for a reasonable period (usually 2 years or more).
- For grants with performance periods of 2 years or less, the proposed supplement should support activities and career levels appropriate for the shortened performance period.
- At the time of award, the parent grant must have at least 12 months remaining.
- The supplement’s budget period ends when the parent grant’s competitive cycle ends.
- For parent awards in a no-cost extension, NIAID will not issue new funds through the diversity supplement NOFO. Any funds used during the no-cost extension period are based on remaining unobligated funds that the recipient has not previously used.
Duration of support also depends on the candidate’s career level and may be adjusted by the review committee.
Application due dates vary by awarding institute; for NIAID-specific information, check our Deadlines information at Research Supplements. The Research Supplements page also describes other awards we support, including Primary Caregiver Technical Assistance Supplements and Research Supplements to Promote Reentry and Reintegration Into Health-Related Research Careers.
To confirm your eligibility or have questions answered, contact Madelyn Reyes in NIAID’s Office of Research Training and Special Programs.
Other NIAID-Supported Supplements
As noted above, research supplements are a type of administrative supplement. To find a comprehensive list of NIAID-supported administrative supplements, see our Opportunities & Announcements page filtered for supplements. You will find that several notices of special interest instruct you to apply through Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp, Clinical Trial Optional) or its subsequent reissued equivalent.