Bridging The Career Gap For Underrepresented Minority Scientists
In early FY 1993, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases (NIAID) developed a new program to bring underrepresented
minority investigators to the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
campus for a 2-day seminar titled Bridging the Career Gap for
Underrepresented Minority Scientists.
Attendees must be currently funded by the NIAID through the Research
Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health - Related Research
initiatives or its research training programs. The program is
administered by the NIAID Office of Special Populations and Research
Training and is conducted with assistance from the members of
the Division of Extramural Activities and NIAID Program Division.
The purpose of the seminar is to allow for the exchange of science;
to impart information on applying for research project grants;
to acquaint attendees with the opportunities and options open
to them in the field of biomedical research; and to provide an
opportunity to meet with NIAID intramural and extramural staff
members for the purpose of establishing mentors. It also highlights
NIAID's recognition that these young researchers are seen as future
NIH/NIAID grantees. By establishing a "bridging" program,
the careers of these young investigators could be nurtured, and
the Institute would receive feedback on the effectiveness of these
programs in attracting underrepresented minority scientists to
the NIAID research agenda.
In FY 1994, NIAID instituted an electronic bulletin board through
which announcements of interest to the alumni of the Bridge symposia
are posted. This has now been replaced with the creation of an
NIAID home page on the Internet. Information includes minutes
of the NIAID National Advisory Council meetings that are held
tri-annually, grant and contract program announcements, and meetings
of interest to scientific researchers. It is also a means of maintaining
contact with them, regardless of where their career paths take
them, and allows NIAID to follow their progress.
The NIAID has conducted seven Bridge symposiums since its inception.
The symposium is held every two years in the fall.
For Additional Information Contact:
Diane Adger-Johnson
Minority Health Program Manager
6700-B Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
Phone: 301-402-8969
E-mail: da15a@nih.gov
