True Diversity
NIH’s mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and to apply that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. To achieve this mission, NIH substantially invests in research to improve public health; it also devotes substantial resources to identify, develop, support and maintain the quality of its scientific resources, including human capital.
Every facet of the United States scientific research enterprise—from basic laboratory research to clinical and translational research to policy formation–requires superior intellect, creativity and a wide range of skill sets and viewpoints. NIH’s ability to help ensure that the nation remains a global leader in scientific discovery and innovation is dependent upon a pool of highly talented scientists from diverse backgrounds who will help to further NIH's mission.
Research shows that diverse teams working together and capitalizing on innovative ideas and distinct perspectives outperform homogenous teams. Scientists and trainees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences bring different perspectives, creativity, and individual enterprise to address complex scientific problems. There are many benefits that flow from a diverse NIH-supported scientific workforce, including: fostering scientific innovation, enhancing global competitiveness, contributing to robust learning environments, improving the quality of the research, advancing the likelihood that underserved or health disparity populations participate in, and benefit from health research, and enhancing public trust.
U-RISE (Undergraduate) and Bridges (Graduate) are training programs supported by the NIH aimed at increasing and broadening participation of people who historically and currently members of groups excluded from engaged in biomedical research. (see NIH Diversity Statement here: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-20-031.html)
Grants cover partial tuition and fees, a monthly stipend, mentoring, support for supplies for participants’ long-term research projects, and travel. Curricular and co-curricular activities prepare students for entry into advanced degree program in basic biomedical research careers.
