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Frequently Asked Questions About NIMH Diversity and Re-entry Supplements

This information applies to applications requesting Diversity and Re-entry Research Supplements to active National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) grants via funding opportunity announcements “Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research ” and “Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry and Re-integration into Health-Related Research Careers .”

On this page:

Is my grant eligible for a Diversity or Re-entry Supplement?

To be eligible for a Diversity or Re-entry Supplement, a Principal Investigator (PI) must have an active NIMH grant, typically with at least two years remaining at the time of expected award.

The following grant types are eligible for Diversity or Re-entry Supplement funds:

DescriptionGrant Type
Research project grantsDP1, DP2, DP4, DP5, G20, R00, R01, R03, R15, R18, R21, R21/R33, R24, R33, R34, R35, R37, R61/R33, RC1, RC2, RC3, RC4, RF1, RM1, SC1, SC2, SC3
Multi-project grantsG12, P01, P20, P30, P40, P41, P50, P51, P60, P2C, PM1, PN2
Small business awardsR41, R42, R43, R44, U44, UB1
Cooperative agreementsU01, U10, U13, U18, U19, U2C, U24, U41, U42, U54, U56, UC2, UC4, UF1, UG1, UG3/UH3, UH2, UH2/UH3, UH3, UL1, UM1, UM2

At the time of submission, the proposed supplement activities must be within the approved project period for the parent award. For phased awards (i.e., R21/R33, R61/R33, UG3/UH3), the administrative supplement must be limited to the currently approved project period phase at the time of submission.

Is the candidate I wish to support eligible for a Diversity Supplement?

Institutions are encouraged to identify candidates who will enhance diversity on a national basis. Supplemental awards through the Diversity Supplements program are limited to U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals of the United States, and individuals who have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States (i.e., in possession of a Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551). Diversity Supplement candidates are intended to support the NIH's Interest in Diversity  (NOT-OD-20-031). This includes:

  • Individuals from a racial or ethnic group that is underrepresented as consistent with NIH policy; OR
  • Individuals with a disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities; OR,
  • Individuals from a disadvantaged background, as defined in Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity  (NOT-OD-20-031)

Is the candidate I wish to support eligible for a Re-entry Supplement?

The re-entry candidate must:

  • Be an individual who has a doctoral degree and held a postdoctoral or faculty position at the time that he or she left active research.
    • The Re-entry Supplement Program is not intended to support additional graduate training, and it is not intended to support career changes from non-research to research careers for individuals without prior research training.
  • Be a United States citizen, non-citizen national of the United States, or be an individual lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States (i.e., in possession of a Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551).
  • Be in complete or partial hiatus from research activities for a period of at least one year and no more than eight years due to a qualifying interruption. A candidate may not currently be engaged in full-time paid research activities.

Is the candidate I wish to support eligible for a Re-integration?

Candidates with doctoral degrees and graduate students seeking to transition out of unsafe research environments because of discriminatory and unlawful harassment are eligible to apply for re-integration supplements as soon as supplement support to continue research training in a new and safe research environment has been identified

For a Diversity Supplement, what documentation of racial, ethnic, disability, or disadvantaged status is required?

The institution must provide a signed statement providing clearly presented information on the nature of the candidate’s disability, circumstances, background, or characteristics that confer eligibility under this program. Institutions should adhere to the guidelines below when documenting eligibility for this program.

Racial and Ethnic Minorities

The candidate must voluntarily self-identify as a member of a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in health-related sciences. Such underrepresented groups include Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. For more information on racial and ethnic categories and definitions, see NOT-OD-20-031 .

Individuals with Disabilities

The candidate must self-identify as an individual with a disability, defined as a person with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended . According to a survey by the National Science Foundation , among people with a doctorate in the sciences and engineering, individuals with disabilities are underrepresented.

Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds

Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, defined as those who meet two or more of the criteria described in category C, see NOT-OD-20-031 .

For a Re-entry Supplement, what is a qualifying interruption?

Examples of qualifying interruptions include: a complete or partial hiatus from research activities for child rearing; an incapacitating illness or injury of the candidate, spouse, partner, or a member of the immediate family; relocation to accommodate a spouse, partner, or other close family member; pursuit of non-research endeavors that would permit earlier retirement of debt incurred in obtaining a doctoral degree; and/or, military service.

Can I apply if less than two years are remaining on the parent grant?

For applications proposing to support individuals at the graduate, postdoctoral, or investigator level, the parent grant typically have at least two years remaining at the time of expected award. In some circumstances, less than two years might be accommodated, but potential applicants considering a supplement period less than two years at the graduate student, postdoctoral, and investigator career stage would require a detailed explanation and applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with NIMH staff listed in this FOA prior to submission.

Can I apply for more than one Diversity Supplement to my grant?

Usually, a parent grant may support only one candidate on a supplement. However, investigators are encouraged to recruit more than one high school or undergraduate student for supplemental award support. Appointment of more than one individual to a single supplement above the high school or undergraduate level depends on the nature of the parent grant, the circumstances of the request, and the program balance of NIMH. Contact the Diversity Supplement Administrator (email: nimhodwd@nih.gov; phone: 301-437-0670) for information related to your specific grant type.

The candidate I wish to support is currently receiving PHS support. Can he or she receive support from a Re-entry Supplement?

Generally, no. The re-entry program was designed to support those returning to research. This program is not intended to provide an alternative or additional means of supporting individuals who already receive support from an NIH research grant, an NIH National Research Service Award (NRSA), or any other HHS or PHS funding mechanism. Re-entry Supplement candidates will be considered on a case-by-case basis, if the individual meets the other criteria.

The candidate I wish to support is currently receiving PHS support. Can he or she receive support from a Diversity Supplement?

Individuals may be supported by the parent grant for short periods, at the recipient’s risk, pending NIMH’s decision on the supplement application. (See “Pre-Award (Pre-Agreement) Costs” in Section 7.9.1 of the NIH Grants Policy Statement for further information.)

When should I submit my application?

Applications should generally be submitted at least four months prior to the requested start date. Applications for summer-only research appointments should be submitted at least ten weeks prior to the requested start date.

Reviews of Diversity and Re-entry Supplement applications are held bimonthly. See the table below for information about submission deadlines, review dates, and start dates.

Submission DeadlineReview DateEarliest Possible Start Date*
January 1MarchApril
March 1MayJune
May 1JulyAugust
July 1SeptemberDecember
September 1NovemberDecember
November 1JanuaryFebruary
 
*Applications are evaluated on a regular schedule, but funding decisions may be influenced or delayed by other factors, including the availability of funds. Applications proposing supplements with direct costs in any year greater than $50,000 and greater than 25% of the parent grant award must receive concurrence from the National Advisory Mental Health Council. Therefore, it is recommended that PIs/PDs consult with the Diversity Supplements Administrator (email: nimhodwd@nih.gov; phone: 301-437-0670) prior to submission.

Although we make every effort to follow the timeline presented in the table above, applications received after April 1 may not be funded before December 1. This is due to the NIH budgetary cycle, and is the reason why the NIMH rarely makes supplement awards in October or November.

My application was not selected for funding. Can I resubmit?

No. An application may not be resubmitted once it has been reviewed by the Diversity and Re-entry Supplements Committee. However, your Program Official may ask you to revise or resubmit before the Committee reviews your application. If you are unsure about whether or not your application is eligible for resubmission, contact your NIMH Program Official, or the Diversity and Re-entry Supplements Administrator (email: nimhodwd@nih.govphone: 301-437-0670).


Application and Review Procedures for Diversity and Re-entry Research Supplements