Notice Number: NOT-GM-19-019

Key Dates

Issued by
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Purpose

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences intends to publish Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) Institutionally-Focused Research Education Award to Promote Diversity (UE5)NIGMS intends to make awards to organizations of biomedical researchers (e.g., scientific societies) with the following characteristics:

• A membership of scientists conducting research within the mission of NIGMS;
• Experience serving as a centralized entity to enhance scientific communication and networking among scientists conducting research within the mission of NIGMS;
• An established record of providing professional development and networking activities for the next generation of biomedical researchers; and
• A demonstrated commitment to enhancing the diversity of the biomedical research workforce.

Institutions of higher education are not eligible to apply to this FOA.

The FOA is expected to be published in May 2019 with an expected application due date in September 2019.

This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. The FOA will utilize the UE5 activity code and will be a cooperative agreement. Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

Research Initiative Details

The new Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) program is designed to facilitate the transition of talented postdoctoral researchers from diverse backgrounds, for example individuals from groups underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce at the faculty level (see NIH's Interest in Diversity), into independent faculty careers in research-intensive institutions. This will be part of NIGMS efforts to enhance diversity within the academic biomedical research workforce focused on the postdoctoral to faculty transition. The program consists of both a research education cooperative agreement (see below) and a K99/R00 program to enhance diversity (NOT-GM-19-020).

The MOSAIC Research Education Awards will fund scientific organizations that include NIGMS-funded scientists in their membership (e.g., scientific societies) to:

• Assemble cohorts of MOSAIC K99/R00 scholarsbased on scientific areas;
• Provide opportunities for MOSAIC scholars to engage in career development activities that will foster their progression to and success in independent academic research careers, e.g. courses/workshops on academic job search strategies, grant proposal preparation, scientific publishing, enhancing laboratory management, budgeting, hiring, mentoring, managing career challenges and expectations, academic advancement, and balancing teaching, research, and service;
• Enhance the scientific and professional networks of MOSAIC scholars beyond their local institutions;
• Identify and connect scholars with additional mentors who can facilitate appropriate career advancement;
• Organize regular meetings that provide appropriate leaders at the institutions where MOSAIC scholars conduct research (e.g., postdoctoral research advisors or postdoctoral affairs deans during the mentored research phase; department chairs, deans, or provosts during the independent phase) a forum to exchange ideas, and share evidence-based approaches to enhance diversity and improve mentoring;
• Enhance institutional accountability for the scholars' career advancement; and
• Track and publicize outcomes (e.g., publicly available websites).

Applicant organizations are expected to describe how they will provide professional development and enhance the professional networks of MOSAIC K99/R00 scholars conducting research in all areas of the NIGMS mission (including but not limited to biological chemistry, biophysics, bioinformatics, cellular and molecular biology, computational biosciences, developmental biology, genetics, pharmacology, physiology, and technology development).

Funding Information

Estimated Total Funding $810,000
Expected Number of Awards 3
Estimated Award Ceiling $250,000 direct costs
Primary CFDA Numbers 93.859

Anticipated Eligible Organizations

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to: