Key Dates

Related Announcements

• June 7, 2022 - Solicitation of Nominations for the 2022 National Human Genome Research Institute’s Outstanding Award for Enhancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Genomics Workforce. See NOT-HG-22-014.

Issued by

National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

Purpose

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) solicits nominations for its Bettie J. Graham Leadership Award for Enhancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in the Genomics Workforce. The NHGRI Genomics Workforce DEIA Awards Program was developed to recognize NHGRI extramural investigators who are making a sustained and substantial contribution to enhancing DEIA in the human genomics workforce.  For purposes of this award, “enhance” refers to DEIA efforts that improve the quality of the human genomics research enterprise, such as promoting an inclusive work environment, providing and creating career development opportunities for researchers from all backgrounds, and helping to ensure that researchers have access to resources within their organization.  

Two honorific, non-monetary awards of recognition will be given each year to honor an Early-Stage investigator and an Established Investigator who have made a sustained and substantial contribution to enhancing DEIA in the human genomics workforce. Efforts and accomplishments of each nominee will be evaluated as appropriate to their respective career stage. 

• Early-Stage Investigator (ESI) (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/glossary.htm#EarlyStageInvestigator(ESI)) whose past experiences exemplify the commitment to enhancing DEIA in the genomics workforce.
• Established Investigator who throughout their career has demonstrated a sustained, high level of  mentoring productivity and commitment to enhancing DEIA in the genomics workforce, either as an individual or as a team leader (https://researchtraining.nih.gov/career/established-career).
• DATES: Nominations must be submitted by January 17, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.

2024 Award Details

The awardee(s) will be invited to and acknowledged during the May 19, 2025 open session of the National Advisory Council for Human Genome Research meeting and will be offered the opportunity to present their accomplishments in enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility of the genomics workforce.

Eligibility Criteria

• Individuals must have been supported by an NHGRI award in one of the following areas of interest specific to NHGRI: genomic science; genomic medicine; ethical, legal, and social implications of genetic and genomic research (ELSI); bioinformatics; data science; genomic technology development; and/or training programs.
• At the time of the nomination due date, January 17, 2025, nominees for the ESI award must belong to one of the following categories:
  • A named individual on an NHGRI grant who meets the NIH definition of an Early-Stage Investigator
  • A named individual on an NHGRI training grant
  • A recipient of an NHGRI Fellowship (F) award or Career Development (K) award.
• Nominees for the Established Investigator Grant must be a named individual on an NHGRI grant, which may include the following:
  • Principal Investigator (PI), Multiple PI, or Co-Investigator (see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/glossary.htm for definitions) on an NHGRI grant
  • PI, Multiple PI or Co-Investigator on a Common Fund grant that includes NHGRI listed as a funder of the grant Consistent with existing NIH practices and applicable law, NHGRI will not make award decisions based on the race, ethnicity, or sex of the nominee or researchers assisted by the nominee.
• Self-nominations are acceptable; however, they must be accompanied by one letter of support from a mentor or colleague.
• The following individuals are not eligible: federal employees and interns/fellows; federal contractors; and current members of the National Advisory Council for Human Genome Research.

Nominations

Nomination packages must be submitted in a single PDF file that includes the following items in order:

1. Letter of nomination (1,000 words or less) from the nominee or from a mentor or colleague familiar with the nominee’s work, addressing the nominee’s: (a) methods, approaches, and innovative ideas of enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the genomics workforce, and (b) successful efforts to enhance DEIA in the genomics workforce. The strongest letters will demonstrate the lasting significance and impact of the nominee’s effort of enhancing DEIA in the genomics workforce to date, as appropriate for their career level.
2. A 500 word or less personal statement from the nominee that highlights the demonstrated commitment and contributions made to enhance DEIA in the genomics workforce.
3. CV (limit to 5 pages), prioritizing accomplishments and activities related to enhancing DEIA in the genomics workforce.
4. NIH Biosketch including a link (URL) to the nominee’s “My Bibliography” in PubMed. If the nominee doesn’t have a “My Bibliography” listed in PubMed, refer to these simple step-by-step instructions to save the nominee’s citations in PubMed to a “My Bibliography.” Use the URL that PubMed automatically generates when the “My Bibliography” sharing setting is changed to public.
5. For self-nominations only, one additional letter of endorsement from other mentors or colleagues is required. Letters of endorsement should address similar themes as in the Item 1. For all other nominations, no additional letter of endorsement is necessary.

The nomination package may be submitted by the nominee or a nominee’s mentor or colleague. Before submitting the nomination for the ESI award, the ESI researcher must confirm that their ESI status is correctly marked in their eRA Commons (https://era.nih.gov/) profile. If the status is incorrect, the nominee should contact the NIH eRA Service Desk (https://grants.nih.gov/support/index.html) to resolve the issue before submitting a nomination.

Submission

Compile the above elements into a single PDF file, attach the PDF to an email, and send it to NHGRI_DEIA@nih.gov with the subject line “Nomination for the 2024 NHGRI’s Outstanding Award for Enhancing DEIA in the Genomics Workforce”. The nomination package should be received by NHGRI no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 17, 2025.
 

Review and Selection Process

Consistent with applicable law and the award description above, the nominations will be assessed on: (1) the excellence of the methods, approaches, etc. used in the sustained effort to enhance DEIA in the genomics workforce, (2) the impact on DEIA in the field of human genomics, and (3) demonstrated success of the nominee’s efforts, as appropriate, for the career level of the nominee.

A review panel composed of NHGRI staff with relevant expertise will be assembled. This panel will review the nomination packages for the nominee in each of the two categories. The NHGRI Director and senior leadership staff will review the recommendations and select a final awardee for each of the two categories.

Final decisions will be made in February 2025 and all nominees will be notified by March 3, 2025 of their status.

FAQ

NHGRI has generated a document of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (https://www.genome.gov/TIDHE/Outstanding-Award-for-Enhancing-DEIA-in-the-Genomics-Workforce). This FAQ may be updated with additional questions and answers without additional notice.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Corina Galindo, MPH
Training, Diversity and Health Equity (TiDHE) Office
National Human Genome Research Institute
Email: NHGRI_DEIA@nih.gov