Key Dates

Related Announcements

None

Issued by

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Purpose

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) seeks information from extramural community stakeholders regarding initiatives that improve research training, career progression, or the educational environment. NIGMS is particularly interested in hearing about trainee-initiated activities. This RFI will assist NIGMS in amplifying trainee voices and in encouraging the development of future initiatives.

Background

NIGMS supports individuals and institutions that foster research training and the development of a strong and diverse biomedical research workforce through a variety of programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels, including U-RISE, MARC, BUILD, PREP, G-RISE, IMSD, Bridges to the Baccalaureate, Bridges to the Doctorate, IRACDA, MOSAIC, Basic Biomedical T32, and MSTP. While these efforts have supported the development of highly trained biomedical scientists who have the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue independent careers in the biomedical research workforce, there remains a compelling need to hear directly from extramural community stakeholders to help improve research training and career progression.

Information Requested

NIGMS seeks input from extramural community stakeholders, including trainees (e.g. undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral scientists), biomedical faculty, and research education program participants (e.g. postbaccalaureates), regarding initiatives that improve research training, career progression, or the educational environment. NIGMS is particularly interested in hearing about trainee-initiated activities and directly from trainees in NIGMS-funded training programs. Input sought includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• The ways in which NIGMS-supported research training, career progression, or the educational program(s) listed above have been beneficial.
• How NIGMS-supported research training, career progression, or the educational program(s) listed above could be improved.
• The ways in which trainees at your institution have worked to improve research training, career progression, or the educational environment.
• Any areas of concern regarding the broader training environment and how NIH/NIGMS programs could help improve it.
• Recommendations for how best NIH/NIGMS can receive feedback on trainee experiences going forward.

If you have been involved in a trainee-initiated activity, and are interested in participating in a webinar on this topic, please email shakira.nelson@nih.gov or sydella.blatch@nih.gov. These webinars would provide a platform for trainees to discuss initiatives they have led or developed, including ways in which they have worked with faculty administrators or fellow trainees to improve research training, career progression, or the educational environment.

How to Submit a Response

Responses to the RFI will be accepted through 05/28/2022. All comments will be anonymous and must be submitted via a web form at https://www.research.net/r/NIGMS_TWD_RFI.

Responses to this RFI are voluntary. The Government will use the information submitted in response to this RFI at its discretion. The Government reserves the right to use any submitted information internally, on public websites, in reports, in summaries of the state of the science, in any possible resultant solicitation(s), grant(s), or cooperative agreement(s), or in the development of future funding opportunity announcements. This RFI is for informational and planning purposes only and is not a solicitation for applications or an obligation on the part of the Government to provide support for any ideas identified in response to it. Please note that the Government will not pay for the preparation of any information submitted or for use of that information.

The information submitted will be analyzed and may be shared internally, appear in reports or be reflected in future solicitations, as appropriate and at the Government's discretion. Proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should not be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s) or other activities. No basis for claims against the U.S. Government shall arise as a result of a response to this request for information or from the Government's use of such information.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Alison Gammie, Ph.D.
Director, Division of Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity
alison.gammie@nih.gov
 

Sydella Blatch, Ph.D.
Program Director, Predoctoral Basic Biomedical and Medical Science Training Programs Branch
sydella.blatch@nih.gov
 

Shakira Nelson, Ph.D.
Program Director, Postdoctoral, Early Career, and Workforce Development Branch
shakira.nelson@nih.gov