Scientists Helping to Accelerate Research Potential (SHARP): A Pilot Mentoring Program

September 2021 Council

Lead Division/Office

OMHRC

Point(s) of Contact

Katrina Serrano, Ph.D.

Executive Summary

Critical to the success of the NIH mission is promoting diversity in the extramural scientific workforce. Over the years, NIDDK and OMHRC have initiated programs that have trained several thousands of individuals from communities underrepresented in the scientific workforce. However, very few of these efforts have seemed to make a difference in increasing the proportion of underrepresented groups that have been successful in obtaining NIH R01 awards. While these efforts have supported the career development of biomedical scientists to pursue independent careers in the scientific workforce, additional strategies to promote the transition of junior faculty to tenured faculty are needed. Mentoring has long served an essential role in developing a scientific workforce, and research shows that it is critical to supporting the careers of underrepresented junior faculty. This proposed initiative would provide support to mentors to provide NIDDK Diversity R21, advanced (postdocs and junior faculty) Diversity Supplement, and MOSAIC K99/R00 scholars with professional skills and evidence-based mentoring to allow them to advance and succeed in NIDDK-relevant, independent academic research careers. At the end of the program, it is expected that at least 30% of the Diversity R21 and MOSAIC scholars will have successfully applied for an R01 grant.