Administration

The primary objective of this FOA, issued by the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD), is to increase the health disparities research workforce by stimulating and supporting dissertation research. Dissertation research involves a major investment of the doctoral student’s time, energy, and interest and its substance is often the basis for launching a research career. Lack of financial support during this phase of training can delay completion of the dissertation project. The NCMHD Dissertation Research grant will provide full-time salary support and modest research funds for up to two years for eligible students to facilitation completion of their doctoral research project and dissertation in a reasea4rch area relevant to the NCMHD mission and research priorities. These awards are available to all qualified pre-doctoral students in accredited doctoral programs in the US. Eligible students must have the goal of becoming successful investigators in areas of biomedical or behavioral science relevant to the mission of the NCMHD.

The complete solicitation can be found online for review.

Eligible PD/PIs include pre-doctoral students at the dissertation stage (completed all of the required coursework for the doctoral degree) of training with skills, knowledge and resources necessary to carry out the proposal research who are (a) from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups who have determined by the grantee institution to be underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral science; (b) individuals with disabilities; or (c) individuals from socially, culturally, economically, or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds that have inhibited their ability to pursue a career in health-related research.

Eligibility related to pre-doctoral and dissertation-eligible status:

Individuals are eligible to apply for this award provided that:

• they are registered in an accredited research doctoral program;
• they are in good-standing in that program;
• they will have completed all non-dissertation requirements for the doctoral degree by the anticipated start date of the award (except a clinical internship where that is required to follow the dissertation phase);
• they are a US citizen, non-citizen national (e.g., residents of US territories), or permanent resident by the time of award

Level of Effort: It is expected that the doctoral student will devote 12 calendar months to the dissertation. Any level of effort that is less than full time must by fully justified, and the candidate’s salary must be prorated accordingly.

Note that individuals under Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) mechanisms, including F30 and F31 pre-doctoral fellowships and pre-doctoral trainees on NIH institutional awards, are eligible to apply for a dissertation award. Such candidates may not receive concurrent support form a NRSA fellowship or traineeship.

Please submit the following materials electronically to limitedsub@austin.utexas.edu no later than 4:30 p.m. on Thurday, June 4:

1. Dean's or Dean Designate’s Letter of Nomination

2. One page maximum lay abstract describing the aims of the proposed research project.

3. The bio sketch of the UT PI

**CHANGE IN PROCEDURE: Due to the quick turnaround time each Associate Deans for Research/Designate should submit only ONE application forward.