# San Diego IRACDA Scholars Program

> **NIH NIH K12** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2023 · $92,880

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
A diverse U.S. biomedical research workforce is essential for developing innovation in basic, clinical, translational
research and healthcare and is necessary for improving the nation’s health. Despite decades of efforts to
increase underrepresented racial / ethnic groups and women in science their proportional representation remains
markedly low, especially in academia. The renewal application for the San Diego IRACDA Scholars Program
aims to enhance the successful transition of diverse biomedical scientists into independent academic careers.
San Diego “SD IRACDA” is a mentored postdoctoral career development training program that provides training
in rigorous and reproducible research, teaching training based on scientific principles and professional skill
development. SD IRACDA combines a mentored research-intensive experience at the University of California,
San Diego (UCSD) and mentored teaching training experience at San Diego City College and San Diego State
University (SDSU), two large undergraduate institutions that serve diverse student populations. The overarching
goal of SD IRACDA is to enhance the transition of diverse biomedical scientists into independent academic
careers, thereby increasing the diversity of academic faculty. The specific objectives are to: 1) recruit and train
a diverse pool of postdoctoral scholars that conduct rigorous and reproducible research within the scope of the
NIGMS-mission, 2) use evidence-based strategies to enhance career skill development and effective mentorship
of postdoctoral scholars, and 3) to provide teaching training in scientific teaching principles and evidence-based
practices. Other objectives are to enhance the science curriculum at our partner-teaching intensive institutions,
and to provide research opportunities for partner institution faculty and students and role models and mentorship
of students, thereby increasing the number of diverse students participating in research and entering graduate
programs in biomedical sciences. Since its inception in 2003, SD IRACDA has trained 103 scholars, 62% are
from underrepresented backgrounds and 59% are women. Program evaluation has demonstrated that 63% of
all SD IRACDA scholars and 56% of underrepresented scholars have obtained independent faculty positions
(94% tenure-track) including a high percentage at R1 institutions, 32% of all scholars and 34% of
underrepresented scholars, respectively. Of SD IRACDA faculty alumni, 55% have received independent grant
awards with the highest percentage (31%) from the NIH. SD IRACDA scholars publish, obtain academic faculty
positions and receive post-fellowship funding at a greater rate compared to NIH F32-supported postdoctoral
fellows at UCSD. SD IRACDA has further benefitted the partner institutions, San Diego City College and San
Diego State University, by providing new and improved science curriculum, authentic research experiences and
critical mentoring for underrepresented students to enhan...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10849408
- **Project number:** 3K12GM068524-21S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Joann Trejo
- **Activity code:** K12 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $92,880
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2003-08-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10849408

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10849408, San Diego IRACDA Scholars Program (3K12GM068524-21S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10849408. Licensed CC0.

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