# Diversity MATTERS in Neuroscience Training

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA · 2020 · $258,590

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract: The activities proposed in this application address both parts (1) and (2) of the
NINDS Neuroscience Development for Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce R25 program
to ‘support educational activities that enhance the diversity of the biomedical, behavioral and clinical research
workforce by (1) increasing the pool of current and future Ph.D.-level research scientists from diverse
backgrounds that are underrepresented in biomedical neuroscience research; and (2) facilitating the career
advancement/transition of the participants to the next step of their neuroscience careers.’ Neuroscience faculty
at the University of Georgia are committed to the advancement of neuroscience research and graduate training
that is innovative and inclusive. We recognize that rapid advances in technology and scientific knowledge
coupled with the increasingly global workplace environment call for a neuroscience workforce that is not only
technically advanced in the discipline, but is also culturally and experientially diverse, capable of reaching
beyond the traditional laboratory, working across disciplines and within diverse communities to advance the
understanding, diagnosis and treatment of recognized and emerging diseases of the brain. Providing a
collaborative, supportive and inclusive environment for all of our students is a core value and we are dedicated
to broadening participation of students from diverse backgrounds that are under-represented in neuroscience
research training. To address the overarching goals of this FOA, we propose to leverage a number of
resources currently available at UGA along with newly proposed strategies to develop a network of synergistic
activities aimed at broadening participation of under-represented students in our neuroscience graduate
training program and preparing a diverse neuroscience workforce for the 21st century. Multiple strategies will
be used to target the mentorship, recruitment, transition, retention and scholarship of undergraduate and
graduate neuroscience students from diverse backgrounds. Two Specific Aims are proposed: Aim 1)
Strengthen the diversity of our recruitment pool by offering summer undergraduate research experiences in
neuroscience (NSURE) with a focus on students who are underrepresented in neuroscience from UGA,
minority-serving institutions in the southeast US, and undergraduates recruited nationally through minority-
serving organizations. Aim 2) Enhance the training environment for Neuroscience students from diverse
backgrounds who are underrepresented in biomedical neuroscience research to improve retention and self-
agency using the following strategies: Strengthen mentorship through mentor training programs for
neuroscience faculty, graduate students, and NSURE participants that focus on mentoring preferences, cross-
cultural understanding and co-cultural communication; Enhance student success through stage-specific
transition support; Build agency by...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9735470
- **Project number:** 5R25NS107179-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
- **Principal Investigator:** JULIE A COFFIELD
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $258,590
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2023-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9735470

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9735470, Diversity MATTERS in Neuroscience Training (5R25NS107179-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9735470. Licensed CC0.

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