The FIRST Cohort program aims to transform culture at two types of NIH-funded extramural institutions by building a self-reinforcing community of scientists committed to inclusive excellence, through recruitment of a diverse group of faculty who are competitive for an advertised research tenure-track or equivalent faculty position (positions must be at the Assistant Professor (or equivalent) level), have not held a position at this level, and have demonstrated strong commitment to promoting diversity and inclusive excellence. Any individual who is competitive for a research tenure-track or equivalent faculty position at the Assistant Professor (or equivalent) level, has not held a position at this level, and has demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting diversity and inclusive excellence is eligible to be hired for FIRST faculty positions.
The overall goals and specific measurable objectives that the program expects FIRST Cohort awardees to accomplish are:
Goal 1: Demonstrate institutional support and develop or modify a strategic plan with specific goals and strategies, interventions, and organizational policies that will be implemented to achieve significant systemic and sustainable institutional culture change over baseline toward inclusive excellence (at the faculty, department, and institution level). FIRST Cohort awardees are also expected to develop an evaluation plan to assess the impact on their institution of action taken toward FIRST program goals.
Goal 2: Conduct recruitment activities for new faculty, outline institutional commitment,and develop recruitment committees based on past interests and commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion. FIRST Cohort awardees are also expected to establish a supportive environment for new faculty.
Goal 3: Develop strategies to establish individual research and career development plans and mentorship and sponsorship plans for all new faculty hired under this award. The applicants must describe how the program will reduce isolation, increase community building, foster career development, and ensure retention of the new faculty.
The NIH intends to commit up to a total of $70.5M total costs over five years to fund up to four awards starting in fiscal year 2022. Application budgets per award are limited to $300,000 direct costs for all cores combined in year one; $3,275,000 direct costs each year in years 2-4; and $120,000 direct costs for all cores combined in year 5 and need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.
The NIH will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time. This means that the NIH will not accept:
- A new (A0) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of an overlapping new (A0) or resubmission (A1) application.
- A resubmission (A1) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of the previous new (A0) application.
- An application that has substantial overlap with another application pending appeal of initial peer review (see NOT-OD-11-101).
Interested applicants should upload the following documents in sequence in one PDF file (File name: Last name_NIH 21-025_2021 no later than 4:00 p.m. on the internal submission deadline:
1. Cover Letter (1 page, pdf):
- Descriptive title of proposed activity
- PI name, departmental affiliations(s) and contact information
- Co-PI's names and departmental affiliation(s)
- Names of other key personnel
- Participating institution(s)
- Number and title of this funding opportunity
2. Project Description (no more than two pages, pdf) identifying the project scope that addresses the key aspects and elements of the sponsor's solicitation, principal investigators, collaborators, and partner organizations.
3. 2-page CV's of Investigators
Formatting Guidelines:
Font/size: Times New Roman (12 pt.)
Document margins: 1.0” (top, bottom, left and right)
Standard paper size (8 ½” x 11)
Questions concerning the limited submissions process may be submitted to limitedsubs@psu.edu.