Author: Michael Sesma

Headshot of Michael Sesma.

Mike, previously a scientific review administrator and program director at NIGMS, returned to the Institute after a 10-year career at the National Institute of Mental Health. He now oversees our postdoctoral training branch, which includes research training, fellowship, and career development programs.

Posts by Michael Sesma

Posted on

Funding Opportunity: Research on Behavioral Interventions That Promote Careers in the Biomedical Research Enterprise

by , , , and
0 comments

We’re pleased to announce that our Research on Interventions That Promote the Careers of Individuals in the Biomedical Research Enterprise notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) has been reissued under a new name: B-INSPIRE, short for Research on Behavioral INterventionS That Promote Careers In the Biomedical Research Enterprise (R01) (PAR-24-230). The new name better reflects the goal of this program: to test theoretically based behavioral interventions that enhance research-oriented individuals’ interest, motivation, persistence, and preparedness for careers in the biomedical research workforce.

Applicants must propose an intervention that tests effectiveness using robust experimental designs, such as randomized control trial approaches, case controls, or matched pair design, appropriate to performing rigorous research on effective interventions aiming to increase success in the biomedical research workforce. Possible areas for the intervention include but are not limited to training, mentoring, and networking; navigating critical transition points; institutional factors that influence persistence; harassment; and barriers to participation. The intervention should be cost-effective, practical, realistic, scalable, and sustainable at a broad range of institutions.

Continue reading “Funding Opportunity: Research on Behavioral Interventions That Promote Careers in the Biomedical Research Enterprise”
Posted on

Individual Fellowship and Career Development Programs Supported by NIGMS

by , , , and
0 comments

As graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, you may find yourself searching for opportunities to support the current or next stage of your research training. NIGMS has a long history of fostering research training and developing a strong biomedical research workforce through a variety of programs at all education levels. Many of our research training grants are made to organizations, which in turn select the students or postdoctoral researchers who’ll receive support. This post focuses on programs individual graduate students and postdoctoral scientists can directly apply to, regardless of your institutional or organizational affiliation.  

Continue reading “Individual Fellowship and Career Development Programs Supported by NIGMS”
Posted on

Funding Opportunity: Modules for Enhancing Biomedical Research Workforce Training

by , , , and
0 comments

We’re pleased to announce a new notice of special interest (NOSI) (NOT-GM-24-007): Topics for Training Modules for Enhancing Biomedical Research Workforce Training (R25). The NOSI, associated with the reissue of notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) PAR-24-040, requests applications to develop biomedical research training modules on one of the following topics:

Continue reading “Funding Opportunity: Modules for Enhancing Biomedical Research Workforce Training”
Posted on

Funding Opportunity: Support for Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity Conferences

by , , and
0 comments

NIGMS has long recognized the need for more hypothesis-driven research to test biomedical training, mentoring, and networking interventions to improve efficacy and replicability across career stages and at a range of institution types (learn more from our research on interventions program webpage). The Institute has also encouraged the use of evidence-informed practices to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of research education, training, and career development in its research training programs. An important element of our programs is the dissemination of the research findings to the biomedical and research training communities. We’re pleased to announce a new notice of special interest (NOSI) (NOT-GM-23-028) requesting applications for conferences focusing on evidence-informed interventions to enhance training, workforce development, and diversity in the biomedical research enterprise.

Continue reading “Funding Opportunity: Support for Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity Conferences”
Posted on

Funding Opportunity: Modules for Enhancing Biomedical Research Workforce Training

by , , and
0 comments

We’re pleased to announce a new notice of special interest (NOSI) (NOT-GM-23-031) associated with PAR-20-296, modules for enhancing biomedical research workforce training (R25). The NOSI requests applications to develop biomedical research training modules on one of the following topics:

  • Wellness and resiliency: effectively providing individuals with the knowledge and skills to enhance their wellness, resiliency, and ultimate success during their research training.
  • Structural racism and discrimination: addressing harassment, intimidation, and other forms of structural racism and discrimination to reduce disparities in recruitment, retention, and success and to promote access, inclusion, equity, and accessibility in the research training environment. Modules should focus on how to create optimized research training environments where all participants feel safe, respected, and supported.
  • Safe research training environments: catalyzing a strong culture of responsibility and obligation to maintain high standards for physical, chemical, and biological safety.
  • Program evaluation capacity: developing evaluation capacity by informing program directors and administrators about effective and practical approaches to evaluate biomedical research training programs at their institutions.

Continue reading “Funding Opportunity: Modules for Enhancing Biomedical Research Workforce Training”
Posted on

Wanted: NIGMS Program Directors

by , , and
0 comments

UPDATE: These positions are now closed.

We’re recruiting scientists for positions in our Division of Genetics and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (GMCDB) and Division of Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity (TWD). The successful applicants will be responsible for scientific and administrative management of a portfolio of research grants and/or research training and career development awards, and will stimulate, plan, advise, direct, and evaluate program activities related to their field of expertise.

Continue reading “Wanted: NIGMS Program Directors”
Posted on

Wanted: NIGMS Program Directors

by , , , , and
0 comments

UPDATE: These positions are now closed. Please visit our Job Vacancies page for more information.

We’re recruiting scientists for positions in our Division for Research Capacity Building (DRCB); Division of Genetics and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (GMCDB); and Division of Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity (TWD). The successful applicants will be responsible for scientific and administrative management of a portfolio of research grants, research training and career development awards, and/or capacity building awards, and will stimulate, plan, advise, direct, and evaluate program activities related to their field of expertise.

Continue reading “Wanted: NIGMS Program Directors”
Posted on

Join the Inaugural NIH MOSAIC Scholars Meeting

by , , , , and
0 comments

UPDATE: The videocasts of day 1 and day 2 of the meeting are now available.

Collage of scientific images and a diverse group of MOSAIC scholars.

We’re excited to host the first meeting of scholars funded through the Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) program to promote faculty diversity:

Thursday, October 14, and Friday, October 15, 1:00-5:00 p.m. ET

Continue reading “Join the Inaugural NIH MOSAIC Scholars Meeting”
Posted on

Inaugural Cohort of MOSAIC Scholars and Upcoming Application Deadline

by , , and
0 comments

We’re pleased to announce our first cohort of Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) program scholars. Each scholar will receive up to 5 years of mentored career development and research support and become part of a cohort-based career development program to expand their professional networks and gain additional skills and mentoring through programs administered by MOSAIC UE5 awardees: the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the American Society for Cell Biology, and the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Continue reading “Inaugural Cohort of MOSAIC Scholars and Upcoming Application Deadline”
Posted on

Change in Receipt Dates for NIGMS Research on Interventions Program

by , , and
0 comments

We recently published a notice (NOT-GM-20-050) announcing a single receipt date each year for our Research to Understand and Inform Interventions that Promote the Research Careers of Individuals in Biomedical Sciences (R01/R35) program.

The purpose of the program is to better understand the factors (e.g., social and behavioral) contributing to the success of individuals pursuing independent academic biomedical research careers. It supports research to enhance evidence for effective, high-impact, scalable interventions that may be focused on training programs, psychosocial factors, critical career transition points, or institutional culture. Due in part to the small number of applications received in response to this funding opportunity, the change in the program’s receipt date will allow us to increase efficiencies in the grant application review process.

Continue reading “Change in Receipt Dates for NIGMS Research on Interventions Program”