Purpose
To enable current AHA awardees to identify and serve as mentors for predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows from underrepresented groups in science and medicine:
- Individuals from one or more racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in science, including: Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
- LGBTQ+ individuals
- Individuals with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities
- Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, defined as those who meet two or more of the following criteria:
- Were or currently are homeless
- Were or currently are in the foster care system
- Were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program for two or more years
- Have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree
- Were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell grants
Objectives
An eligible AHA-funded investigator identifies an eligible fellow to mentor. (See Eligibility section below.)
Key elements of a successful application will include:
- A fellow who has demonstrated excellent potential for conducting research. The fellow will initiate the application in ProposalCentral and will be listed as the awardee/PI.
- A research plan that expands or augments the currently funded AHA research project and the fellow’s skills. The mentor and fellow will prepare the application jointly. The mentor s institution will be responsible for administering the project.
- A capable mentor(s) who has constructed a strong development plan for the fellow.
- A training environment that will facilitate the fellow’s success.
Maximum of two years of AHA support per fellow.
Each predoc/postdoc supported by AHA is expected to attend a scientific conference during the term of the award.
For more information, please see the Foundation website.