Active
Workforce Development
Grant

Tribal Undergraduate to Graduate Research Training and Leadership Experiences (TURTLE) Funding

Deadline:
January 27, 2027

Ongoing; next application deadline is January 27, 2027

Cyclical
Total Funding
Not specified
Maximum Award
$20,000
Overview

The purpose of the Tribal Undergraduate to Graduate Research Training and Leadership Experiences (TURTLE) program is to fund federally-recognized Tribes or Tribal Entities to develop a pool of scientists to conduct research on Tribal health and health disparities. The overall goal is to support the development of individuals who have the technical, operational, and professional skills required to conduct Tribal health research in a culturally appropriate, ethically responsible and rigorous manner, to complete their degrees in a biomedical field, and to transition into careers in the biomedical research workforce.

NIGMS will provide support for a phased award to Tribal Entities to develop (UE5) and implement effective training and mentoring activities for research-oriented individuals earning a baccalaureate degree (T34) or doctoral degree (T32) in biomedical research fields at a variety of institutions across the United States and territories. The phased award is intended to develop capacity at eligible Tribal Entities and provide funds for institutional NRSA training programs. The funding in the second phase of the TURTLE award will provide trainee stipends to defray living expenses, tuition remission, travel, as well as training-related expenses to support the program.

Funder

National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Program

Tribal Undergraduate to Graduate Research Training and Leadership Experiences (TURTLE) Program

Applications Due

January 27, 2027

Ongoing; next application deadline is January 27, 2027

Total Funding

Not specified

Funding Source

Federal

Maximum Award

$20,000

Award Details

Specific funding amounts for each category are not specified except:

  • Up to $1000 per trainee for travel funds
  • Training related expenses may be requested at a rate of $20,000 per trainee

Eligibility

Eligible entities include federally-recognized American Indian/Alaska Native Tribes; Tribal colleges or universities; Tribal health programs, or Tribal organizations; or a consortium of two or more of these Tribal Entities. The applicant organization must select eligible trainees to be supported by the research training program. Eligible trainees must meet the following requirements:

  • For both T34 and T32: A trainee must be a citizen or a noncitizen national of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence at the time of appointment. All trainees are required to pursue their research training full time. Appointments are normally made in 12-month increments.
  • For the T34: A trainee must be enrolled in a program leading to a bachelor’s degree in a biomedically relevant field.
  • For the T32: A trainee must be enrolled in a program leading to a Ph.D.

Eligible Activities

Program activities are encouraged to reflect a strengths-based model of development rather than a deficit remediation approach. Applications are encouraged to describe plans for the following areas:

  • Research Experiences: organizing research seminars, discussions of the scientific literature, and trainee data presentations
  • Activities for Skills Development and Promotion of Trainee Success: activities that will build a broad range of technical, operational, and professional skills to enhance their science identity and self-efficacy and facilitate the successful progression into careers in the biomedical research workforce
  • Cohort Building: activities to periodically bring together supported trainees to build a sense of community and belonging.
  • Career Advancement: describe how trainees in the program will be provided with information regarding the variety of careers in the biomedical research workforce for which their training prepares them.
  • Outreach Activities: opportunities for the trainees to give back to their communities, providing information to the training community on culturally-aware practices for future scientists focused on Tribal health, and facilitating family understanding and engagement for supported trainees as they complete their research training

Duration

The total award period will be up to seven years: a maximum of two years for the UE5 component and five years for the T34 or T32 component.

Notable Requirements

Applications that propose clinical trial(s) will not be accepted.

Preferences

Applicant requests should include the following:

  • Development phase (UE5) – two-year budget request
  • Training phase (T34) – five-year budget estimate
    • Stipends, tuition/fees
    • Trainee travel
    • Training Related Expenses

The scores for each application will be focused on the following categories:

  • Importance & Rationale for the Training Program
  • Program Staff, Mentors and Other Contributors
  • Development of the Training Program
  • Training Program Plan
  • Environment

How to Apply

Applications for undergraduate training must be submitted to Grants.gov (UE5/T34). Applications for graduate training must be submitted to Grants.gov (UE5/T32). Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH’s electronic system for grants administration.

Career DevelopmentEducation and TrainingHealth

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