By Kawana McGough
Tuskegee University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham received a $13.7 million grant to hire and train 12 new research faculty members across both institutions. The grant will help recruit and train 12 new research faculty members across both institutions to create systemic and sustainable culture change.
Under the NIH Common Fund’s Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) partnership, the grant will further support the two institutions in building a self-reinforcing community of scientists by recruiting a critical mass of early-career faculty who have a demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion.
“Tuskegee University and UAB have longstanding and productive partnerships in research and the development of faculty scientists,” Tuskegee President Charlotte P. Morris said. “This NIH FIRST grant is an excellent opportunity to build on our years of work together. Tuskegee is the first HBCU selected by NIH to receive this funding, and we are excited to be a part of this important initiative to nurture a culture of inclusive excellence among the faculty at both our institutions while helping ensure the success of a new generation of researchers.”
The program also seeks to positively impact faculty development, retention, progression, and eventual promotion and develop inclusive and sustainable environments. The NIH recognizes that fostering inclusive environments in the biomedical research workforce ensures that the most creative minds have the opportunity to contribute to national research and health goals.
