A Program Administered by the American Psychological Association and Association of Neuroscience Departments and Programs

Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) to support Predoctoral Training in Neuroscience

Purpose

We invite individuals to apply whose career goals are consistent with one or more of the following goals:

• To increase ethnic/racial diversity among neuroscience researchers,
• To increase the number of neuroscience researchers with disabilities,
• To increase the number of neuroscientists from disadvantaged backgrounds, and
• To increase numbers of neuroscientists whose work is related to the federal initiative to eliminate health disparities.

Although the Diversity Program in Neuroscience is housed within the APA Minority Fellowship Program, the DPN's goals are in line with a broader definition of diversity as stated in the NIH Policy to Enhance Diversity.

About the Diversity Program in Neuroscience (DPN)

The APA Diversity Program in Neuroscience has been in existence since 1987 and has, over the years, partnered with the Association of Neurosciences Departments and Programs, and other organizations, to help increase diversity among neuroscience researchers. Our mission is also consistent with the mission of NIH, which includes, but is not limited to the elimination of health disparities in the U.S. Our program provides financial support, professional development activities, and professional guidance to students pursuing doctoral degrees in neuroscience and whose ultimate career goal is to become an independent research scientist.

Training Areas:

Although the Diversity Program in Neuroscience is a program administered by the American Psychological Association, Fellows may receive their training in a range of academic departments provided their primary training and career aspirations are research-oriented.

We receive funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. You may visit their websites to get a better idea of the types of neuroscience research of interest to them.

Basic Eligibility

• Applicants must be American citizens or permanent resident aliens with an alien registration card (I-151 or I-551). Individual on temporary or student visas are not eligible.
• Applicants should be enrolled full-time in a program leading to the PhD. This program is not intended for students pursuing doctoral degrees with a primarily clinical focus (e.g., MD or PsyD). Students not currently enrolled in suitable programs may apply as long as they gain acceptance into a PhD granting program for the fall term immediately following the application deadline.
• Fellowship recipients must be enrolled full-time in a program leading to the PhD by the fall term immediately following the application deadline.
• This program is not intended for students pursuing doctoral degrees with a primarily clinical focus (e.g., MD or PsyD).
• Those students identified as under-represented in the neurosciences are strongly encouraged to apply. The DPN follows the NIH Policy to Enhance Diversity, which you may peruse for additional information.

DPN Benefits

A DPN fellowship is more than a simple scholarship that only provides financial support. A DPN fellowship is a professional training appointment into a community of other students and professionals who hold similar professional interests. Indeed, the DPN provides stipends, or living allowances, but we also facilitate professional development and provide professional guidance.

• Financial support (2 years maximum. Must be renewed annually)
• Travel funds to attend the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting
• Automatic application to the Summer Program in Neuroscience, Ethics, and Survival (SPINES) at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA
• Ancillary training opportunities and enrichment experiences
• Access to information and resources
• Lifetime professional association with our network

Other MFP Fellowships (Note: Applicants may apply to only one of the MFP fellowships)

The Diversity Program in Neuroscience Postdoctoral Fellowship provides postdoctoral research fellowships in neuroscience.

The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Fellowship is aimed at those pursuing doctoral degrees in clinical, counseling, and school psychology, or other mental health services areas. Deadline January 15th.

The MHSAS Postdoctoral Fellowship is aimed at early career doctoral recipients who are interested in developing a career in mental health services research. Deadline January 15th.