ASCB FRED (Faculty Research and Education Development) Mentoring Program
Funding Amount
Varies (program includes funding for participants and mentoring support)
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Grant Type
foundation
Overview
ASCB FRED Mentoring Program
Overview: FRED (Faculty Research and Education Development) is a mentoring program designed to promote grant funding success for senior postdocs and junior faculty from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in STEM. The program pairs mentees with experienced mentors for one-year mentorship relationships focused on grant writing and career development.
- Full Name: Faculty Research and Education Development (FRED) Mentoring Program
- Committee: Minorities Affairs Committee (MAC)
- Co-PIs: Ashanti Edwards (ASCB Director of Professional Development), Blake Riggs (San Francisco State University)
- Co-Investigators: Renato Aguilera (University of Texas El Paso), Latanya Hammonds-Odie (Georgia Gwinnett College)
Program Details
- Primary: Senior postdocs and junior faculty from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in STEM
- Secondary: Senior postdocs and junior faculty at minority-serving institutions
- Secondary: Faculty at institutions with strong commitment to recruiting underrepresented students
Target Population
Program Components
1. Year-long Mentorship: One-on-one mentor relationships 2. Career Development Workshop: Intensive in-person training 3. Grant Writing Training: Focus on proposal development 4. Mentor Feedback: Regular feedback on grant proposals and career matters 5. Funding Opportunity Training: NSF and NIH funding landscape 6. Career Navigation: Tenure and promotion guidance 7. Specific Aims Training: Intensive work on research proposal specific aims- Primary Funder: NSF BIO Directorate
- Program: NSF FRED II Program
Funding Sources
- Started: 2014
- Cohorts: Seven cohorts as of 2022
- Typical Cohort Size: ~7 mentees and their mentors
Program History
- Grant writing for NSF and NIH
- NSF Biological Sciences Directorate opportunities
- NSF Education and Human Resources Directorate opportunities
- Goal setting and time management
- Tenure and promotion pathways
- Research proposal development
Focus Areas
- United States
Geographic Scope
- Organization: American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB)
- Address: 6120 Executive Boulevard, Suite 750, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
- Website: ascb.org/career-development/grant-writing-training-fred
- Program Contact: Ashanti Edwards (Director of Professional Development)
- Co-PI: Blake Riggs, San Francisco State University
Contact Information
- Competitive selection process
- Typically recruits senior postdocs and junior faculty
- Focus on diversity and representation in STEM fields
Application/Selection
How to Apply
Application Process
1. Monitor Application Window: Watch for FRED program application announcements (typically annual)
2. Review Eligibility: Confirm you meet criteria as senior postdoc or junior faculty from underrepresented background
3. Prepare Application Materials:
- CV or resume
- Research statement/interests
- Career goals and grant writing objectives
- Brief diversity statement (if applicable)
4. Submit Application: Submit through ASCB online portal during designated window
5. Selection: FRED leadership team reviews and selects mentees
6. Mentor Matching: Program pairs mentees with experienced grant-writing mentors
- Commitment: Year-long participation required
- Attendance: In-person workshop attendance (location varies)
- Mentorship: Regular meetings with assigned mentor
- Proposal Work: Development of NSF or NIH grant proposal
Program Requirements
- Kick-off Workshop: Multi-day intensive training (typically summer)
- Follow-up: Monthly or quarterly mentor meetings throughout year
- Focus Areas: - Specific aims development - Full proposal refinement - Grant submission strategy
Program Schedule
- Improved grant writing skills
- Completed grant proposal ready for submission
- Expanded professional network
- Better understanding of funding mechanisms
- Enhanced career trajectory
Expected Outcomes
- Strongly emphasizes mentorship and community
- Successful track record with multiple cohorts
- Participants often cite program as transformative for career development
- Alumni network available for ongoing support
Notes
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
Categories
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