ASCB FRED (Faculty Research and Education Development) Mentoring Program

ASCB FRED Mentoring Program

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.

Program Details

• 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)

Target Population

• 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

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

Funding Sources

• Primary Funder: NSF BIO Directorate
• Program: NSF FRED II Program

Program History

• Started: 2014
• Cohorts: Seven cohorts as of 2022
• Typical Cohort Size: ~7 mentees and their mentors

Focus Areas

• 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

Geographic Scope

• United States

Contact Information

• 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

Application/Selection

• Competitive selection process
• Typically recruits senior postdocs and junior faculty
• Focus on diversity and representation in STEM fields

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

Program Requirements

• 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 Schedule

• 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

Expected Outcomes

• Improved grant writing skills
• Completed grant proposal ready for submission
• Expanded professional network
• Better understanding of funding mechanisms
• Enhanced career trajectory

Notes

• 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