Diversity in Life Sciences

A unique professional advancement opportunity for early-career scientists from diverse backgrounds

The Fellows Program aims to give early-career scientists from underrepresented (UR) and other disadvantaged backgrounds the support and skills they need to successfully pursue leadership and decision-making roles in academic, industry and government research sectors. This one-year program is designed around key programmatic elements to enhance confidence, leadership skills, networking opportunities, and visibility of Fellows within the biological and biomedical research community. Fellows will learn from career-development workshops and hands-on immersion experience, working directly with eminent scientists from our Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) to pursue their career goals.

• Immersion in twice-yearly SAB meetings, where Fellows will engage with academic, industry and government thought-leaders from around the world in a unique and inspiring forum to review, discuss and curate scientific programing for our internationally acclaimed conference series. These lively and intensive peer-review sessions focus on the forefronts of biology and medicine, and the collegial atmosphere forges consensus on seminal advances in the field.
• Leadership training modules will be held the day prior to SAB meetings to prepare Fellows for their participation in this forum, and to develop career skills unique to this critical stage of career development.
• Mentoring modules tailored to life science researchers at this critical stage of career development.
• One-on-one mentorship pairing with a distinguished SAB member, tailored to the career trajectory and professional growth goals of the Fellow.
• Ongoing peer-to-peer mentorship as part of the Keystone Symposia DLSP community, a distinguished group of UR scientists and advisors representing a strong, supportive and diverse life science network.
• Travel award support to attend a future Keystone Symposia conference

Prospective Fellows must have a Ph.D or M.D. degree and be engaged in an independent research position in either academia, industry or government institutions in an area within the biological or biomedical sciences. Candidates who meet all criteria below are eligible to apply:

• Applicants must be at the assistant professor level (pre-tenure and less than 6 years in academic appointment), or research scientist level (less than 6 years in industry scientist position) or a research scientist (less than 6 years in a government scientist position).
• Applicants must be either U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Applications must be from populations that have been shown to be underrepresented in biomedical research, such as:
  • Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Groups
    • African American/Black
    • Hispanic/Latinx
    • Native American/Alaska Native
    • Hawaiian Native and natives of the U.S. Pacific Islands
  • Individuals with disabilities
    • Defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
  • Individuals from disadvantaged/underserved backgrounds
    • Defined as individuals who meet two or more criteria, including an economically disadvantaged background, first generation college graduates, and individuals from challenging social, cultural or educational backgrounds.
  • Women in the Biotechnology Workforce
  • Individuals with a demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion efforts in the scientific community

If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact the Diversity in Life Sciences office at dlsp@keystonesymposia.org.