Date Posted: December 6, 2024

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NIH ORWH is offering two Science Policy Scholar Travel Awards to support the development of two junior investigators who are focused on women’s health or sex and gender differences and are also interested in research policy. The awards of $3,000 each will help defray the cost of attending the Organization for the Study of Sex Differences (OSSD) Annual Meeting taking place June 1–5, 2025, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Attendance at OSSD’s Annual Meeting offers a unique opportunity for investigators to network with leading scientists and clinicians who are working to advance sex and gender inclusion and policy.  

Topics of Interest 
Applicants are encouraged to submit to OSSD abstracts related to research policies relevant to the health of women or to sex and gender differences. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Studies on how policies for women’s health or sex and gender differences affect and promote research in those areas
  • Identification of policy gaps that might promote such research and the projection of the gaps’ effects
  • Identification of specific research disciplines and/or research topic areas that require more work to promote women’s health or sex and gender differences

Who Can Apply? 
To be eligible for the NIH ORWH Science Policy Scholar Travel Awards, applicants must:

  • Possess a baccalaureate or higher degree
  • Be one of the following: a medical student from any health-related discipline, a postdoctoral trainee, an American Association for the Advancement of Science fellow, a medical resident, a member of the uniformed services or National Guard, or an investigator who is no more than 5 years past a doctoral degree or residency  
  • Be the first author on the submitted OSSD abstract accepted for presentation  
  • Not be a federal employee

How to Apply 
Submit your abstract on the OSSD Awards page. Applications must be submitted to OSSD by February 3, 2025. Please check the OSSD website for updates on the application’s timeline.  

Once you have submitted your application to OSSD, send an email with the subject line “NIH ORWH and OSSD Science Policy Scholar Travel Awards Application for 2025” to Samia Noursi, Ph.D. Please send this email by February 3, 2025, to be considered for this award.  

Please include in the email your mailing address, phone number, and email address and the following required Word document attachments:

  • A copy of the abstract submitted to OSSD, including its title and authors  
  • Your curriculum vitae; list all of your NIH grant support, if applicable
  • A cover letter stating:
    • Your eligibility (see requirements in the “Who Can Apply?” section above)
    • Your interest in pursuing policy research on women’s health and/or sex and gender differences  
    • Your career goals
  • A letter of support from your academic adviser, mentor, or fellowship director

Submissions are due by February 3, 2025. A panel of NIH experts will review the abstracts. The award recipients will be announced in March 2025. The selected individuals will be notified via email.

For questions about the travel awards, scholars should contact Dr. Samia Noursi, Associate Director for Science Policy, Planning, and Analysis at ORWH.   

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