Applications now being accepted!
The NIDA Intramural Research Program (IRP) will fund outstanding postdoctoral candidates, in both clinical and basic sciences, who are interested in studying topics aligned with the mission of NIDA and a strong desire for interactions and collaboration with the labs in the IRP. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed quarterly.
The Scientific Director’s Fellowship for Diversity in Research (SDFDR) for Postdoctoral Fellows is a research fellowship experience that seeks to prepare a diverse group of fellows to excel and achieve future opportunities in the field of addiction science. This program is designed for those who have earned (or are within a few months of earning) a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, DDS, or the equivalent) and have no more than five years of relevant research experience since receipt of their most recent doctoral degree, and are interested in conducting an highly mentored, yet independent, research project in a team setting.
Students with disabilities; students who come from an economically disadvantaged background (e.g., Pell Grant-eligible, from environments that inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skill, and ability required to enroll in, and graduate from, a health professional school, or from a family with an annual income below low-income thresholds); students who are or have been enrolled in Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, or Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); students who are the first in their family to attend college; students who identify as LGBTQ; and individuals disadvantaged by circumstances that have negatively impacted their educational opportunities, including recent natural disasters, are encouraged to apply to the SDFDR Fellows program.
SDFDR activities will include:
- Full-time, mentored research
- A professional development program
- NIDA IRP Poster Day
Eligibility Requirements
SDFDR applicants must meet all eligibility requirements for the NIH Postdoc IRTA Program. As such, they must have earned a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, DDS, or the equivalent) by the time they start and have no more than five years of relevant research experience since receipt of their most recent doctoral degree.
Please note: We will accept applications from trainees hired within 6 months of the application submission. However, PIs are responsible for 100% of their stipend for the first year.
Stipend Information
The stipends for trainees are adjusted yearly; the level depends on prior experience acquired AFTER completion of the doctoral degree. For details, see the Trainee Stipends page:https://www.training.nih.gov/postdoctoral_irta_stipend_ranges
Application Process
SDFDR Postdoc Application requirements:
- Application cover letter
- the SDFDR program Application – Download here
- Personal statement* (Typically 2-3 pages, but there is no specific length requirement)
- Research plan written with your mentor(s)
- Official college and graduate school transcripts
- CV
- 3 letters of recommendation that include information about how the SDFDR program could benefit you and how you would enrich the SDFDR program
*Applicants should discuss the following important elements in their personal statement:
- Commitment to building a diverse and inclusive community within the addiction research field and the scientific community as a whole
- The most important experiences in your personal life that have led to your interest in the addiction research or behavioral/biomedical research as a whole.
- Specific information about what led you to your interest in working at the intramural program of the National Institute on Drug Abuse
- Educational and career goals
- How participation in the SDFDR program will increase your enthusiasm and advance your progress towards your stated goals
- Leadership experiences in school and in the community
- Prior research experience and future research interests, beyond those discussed in your specific research plan
The application deadlines for the SDFDR Postdoc program are
- October 1st
- January 15th
- May 1st
The full application package, including reference letters, must be submitted via email to
Yeka Aponte, through Mia Jefferson (mia.jefferson@nih.gov) by 11:59pm on the dates listed above to be considered for the program.
How the Program Works
Applications to the SDFDR Postdoc program will be reviewed after the application period closes.
Applicants must identify a Principal Investigator, arrange a virtual interview, and apply to the program as a pair. List of Principal Investigators
Decision letters will be sent to the applicants
within 4 – 5 weeks of the application deadline.
Note: Applicants who are not selected for this program may still be able to work at the NIH in the general NIH Postdoc IRTA program.
For more on the mission of NIDA, visit the main NIDA webpage at:
https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida.
For more on the Intramural Research Program in Baltimore, our research, and our staff, visit the IRP About Us page.
