Scholarships to Enhance and Empower the Development of Scientists (SEEDS) Workshop

SEEDS is a mentoring and career-enhancement program for diverse early-career neuroscientists. The program begins with an intensive workshop to be held at Howard University School of Medicine on August 9-13, 2026, followed by 6-10 months of individual career-development coaching. The program provides diverse early career neuroscientists with long-term mentoring and professional enrichment, with a particular emphasis on assistance with preparation, submission and revision of career development and research grant applications to NSF and NIH. In the initial workshop, participants will form small grant-coaching groups, facilitated by a senior faculty member. These groups will meet in person during the workshop and then engage in virtual meetings for 6-10 months to revise and hone grant applications prior to submission. Eligible participants are early-career M.D., M.D./Ph.D and Ph.D. scientists in neuroscience-related fields who come from groups that are underrepresented in neuroscience, including racial and ethnic minorities and people with disabilities. The program is designed to increase the successful transition to and retention of diverse, early career neuroscientists into academic positions.