A legacy is the long-lasting impact of one’s work. 

For the Diversity Program Consortium (DPC), that legacy will include its contributions to science, technology, engineering, math and medicine (STEMM) and the efforts of its members who strive to provide better opportunities for future generations of researchers.

During the 2023 DPC Annual Grantees Conference in June, various principal investigators were interviewed about their work for a new DPC series called “Sharing our legacy: Reflections from consortium leaders.”

The DPC is an initiative funded by the National Institutes of Health that focuses on implementing strategies to enhance the training and mentoring of students and faculty, while also expanding the research capacity of institutions. 

This work is done through programs like Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD), DPC Dissemination and Translational Awards (DaTA), Sponsored Programs Administration Development (SPAD) and the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN).

Interviews will be released monthly through the spring of 2024. 

Read about the featured DPC leaders below. 

‘The thrill of innovation’ — Akshay Sood, MD, helps underrepresented faculty succeed 

Akshay Sood, MD, a NRMN U01 principal investigator from the University of New Mexico, shares how his project explores innovative research mentor interventions for underrepresented faculty in the Southwest. Read his Q&A and watch his interview, “The thrill of innovation.” 

‘Truly transformational’ — Dorota Huizinga, PhD, talks about how funding can change the grant proposal landscape

Dorota Huizinga, PhD, is the principal investigator for Advancing Sponsored Program Infrastructure for Research Excellence (ASPIRE), a NIH-funded Sponsored Programs Administration Development (SPAD) grant at CSU San Bernardino that aims to reorganize grant proposal infrastructure and enhance research development. Read her Q&A and watch her interview, “Truly Transformational."

‘Ever so present’ — Doris Rubio, PhD, hopes support for underrepresented groups in STEMM continues at institutions

Doris Rubio, PhD, principal investigator for a NRMN U01 research grant at the University of Pittsburgh, hopes to see more interventions focused on post-doctoral and junior faculty at various institutions to further diversity in science, technology, engineering, math and medicine (STEMM). Read her Q&A and watch her interview, “Ever so present.”

”Up next: Oluwatoyin Asojo, PhD, principal investigator for a DPC DaTA U01 research grant at Hampton University.