AADR Accepting AADR MIND the Future Applications

The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) is now accepting applications for the AADR Mentoring an Inclusive Network for a Diverse Workforce of the Future (AADR MIND the Future) class of 2021. The AADR MIND the Future program is open to early-career investigators and individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. The deadline to apply is May 3, 2021 and the new class of mentees will be notified at the end of June 2021.
AADR is also seeking mentors to serve for the full year of the program. Experienced mentors may apply to serve. Mentor applicants will remain in the pool for selection for succeeding years.
For 2021, 10 program participants/mentees will be selected and commit to at least one full year of mentoring education/activities. Twelve months will be devoted to enhancing research career development through intensive hands-on work, combining in-person sessions (after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted) with distance-learning components and engaging in a mentored grant writing experience. Mentees are also strongly encouraged to remain engaged with the program post 12 months to foster peer mentoring and to support further career development based on individual needs and preferences.
In 2020, the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) was awarded a five-year grant of more than $1.3 million by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) in response to FOA RFA-DE-19-007: NIDCR Mentoring Network to Support a Diverse Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research Workforce. The primary goal of this NIDCR-funded program is to establish a mentoring network that will support a diverse pool of early career investigators, including individuals from diverse backgrounds (e.g., see Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity), to develop independent research careers dedicated to improving dental, oral and craniofacial health.
The AADR MIND the Future program involves a national network of 11 universities and three organizations which will be intimately involved in the program. One organization is a research institution that is well-funded by the NIDCR, but without a dental school. The universities are organized into Eastern, Western, Southern and Midwest Hubs. Two of the dental schools are based in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, leading the AADR Mind the Future mission of diversity and inclusion for both mentees and mentors.
Principal Investigators for the grant are David Drake, Professor of Microbiology, University of Iowa and the Iowa Institute for Oral Health Research; Christopher H. Fox, CEO, American Association for Dental Research and Effie Ioannidou, Director, University of Connecticut Dental Clinical Research Center.
“AADR is committed to increasing diversity and inclusion within the Association. We seek to build a more robust dental, oral and craniofacial research workforce,” said Mark Herzberg, AADR President. “AADR is thrilled to provide educational activities and interactive opportunities as we bring together mentors and mentees for the 2021 class of the AADR MIND the Future program.”
Learn more about the AADR MIND the Future program and view frequently asked questions online. View the 2020 AADR MIND the Future announcement and the 2020 class of mentees. For more information, please contact IADR/AADR Assistant Director of Strategic Programs, Sheri S. Herren at sherren@iadr.org.
The AADR MIND the Future program is supported by NIDCR grant no. UE5DE029439 in response to RFA-DE-19-007: NIDCR Mentoring Network to Support a Diverse Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research Workforce.
About the American Association for Dental Research
The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) is a nonprofit organization with over 3,300 individual members in the United States, dedicated to driving dental, oral and craniofacial research to advance health and well-being through discovery and dissemination. The AADR is the largest Division of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). The AADR also manages the activities of FNIDCR. To learn more, visit www.iadr.org/aadr.