Apply for the ASH Minority Hematology Graduate Award

The ASH Minority Hematology Graduate Award (MHGA), part of the ASH Minority Recruitment Initiative, encourages graduate students from historically underrepresented minority groups in the United States and Canada to pursue a career in academic hematology. The award provides funding for students conducting research on hematology-focused projects and is open to doctoral students in their first, second, or third year of graduate school at the time of application.

Program Benefits

The award provides an annual $40,000 stipend for a two-year period that can be used for tuition/salary/stipend (no more than 70%), research, training-related expenses (including health insurance), and travel to the ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition.

Program participants receive complimentary ASH membership throughout graduate school. During the ASH annual meeting, participants will attend the Minority Recruitment Initiative (MRI) Luncheon and present their research at the Promoting Minorities in Hematology Presentations and Reception Event where they will have the opportunity to meet prominent hematology leaders and network with other hematology researchers and ASH award participants.

Supported Research

Applicants must submit proposals to conduct research in hematology. Proposals that fall within any of the categories discussed below are encouraged:

• Basic Research
• Translational Research
• Patient-Oriented Clinical Research
• Outcomes-Based Research

For additional details on eligible research categories, please consult the Research Definitions page.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria in order to qualify:

• Identify as being a member of a community that is underserved and underrepresented in hematology. Applicants are asked to self-identify, and participants for the award are drawn from this pool.
• To be eligible for consideration, an applicant must be planning and committed to conduct the relevant research project in the contiguous United States or Canada.
• Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or Canada, J1 Visa holders, or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status. To be eligible for consideration, an applicant must be planning and committed to conducting the relevant research project in the contiguous United States or Canada with an ASH member mentor.
• Propose research focused on a hematologic condition or biological process.
• Have clear and documented support of an established ASH member mentor in good standing for the duration of the award term.
• Provide documented support from the department chair for dedicated research time during the award period.
• Provide a document from an institutional leader who has the authority to ensure that at least 65-75 percent (approximately 2704 – 3120 hours of protected time devoted to research over the two-year time period) of the applicant's full-time professional efforts will be devoted to research during the funded period.
• Eligible applicants may not hold other ASH awards during the MHGA award term.
• Students pursuing a masters as their terminal degree are not eligible.

Application Process

The MHGA application, as well as all supporting documents outlined below, must be submitted through the ASH online awards system.

All applications must include the following:

• Applicant NIH Biographical Sketch
• Research Mentor NIH Biographical Sketch
• Applicant Career Development Plan
• Personal Statement
• Project Proposal
• Mentor Letter of Support
• Institutional Commitment Letter from Department Chair

For more information about the required materials, please see the Required Documents PDF.

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Evaluation, Selection, and Notification

Applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed by the MRI Study Section (ASH Committee on Promoting Diversity). Applicants will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• A focus on hematology research
• The applicant’s qualifications and experiences; factors to be considered include, but are not limited to, the potential for future independent investigation and commitment to a career in hematology research
• Quality of the mentor and the plan for mentor-applicant interaction and career development.
• The significance, feasibility, and originality of the proposed hypothesis, research, and methodology.
• Availability of institutional resources to support the proposed project.
• While not an excluding factor, consideration will be given to insuring a balance between PhD and MD/PhD programs

Terms and Conditions

All awards will be activated on July 1 and will conclude on June 30 of the final year. Payment will be made to the appropriate financial officer for the institution as indicated on the proposed budget form.

As a condition of acceptance of the ASH Minority Hematology Graduate Award, it is required that:

• All funds must be used for the research project specified in the application submitted to ASH in strict compliance with the budget included with the application or any subsequent budget approved by the Society.
• Indirect costs (e.g., facilities and administration costs) are not allowed.
• MHGA recipients cite support from the American Society of Hematology in any publication describing research conducted during the period of the award.
• The award recipient must dedicate at least 65-75 percent (approximately 2704 – 3120 hours of protected time devoted to research over the two-year time period) of his/her full-time professional efforts to research during the funded period.
• Award recipients complete program surveys during and after the award period, which ASH will use to measure the effectiveness of the MHGA program.

Reallocation

Students may request a reallocation of funds from one expense category to another by submitting the request in writing to the Treasurer at the Society's headquarters. This written request must specify the dollar amount, which categories are impacted, and a justification as to why this change is necessary.

All transfer and/or reallocation requests must be sent to [email protected]. ASH staff will work with the ASH Treasurer to make final determinations.

Changing Mentors

Please contact [email protected] if you need to change mentors. This must be approved by the Chair of the ASH Committee on Promoting Diversity.

Progress Reports

MHGA recipients are required to submit to ASH an end of year evaluation form and a current bio-sketch.

Students will need to submit an evaluation form at the end of the first year of their award. The evaluation form is a series of short questions. The form should be accompanied by a letter from a division head or department chair requesting second year funding. It should also provide assurances that the student’s work has progressed and that both appropriate facilities and the mentor will continue to be available.

Failure to submit the progress/evaluation report, including the letter, after the first year, will render the student ineligible for the second year of funding.

Final Reports

A final written report (not to exceed four pages) is expected within 60 days of the end of the award period.

MHGA recipients, along with the financial officers from their institutions, must also submit a financial report detailing how the funds were used over the two-year period. This report must be submitted within 60 days of the end of the award period.

Both final reports must be sent to [email protected].