For Potential Mentors
This page contains content for PIs at OHSU interested in recruiting postdoctoral researchers via the OHSU Fellowship for Diversity in Research program. Please explore the content below for information about how to recruit diverse postdocs, the application and hiring process, programs you can participate in to gain additional experience in culturally aware mentoring, and more. Please note that if your prospective mentee will receive funding through a training grant or diversity supplement (or would be able to bring funding from their current position into a postdoctoral position at OHSU), they are still eligible to apply for additional benefits with OFDIR
Recruiting diverse postdocs
Hiring a Fellow with OFDIR
Explore the tabs to the left to learn more about the process a postdoctoral researcher must undergo to apply to OFDIR. One element of this process is that you as the mentor PI must provide a letter of support to the potential Fellow. This letter should include the following information:
- Your proposed and personalized mentoring strategy for supporting the Fellow
- Your experience providing culturally aware mentoring in the past
- Your plan for helping the Fellow to find continued funding after their first OFDIR year
As described in the "Fellowship Benefits" tab, this Fellowship offers a one-year salary as well as professional development funds and relocation funds. Beyond that, it is the mentor PIs role (with OFDIR administrator support) to assist the Fellow in finding funding for their second year of research and beyond. For first-year Fellows, the OFDIR funding provided is at the salary set forth by the university commensurate with their years of relevant experience. We have seen some mentor PIs pitch in with additional funding on top of that, and we encourage PIs to consider this if possible to make the hiring package more attractive to potential Fellows.
Once a Fellows has been accepted to the OFDIR program, it is your responsibility as the mentor/hiring PI to oversee and complete the hiring process through your department. OFDIR is not the hiring party for your Fellow.
Culturally aware mentoring
It is very important to us that our OFDIR mentors are well-equipped and experienced in providing culturally aware mentoring to OFDIR Fellows. To learn more about some of the key components of culturally aware and competent mentoring, visit the OHSU Mentoring Academy's website.
In addition, there are several organizations within OHSU and the larger Portland community that provide opportunities for gaining experience in culturally aware mentoring and supporting groups that are underrepresented in the field of scientific research. Please consider becoming involved in one of the groups below if you are not already!
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OHSU On Track program
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Saturday Academy apprenticeships in science and engineering
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Native American Youth & Family Center (NAYA) - College nights and mentoring opportunities
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Alliance for Visible Diversity in Science (AVDS) - Faculty committee
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SACNAS Conference - Opportunities to mentor, review abstracts or travel applications
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OHSU Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)
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BUILD EXITO mentorship (OHSU/PSU collaboration)
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ABRCMS Conference - Opportunities to mentor, attend