The Oregon Health & Science University offers specific paid research positions for minority graduate students in order "to increase the diversity of the community of scholars” at the university.

OHSU’s "Fellowship for Diversity in Research” positions are given to students from "historically underrepresented populations” in an effort “to attract promising researchers and educators from different backgrounds, races, ethnic groups, and other diverse populations.” The university hopes the life, research, and employment experience of these individuals will "contribute significantly to the academic mission of OHSU.”

"Fellowship for Diversity in Research” positions are given to students from "historically underrepresented populations” in an effort “to attract promising researchers and educators from different backgrounds.”

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The program description indicates that the fellowship is a recruitment tool meant to attract individuals from underrepresented groups. Once they occupy their positions, these fellows do not, themselves, serve any function related to diversity recruitment, but rather simply conduct research for their various medical disciplines. Therefore, the “diversity” portion of this fellowship lies within the identities of the fellows themselves.

There are currently ten Diversity in Research Fellows at OHSU, but applications are accepted on a rolling basis. These fellows receive a fellowship stipend, the value of which is based on OHSU Minimum Rates and NIH (FY2017) Stipend Scale, which ranges from $48,432 to $59,736. They also are given up to $3,000 for a relocation stipend and up to another $5,000 in research funding.

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Diversity in Research fellows also receive the benefit of a “matchmaking” program that pairs mentors with fellowship candidates based on research interests, as well as grant-writing assistance. The application announcement boasts that these benefits will help to install these diverse individuals for careers in higher education.

Campus Reform reached out to OHSU multiple times for comment and to ask whether the fellowship is publicly or privately funded. The university did not respond in time for publication.

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