Administered through the Dean’s Office and the Institute for Health Equity Research, the program provides a critical mass of role models and mentors to foster the recruitment and retention of students, fellows, and other junior investigators from underrepresented groups, planting the seeds for further diversity in future years.

Nomination Process

We recruit four Black or Latinx research faculty every year: two each in basic/translational science research and clinical science/health services research. Each department and institute within Icahn Mount Sinai can nominate up to two Laureates each year. Nominated candidates may be eligible for appointment at the assistant, associate, or full professor rank. Candidates at the associate or full professor rank must be external.

Nominations are considered four times each year, with online due dates of January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.

Nominations must be submitted as a single PDF through the Online Portal. The nomination packet should include: 

• Online face sheet providing basic information about the nominee and nominating department/institute.
• A letter nominating the applicant for a Basic or Clinical Laureate position from the Department Chair or Institute Director. The nominating letter should describe not only the merits of the applicant, but also—very importantly—the resources and support that the Department/Institute will provide to the applicant and how the applicant’s area of expertise supports the Department/Institute’s strategic plan. The letter should also describe the recruitment process, e.g., feedback from formal research seminars and chalk talks by the nominee, as well as the Department/Institute’s plan for mentoring their Laureate.
• An NIH style biosketch (five pages maximum including all other support).
• A research proposal (three pages, Arial 11 pt. font, single-spaced) describing the aims, significance, and innovation of the nominee’s research plan.
• Three letters of recommendation from experts who know the nominee well.
• A one-page diversity statement from the candidate, describing their background and experience as well as commitment to increasing diversity in academic medicine.
• A standard business plan which shows the startup package required for the applicant as well as their return on investment in research grants. Startup should include professional development investments.

Program Benefits

Selected Laureates will be given a competitive startup package based on their scientific and professional development needs. The package will be on par with packages awarded to faculty recruits in similar disciplines and will include five years of salary support. Laureates will also benefit from a specifically designated advisory team, developed in partnership with the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, to ensure that they benefit from the scientific and administrative guidance of leaders on campus and are nurtured to sustain a highly successful career.

Selection Process

Laureates will be selected competitively, using a holistic approach, based on a candidate’s scientific track record and their future promise as a leader in academic medicine. The selection will also consider the host department/institute’s case for how the Laureate will be supported and how they will complement and interact synergistically with existing strengths at Mount Sinai. The Selection Committee is composed of senior basic, translational, clinical, and health services researchers from across the institution under the auspices of Eric Nestler, MD, PhD, and Lynne D. Richardson, MD. Laureates will be selected within six weeks after each submission date.