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FIRST IRACDA Program

A NIGMS/IRACDA funded program

FIRST IRACDA Program

FIRST (Fellowships in Research and Science Teaching) is the largest and longest continuously-running NIGMS/IRACDA postdoctoral training program in the US. The program is a historic collaboration between Emory University and the Atlanta University Center Consortium— Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College.  In 2000, FIRST welcomed five postdoctoral fellows to its inaugural cohort. Today, FIRST has more than 200 current and alumni fellows, virtually all of whom have careers in science. Half of FIRST fellows are African-American and more than 70 percent are women; FIRST therefore places fellows in science positions at 25 times the national average for African-Americans and 2 times the average for women. FIRST is supported by the IRACDA program of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

Transforming the Face of Science Becoming a Scientist in the 21st Century: 20 Years of FIRST as a Model for Success.

To celebrate our first two decades and hear the personal stories that make FIRST what it is, we brought together many of our alumni from around the world on February 29, 2020. Listen to their stories.

Program Overview

FIRST is supported by the IRACDA program of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

News

FIRST is pleased to announce its 2023-2024 cohort. Learn more about our newest fellows and other news.

Program Outline

FIRST transitioned from a 3-year program to a 4-year program on September 1, 2020.

Prospective Fellows

FIRST Program accepts applications during the annual recruitment period. Learn how to apply to the FIRST Program. Annual application deadline February 1st.

Current Fellows

Meet our current FIRST Fellows.

Past Fellows

FIRST has more than 200 Fellows which includes 180 past fellows.  Where are they now?

Research Faculty

FIRST Research Mentors are exemplars of research and mentoring excellence. Their research projects and areas of expertise vary and lie within the various Basic Science Departments in the School of Medicine, School of Public Health, and the College.

Teaching Faculty

These are potential teaching mentors for FIRST fellows at the Atlanta University Center (AUC). The program facilitates the matching of fellows with teaching mentors during the spring of the fellows’ second year in FIRST.