Mentored research and shadowing opportunities for Navajo students
Official title: Professional development workshops and travel for shadowing experiences
Funded at Navajo Technical University · NIH-11370512 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project that provides mentored research experiences and shadowing opportunities for Navajo undergraduates to build skills in health and environmental science.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Navajo Technical University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Crownpoint, United States) |
| Project start | August 7, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $307,320 |
| NIH project number | 1S06GM165006-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11370512 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are undergraduate students from Navajo Technical University or Harvard University who are interested in health, environment, and community-engaged research and who wish to pursue biomedical careers.
✕Less likely to help
Students not interested in health or community-engaged research or those outside the partnering institutions may derive less direct benefit.
What this research studies
This program brings eight academic-year and eight summer interns each year from Navajo Technical University and Harvard University into hands-on, tribally responsive research projects. Participants receive workshops, individualized mentoring, and opportunities to present their work while connecting with tribal elders and communities. The focus includes Navajo health disparities, environmental remediation, and food sovereignty, blending tribal knowledge with modern biomedical methods. The aim is to grow scientific confidence, leadership, and a pathway into biomedical careers within the Navajo Nation. It also strengthens NTU’s research capacity to support a robust local biomedical workforce.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants will gain practical research skills and leadership experience that could lead to careers in biomedical and health sciences within the Navajo Nation.
How similar studies have gone: Similar mentorship and shadowing programs have shown benefits in student development and future STEM career pathways, though this program emphasizes tribally responsive methods.
Where this research is happening
-
Navajo Technical University
Crownpoint, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maloba, Franklin Mvo — Navajo Technical University
- Study coordinator: Maloba, Franklin Mvo
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.