Supporting research, career development, mentorship and observership are core aspects of the Skin of Color Society mission. To this end, we are proud to offer several outstanding opportunities for physicians-in-training and early-career dermatologists, as exclusive benefits to your SOCS membership. We are currently in the height of “application season” for various exciting programs with deadlines coming up in the next period, as outlined below.

Dermatology Research Awards
The SOCS Dermatology Research Award provides up to three annual research grant (s) (up to $15,000) to promote dermatology research within the field of skin of color. This grant is intended to assist young dermatologists in furthering their academic careers. Two of the research awards will be given to applications that focus on inflammatory dermatologic diseases in skin of color.

Applications are now open and will be due 12/1/20.
Awardees will be announced during Q1- 2021.
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Career Development Award: NEW!
The SOCS Career Development Award grants up to $100,000, which can be used over a two-year period (non-renewable). This award should have a research focus on inflammatory dermatologic diseases in skin of color in areas where further clinical, translational, and basic research are needed. We envision that recipients of these awards will become tomorrow’s leaders in dermatology, helping to shape the future of the specialty.

Applications are now open and will be due on 12/1/20.
Awardees will be announced during Q1-2021.
Learn more

The SOCS Mentorship Program
The Skin of Color Society (SOCS) mentorship program is a comprehensive program that connects young physicians with an approved skin of color dermatology expert from SOCS. Mentoring will be provided for up to one year. Mentors must be current SOCS members and mentees must be dermatology residents, fellows or young dermatologists who completed residency no more than 3 years ago.

Note: Medical students are not eligible for the Mentorship Program, but may qualify for Observership Grant (see below).

Applications are now open and will be due 12/15/20.
Mentorships will be announced during Q1-2021.
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The SOCS Observership Grant Program
The purpose of this program is to enable young physicians and scientists to acquire additional academic or research skills that will further their careers as leaders in skin of color dermatology. The focus of the program is on establishing a mentoring relationship, rather than a specific research project.

Up to $2,000 grants to be awarded to dermatology residents or junior faculty to enable study with a SOCS mentor. The grant sponsors a rotation of 1-4 weeks. Observership is to be completed sometime during March of the year that the grant is received through the February of the next year. It is required that both the mentor and the applicant must be members of SOCS. Grants are intended for travel, room and board as needed to establish and facilitate the mentoring relationship. In light of COVID-19-related concerns, if an in-person mentorship is not possible during this period, funds will be held until in-person engagement will be feasible or an updated detailed budget and justification for the revised expenses can be submitted.

Applications are now open and will be due 11/1/20.
Observership Grants will be announced: Q1-2021.
Learn more

We invite you to participate in these unique opportunities!