The Foundation for Science and Disability (FSD) is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Richard Mankin, FSD President, has posted the Foundation's pages on this USDA web site as a public service to encourage participation of persons with disabilities in the scientific work force. However, the USDA and FSD are separate entities. These pages present information about the FSD history and current activities.

Download Graduate Student Grant Application Form and instructions

Here are reports on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from the National Academy of Sciences  (2021)  and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2022) 

 Unfortunately, neither says much about progress on inclusion of persons with disabilities into the scientific community. However, FSD does have a longstanding program for increasing opportunities in science, engineering, mathematics, technology, and pre‑medical/dental areas for graduate or professional students with disabilities:  The Science Graduate Student Grant Fund is available to fourth year undergraduates (who are disabled and have been accepted to a graduate or professional school in the sciences) and graduate science students who have a disability.  Awards of $1000 each are made to support research projects of qualified university students in any field of Mathematics, Science, Medicine, Technology, or Engineering.

Juan Alarcon, a student in the Department of Chemistry, Florida International University, Miami, FL. was selected for the 2022 FSD Graduate Student Grant Award. Juan’s dissertation research is titled “Molecular mechanisms of rocket fuel combustion,” and combines empirical data from ultrafast laser spectroscopy of charge transfer processes in molecular dyes with theoretical understanding and predictions of combustion processes.