The Minority Faculty-Student Partnership (MFSP) Traineeships in Biotechnology is a program of the National Institutes of Health and the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences, Inc. The program aims to address the underrepresentation of minorities in research science, biotechnology, and medical careers. Designed to encourage and enhance education and workforce development in these areas, the program provides training in the latest principles and techniques in biotechnology for minority faculty and students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Indian Tribal Colleges or Universities (ITCUs).

Several times a year, the program brings together 12 second, third, or fourth year biology majors and 12 faculty members for lectures and “hands-on” laboratory training during a week-long workshop at the NIH main campus in Bethesda, Maryland.  Since 1992, more than 31 workshops, serving over 390 students and 370 faculty member from over 90 minority colleges or universities, have been offered.