Many programmes aimed at drawing ethnic minorities into science emphasize the early stages of a scientific career. But universities are still struggling to increase faculty diversity because of a lack of candidates. A postdoc programme started almost 30 years ago at the University of North Carolina (UNC) has shown considerable success in bridging that gap. Of the programme's 132 graduates, 113 have gone on to land tenure-track faculty positions — 27 of them currently at UNC.

The philosophy behind the Carolina Postdoctoral Program for Faculty Diversity, based at UNC's Chapel Hill campus, is to groom newly minted PhD students for academia. And the programme has not only assisted its participants' professional development; it has also helped UNC to increase the minority representation in its faculty, says Tony Waldrop, the university's vice-chancellor for research and economic development.

The programme is funded by the state, and supports 10 postdoc fellows at a time for two-year periods. Each receives a $36,000 stipend, healthcare benefits and a small research fund. Competition for places is fierce, with five scholars selected a year from around 130 applicants. Because the quality of the chosen fellows is so high, the university's academic departments “fall over each other” to get one of them, Waldrop says.

The ten fellows meet monthly for social gatherings, workshops and speakers. Besides providing peer support, the small group meetings allow “great access to very high level officials at the university”, says past-participant Keith Esch. A Native American and a biochemist, Esch now works at RTI International, a private research institute in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park, and is an adjunct assistant professor at UNC.

For others, the luxury of time that the programme affords is key. “My main professional weakness is a lack of publication records,” says Fred Hall, an African-American based in the department of physics and astronomy who is one year into the programme. It allows him to focus on writing, unhindered by teaching responsibilities.

Past participants' academic track records show that the fellows do more than just get onto the tenure track. Many have advanced into management positions, in which minorities are even less well-represented nationally. Nine are department chairs and 18 have held higher administrative positions.