Mentored Summer Research Program



Mentored Summer Research Program Predoctoral Fellowship
Request for Applications

Applications due February 15, 2023

CoHSTAR is pleased to announce a diversity-targeted opportunity for eligible physical therapists from under-represented groups.

As with many health-related disciplines, physical therapy researchers vastly underrepresent the diversity of the communities whom they serve. CoHSTAR is dedicated to advancing health services and health policy research in physical therapy and recognizes that additional commitment to mentoring scholars from historically underrepresented groups is essential to reducing health disparities in rehabilitation services. We issue this special call to support the training and mentoring of physical therapy researchers from underrepresented groups. 

We adopt the National Institutes for Health (NIH) guidelines for defining groups eligible for these awards. NIH encourages institutions to diversify their student and faculty populations to enhance the participation of individuals from groups identified as underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences, such as:

  1. Individuals from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in health-related sciences
  2. Individuals with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities

The stipend amount for predoctoral fellows in 2023 is $10,000.

 

The Mentored Summer Research Program: 

The Mentored Summer Research program is for graduate students who are either enrolled in a DPT program or who are licensed physical therapists enrolled in a PhD program. The Mentored summer research experience for graduate students is expected to last 8-10 weeks and should lead to a research presentation and/or paper.

Candidates for our Diversity-targeted opportunities will be paired with a faculty mentor or mentoring team at Brown University, University of Pittsburgh, or Boston University and will receive travel support, peer mentoring, and information resources.  

Eligibility Criteria: 

Mentored At the time of funding, summer researchers must be either:

  • a graduate student currently enrolled in a DPT program 
  • a licensed physical therapist currently enrolled in a PhD program

In keeping with Foundation requirements, viable candidates must be citizens or noncitizen nationals of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence at the time of appointment.

Application Process:  

The application process consists of two phases.  

Phase 1: 

  1. Letter of intent (1 – 2 pages) indicating:
    • a statement that they have confirmed their eligibility after carefully reviewing the criteria from the National Institutes for Health (NIH) description of populations underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce here.
    • interest in the Mentored Summer Research Diversity-targeted opportunity 
    • a brief summary of short-term and long-term career goals 
    • a short discussion of health services research topics for which they would like mentorship.
  2. Letter of support: Mentored Summer Researchers (for graduate students): a letter from the doctoral advisor/mentor at their home institution/program 

    Upon review of the letters of intent, the review committee will interview the most promising applicants and discuss available mentors, ultimately connecting those invited applicants to complete phase 2 with mentors who will help them prepare their application.  

    Phase 2: 

    1. Plan for the Diversity-targeted experience (2 pages maximum) inclusive of:
      • Objectives 
      • Plan of activities with timeline
      • Proposed deliverables 
      • Brief statement explaining the significance and impact of the proposed activities
      • Mentor information and mentoring plan describing how the applicant would engage with the faculty mentor
    2. Proposed budget (this may include salary and travel). Available funds for Mentored Summer Researchers: $10,000 (no indirect costs allowed)

    The CoHSTAR Executive Committee will review final applications and select the most promising candidate for each opportunity. Awardees are expected to participate in CoHSTAR activities and visit the CoHSTAR mentor and primary site as needed to conduct their work.

     

    Applications due February 15, 2023

    Please submit application materials to: Margarite_Whitten@Brown.edu

    Subject line: CoHSTAR Diversity-targeted Opportunity Application (yourNAME)

    For more information, check out our FAQ or email Margarite_Whitten@Brown.edu, or call 1-401-863-7435.