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Seeking Qualified Mentors for APA Mentorship Program
For Doctoral-Level Researchers Interested in HIV/AIDS and Communities of Color
The American Psychological Association (APA) Office on AIDS seeks qualified mentors to participate in a two-year, distance-learning, mentorship program designed to prepare doctoral-level behavioral and social scientists for careers as independent researchers in the area of HIV/AIDS and communities of color. This new program entitled, Cyber Mentors, will utilize state-of-the-art, distance-learning technologies (e.g., webcasts, online classrooms, etc.) to assist mentees achieve three major goals:
- develop and implement a career development plan focused on building the capacity to conduct independent research in the area of HIV/AIDS and communities of color;
- conceptualize, draft, and submit a high-quality research application to an appropriate NIH funding mechanism; and,
- establish a mutually supportive network of professional colleagues with common research interests.
The Cyber Mentors program, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), will match early career mentees with mentors who are leaders in the field with strong track records of receiving NIH-supported grants.
Mentoring will be conducted through regular interactions over the internet, by telephone, and at face-to-face meetings. In addition to one-on-one mentoring, mentees will participate in monthly, interactive, web-based seminars that address various research, methodological, and administrative topics relevant to research careers in HIV/AIDS. Mentees will also participate in small-group, research-development sessions every other month. These online, small-group sessions will focus on the application of concepts learned in seminars to research proposals of mentees. Mentees will also participate in a series of mock reviews where research proposals will be reviewed, scored, and discussed at length.
Mentee/mentor pairs will have the opportunity to apply for up to $5,000 to support research or career development activities (e.g., preliminary data collection, attending additional conferences, etc).
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF MENTORS?
Each year mentors will be expected to review applications to determine if there are mentees with whom they are interested in working. If so, mentors will interview prospective mentees to determine if there is a good fit. If the mentor/mentee decide “to match”, mentors will be expected to:
- Participate in one, two-day, face-to-face workshop per year for two years;
- Spend no less than 5 hours per month for two years:
- reading and commenting on drafts of mentee’s research proposals or manuscripts;
- providing general consultation via telephone and email;
- assisting the mentee with networking;
- Conduct one, ninety-minute, web-based training about topics related to the mentor’s area of expertise;
- Assist the mentee in developing an individualized career development plan; and
- Assist the mentee in developing and submitting an HIV/AIDS research proposal to an NIH institute.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MENTEES
- Must have demonstrated interest in pursuing a career as an independent researcher in the area of HIV/AIDS and communities of color;
- Must have completed a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in behavioral or social science (e.g., psychology, public health, sociology, anthropology, social work, etc.) or an MD;
- Must be employed in a position that permits submission of independent research grants;
- Must be affiliated with an institution that supports research grant applications;
- Must NOT have previously received an RO1 grant from NIH;
- Must commit to participate in the ENTIRE two-year program; and,
- Must commit to developing and submitting a competitive grant application to NIH by the end of the program.
A major purpose of this program is to increase the number of underrepresented scholars and researchers (i.e., African Americans, American Indians/Alaskan Natives, Hispanics/Latino(a)s, and Asians/Pacific Islanders) who pursue a career in the area of HIV/AIDS and minority communities.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR MENTEES
- Applicants must submit:
- A detailed curriculum vitae
- A two-page statement (single-space, Arial 11 point, one-inch margins) that describes career objectives and provides a self-assessment (e.g., strengths and weaknesses) of the applicant’s current capacity to function as an independent researcher in the area of HIV/AIDS and communities of color;
- A two-page statement (single-space, Arial 11 point, one-inch margins) that describes an HIV/AIDS-related research question of interest to the applicant. This statement should include:
- A statement of the problem(s);
- The specific aims and/or research question(s) to be addressed; and,
- A proposed research design describing subject population, analysis, and other critical elements.
Applications of mentees will be received no later than close of business on June 2, 2008. Selections decisions will be made by August 1, 2008.
HOW DO I APPLY TO BE A MENTOR?
Send cover letter or email and curriculum vitae to:
John Anderson
Office on AIDS,
American Psychological Association,
750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
Email: officeonaids@apa.org Phone: 202-336-6042
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