Information for Mentees in the APA Mentorship Program

At this time the Cyber Mentors Program is not accepting applications for additional mentees.

APA Office on AIDS mentees 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 program, entitled Cyber Mentors, utilizes state-of-the-art distance-learning technologies (e.g., webcasts, online classrooms, etc.) to assist mentees achieve three major goals:

1. 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;

2. Conceptualize, draft and submit a high-quality research application to an appropriate NIH funding mechanism; and,

3. 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), matches early career mentees with mentors who are leaders in the field with a strong history of receiving NIH-supported grants.

Mentoring is conducted through regular interactions over the internet, by telephone, and at face-to-face meetings. In addition to one-on-one mentoring, mentees participate in monthly, interactive, web-based seminars that address various research, methodological and administrative topics relevant to research careers in HIV/AIDS. Mentees also participate in small-group, research-development sessions every other month. These online, small-group sessions focus on the application of concepts learned in seminars to research proposals of mentees. Mentees also participate in a series of mock reviews where research proposals are reviewed, scored and discussed at length.

Mentee/mentor pairs 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).

• 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 PhD 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.